Energetic and full of ideas
Marike Botha joined Sanlam as a legal consultant on 1 August 2019.
Michelline Nawatises
Marike Botha is the legal consultant for Sanlam’s affluent market.
Botha is responsible for all legal matters, including legal advice, buy-and-sell agreements, research into new products and legislation relating to the insurance industry, compliance to relevant legislation, the drafting of wills and training Sanlam advisors in terms of estate planning. She joined Sanlam on 1 August 2019
She matriculated from Windhoek Gymnasium in 2010 and started the first year of her LLB degree at the North-West University’s Potchefstroom campus in South Africa in 2011.
Botha finished his LLB degree in 2014 and immediately went on to start and finish her master’s degree (LLM in estate law) at the same university in 2015.
During 2016, she moved back to Windhoek and started as a candidate attorney, while also enrolling at the Justice Training Centre, which is administered by the Board for Legal Education under the justice ministry. She completed her theoretical subjects and practical training hours at the end of 2017 and will be admitted as an attorney of the High Court of Namibia this year.
What fascinates her most about her new job is the fact that the insurance industry is continually changing and new ideas are always developing in the industry.
“It means that there will never be a dull moment and you will always have more to learn,” Botha says.
Her long-term goals are to make a success of whatever venture she takes on.
“I want to do my job efficiently and leave a mark of success, whatever position I may be in, or that may be presented by an opportunity,” she says.
When asked what she would like to be known for in the company, she said: “Quick, strong and efficient advice and training to the affluent market on all legal matters that may relate to it and that forms part of my responsibilities.”
Every day she checks her emails to see if any requests have been sent to her by Sanlam advisors.
“I answer any queries that have come in, I research the insurance market/legislation and I attend a meeting or two, which normally would have something to do with training Sanlam advisors on estate planning techniques,” she says.
“Before joining Sanlam, I was a candidate attorney at Philip Swanepoel Legal Practitioners, and then she took a position as an estate administrator at the Bank Windhoek trust and estate department. Now, I am here at Sanlam as a legal consultant - the best of both worlds, from my previous work experiences,” Botha narrates.
The highlight of her career is being admitted as an attorney of the High Court of Namibia. “This was the last goal that my grandmother actively encouraged me on, and to finally reach it, even after her death, is the cherry on top of my legal education at this time in my life,” she says.
The challenge she faces at her workplace is having to be able to give advice or a legal opinion to anyone in the affluent market at any time, which means she has to be a walking book of knowledge on the industry.
“To reach this point and to be able to continue with it, and to be aware of any and all legal changes to the industry, will certainly be challenging, but I am eager to take it on,” she says.
Botha is energetic and full of ideas and she believes this will help her to leave a mark at Sanlam.
She plans on making a positive impact by helping the affluent market grow and become even more successful.
Besides being in the office she spends her time doing karate.
“I actively train and practice it, but every now and then I also instruct some classes,” she says.
Botha has many dreams and usually takes baby steps to help them become a reality. “When the first step is done, the next step can be planned,” she says.
In her professional life and education, she still wants to complete her MBA.
“In my personal life, it is my dream to one day have a happy and healthy family with my husband. In my sporting career, I have the dream of teaching, especially women and children, the positive impact that martial arts training can have on your body, mind and spirit, and to assist those who cannot necessarily afford professional or full-time training,” she said.
One thing she wishes to do his nurture a musical talent.
“I always thought it would be nice to have at least some basic training and understanding. So yes, I wish I knew how to play an instrument, any instrument,” she says
Her greatest fear is disappointing her family. Botha believes the best phase in her life is only starting.
She has received a formal education as well as practical training, and what they have taught her, is that she is someone who wants to create.
She says her current position will allow her to create and continually learn, which is effectively the start of a very happy phase in her life.
If she had the opportunity to change something in the world, Botha would eliminate suffering, whether it be hunger, bullying, animal cruelty, violence or racial hatred, as all these things sadden her.
