Aiming to be as effective and as efficient as she possibly can

Michelline Nawatises



Ina Kruger has been employed at Sanlam for the past eleven years and used this time to tap into a wide range of in-service training and work experience. She started her career at Sanlam Namibia with the I.T department, after which she moved to the Actuarial department. Several years later, when a vacancy opened up in the IT Governance, Risk and Compliance department, she applied for the position and her application was successful. Thereafter, she moved to the Legal and Compliance department where she started working on fraud complaints. With effect from 1 October 2020, Kruger was offered the position of channel compliance officer. She continues to find operational compliance exciting and challenging.

As a channel compliance officer, Kruger implements and manages the business’s compliance programme while coordinating with Group Compliance on state regulations. It further requires planning, monitoring and overseeing of risk-related programmes and processes. Reporting, ongoing communication and training coordination are also important aspects of the position. At times the channel compliance officer will identify, manage and report regulatory risk.

One of her biggiest challenges in her new role was trying to remain productive and motivated while gaining knowledge and experience in a highly specialised departments.

“Given that I know my strengths and weaknesses, I sometimes get slightly discouraged at the sheer volume and complexity of projects, however, the flipside of the coin added to my biggest accomplishments,” she says.

Kruger gets to work in a specialised departments, alongside highly qualified individuals without having similar qualifications or experience.

“I get to learn from the best in the industry. Other accomplishments were obtaining my Bachelor of Communication degree in April 2020 and the opportunity to enrol as a student with Khulisane Academy.”

Her daily routine is not set in stone. However, she takes time to plan and prioritise a day (and week) ahead of time to ensure there is some form of rationality within a day.

“On average, I would start a day with a cup of coffee and the newspaper, but much like any other corporate job, there are training sessions, meetings and general queries that require my attention,” she says.

Over the years Kruger has built strong relationships with colleagues and management at Sanlam and she is inspired by this core group of peers and senior management who display commitment, care and strong leadership skills. Kruger wants to focus on completing and obtaining her Compliance Practitioner (C.Prac) degree within the next two years and ensure she is as effective and efficient as she can be in her position.

Asked about what she would change about the world if given the opportunity, Kruger says she cannot change the world or people around herself and truthfully has no aspiration to do so. Change comes from yourself.

“This is something I learned years ago and therefore I focus only on change within myself, the way I do, see and perceive things,” she adds. The change she demonstrates is “simple things, such as to smile, be friendly, respect others, and serve where I can and to take ownership of my work and life.”