Members Profile – Karen Harilal

What is the name of your business and what is your role?

Anchor Securities Private Clients. I am a Wealth Manager.

Describe your business in two sentences.

Anchor Securities Private Clients is a part of Anchor Group Ltd, a JSE listed financial services company. We believe in giving our clients sound and personalised investment advice which is backed by solid research, together with exceptional levels of service. We focus on the management and structuring of the wealth of private clients and non-profit organisations.

How long have you been in business?

We started our business on the 1 May 2015.

How did you get into this business?

We were a team that worked exceptionally well for 10 years together and when an exciting opportunity presented itself to start a Durban office for the Anchor Group, we jumped at the opportunity.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced, and how did you overcome it?

Having the courage to take the risk of leaving a big corporate. I left as part of a close knit team with shared values which allowed us to lean on each other for emotional support and an unwavering faith that they always had my back. Definitely a testimony to the sum of the parts being greater that the whole.

What single trait/skill could you not have succeeded without?

Staying true yourself and your team.

What is the best business advice you’ve received?

Never compromise on your integrity or values.

Your secret to business success is?

Be humble enough to acknowledge that you have strengths and weaknesses. Encourage the support of the people around you, draw on their strengths and trust those more capable in areas where I am weaker.

What is your business goal for 2016?

To continue building a business that offers exceptional advice and service to our clients and to have great fun doing it.

Tell us one thing that not many people know about you?

I live by the famous words of Peter Pan. Never grow up.