“I would eradicate these problems in a heartbeat, if I ever had the chance or the power to do so.”
Marike Botha is the legal consultant for Sanlam’s affluent market.
Botha is responsible for all legal matters, including legal advice, buy-and-sell agreements, research into new products and legislation relating to the insurance industry, compliance to relevant legislation, the drafting of wills and training Sanlam advisors in terms of estate planning. She joined Sanlam on 1 August 2019
She matriculated from Windhoek Gymnasium in 2010 and started the first year of her LLB degree at the North-West University’s Potchefstroom campus in South Africa in 2011.
Botha finished his LLB degree in 2014 and immediately went on to start and finish her master’s degree (LLM in estate law) at the same university in 2015.
During 2016, she moved back to Windhoek and started as a candidate attorney, while also enrolling at the Justice Training Centre, which is administered by the Board for Legal Education under the justice ministry. She completed her theoretical subjects and practical training hours at the end of 2017 and will be admitted as an attorney of the High Court of Namibia this year.
What fascinates her most about her new job is the fact that the insurance industry is continually changing and new ideas are always developing in the industry.
“It means that there will never be a dull moment and you will always have more to learn,” Botha says.
Her long-term goals are to make a success of whatever venture she takes on.
“I want to do my job efficiently and leave a mark of success, whatever position I may be in, or that may be presented by an opportunity,” she says.
When asked what she would like to be known for in the company, she said: “Quick, strong and efficient advice and training to the affluent market on all legal matters that may relate to it and that forms part of my responsibilities.”
Every day she checks her emails to see if any requests have been sent to her by Sanlam advisors.
“I answer any queries that have come in, I research the insurance market/legislation and I attend a meeting or two, which normally would have something to do with training Sanlam advisors on estate planning techniques,” she says.
“Before joining Sanlam, I was a candidate attorney at Philip Swanepoel Legal Practitioners, and then she took a position as an estate administrator at the Bank Windhoek trust and estate department. Now, I am here at Sanlam as a legal consultant - the best of both worlds, from my previous work experiences,” Botha narrates.
The highlight of her career is being admitted as an attorney of the High Court of Namibia. “This was the last goal that my grandmother actively encouraged me on, and to finally reach it, even after her death, is the cherry on top of my legal education at this time in my life,” she says.
The challenge she faces at her workplace is having to be able to give advice or a legal opinion to anyone in the affluent market at any time, which means she has to be a walking book of knowledge on the industry.
“To reach this point and to be able to continue with it, and to be aware of any and all legal changes to the industry, will certainly be challenging, but I am eager to take it on,” she says.
Botha is energetic and full of ideas and she believes this will help her to leave a mark at Sanlam.
She plans on making a positive impact by helping the affluent market grow and become even more successful.
Besides being in the office she spends her time doing karate.
“I actively train and practice it, but every now and then I also instruct some classes,” she says.
Botha has many dreams and usually takes baby steps to help them become a reality. “When the first step is done, the next step can be planned,” she says.
In her professional life and education, she still wants to complete her MBA.
“In my personal life, it is my dream to one day have a happy and healthy family with my husband. In my sporting career, I have the dream of teaching, especially women and children, the positive impact that martial arts training can have on your body, mind and spirit, and to assist those who cannot necessarily afford professional or full-time training,” she said.
One thing she wishes to do his nurture a musical talent.
“I always thought it would be nice to have at least some basic training and understanding. So yes, I wish I knew how to play an instrument, any instrument,” she says
Her greatest fear is disappointing her family. Botha believes the best phase in her life is only starting.
She has received a formal education as well as practical training, and what they have taught her, is that she is someone who wants to create.
She says her current position will allow her to create and continually learn, which is effectively the start of a very happy phase in her life.
If she had the opportunity to change something in the world, Botha would eliminate suffering, whether it be hunger, bullying, animal cruelty, violence or racial hatred, as all these things sadden her.
“I would eradicate these problems in a heartbeat, if I ever had the chance or the power to do so.”
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