Fierce competition for critical skills has become the new hallmark of our employment landscape. Instead of staying in jobs for the big bonus or paycheque, those lucky enough to be in demand are increasingly prioritising workplace culture and their wellbeing.
 
Studies show that even in a tough economy, many skilled employees are still choosing to resign from their jobs in search of greener pastures. So how can employers attract – and keep – the best people to help meet their organisational goals? To hear more research-based insights, our host Blessing Utete, the Commercial Executive Head at Old Mutual Corporate, is joined by guests Dalene Sechele, Engagement Executive for Life and Savings at Old Mutual, and Lindiwe Sebesho, Managing Director of Remchannel. Together they discuss how one-size-fits-all solutions are a thing of the past when it comes to building an engaged and resilient workforce.  

To stay in the game, employers need to understand that people define value differently. Salary, flexibility, retirement security, skills development, career growth, and wellbeing are all in the mix. Tune in to hear why these benefits are no longer optional extras but rather vital investments for sustainable business success.   
 
Resources used in this episode:

• Dalene Sechele on LinkedIn
• Lindiwe Sebesho on LinkedIn  
• Remchannel Salary & Wage Movement Survey
• New Remchannel survey warns of unseen negative consequences of salary flexibility on pension savings – FANews
• Remchannel Quarterly Report August 2025 
• Remchannel Salary and Benefit Trends 2024 
• Human Resources Quarterly – Remchannel  
• Old Mutual Thought Leadership Forum 2025 – Mindspace Special Edition
• Resignation risk persists despite turnover dip – Remchannel  
• Three minutes on the role of human capital leaders in today’s workplace – video

The world is full of conflict and uncertainty, and executives are under a lot of pressure. How will the uneven global economy affect demand and margins? Will funding conditions tighten? How will energy reforms translate into growth, and where are the biggest long-term opportunities?
 
The cause for hope is that our economy is more resilient than we realise. Izak Odendaal, Old Mutual’s Investment Strategist, gives some reassurance in this regard, plus three ways to attract businesses to invest in South Africa.
 
This MINDSPACE soundbite is inspired by the March edition of our MINDSPACE newsletter. Listen for more details on the reforms that could accelerate our growth.
 
If you’d like to subscribe, contact us at [email protected] or visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub. Want to stay in the loop with the latest updates, insights, and ideas around retirement, investment, risk, health, and wellbeing on LinkedIn? Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page for practical insights and fresh perspectives. 

Resources used in this episode:

• Businesses react to Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump’s tariffs
•  Operation Vulindlela promising to add capacity to the national grid
•  Opportunities in South Africa’s recovery – Budget Speech 2026
•  Pick and stick to your Smarties _ Mindspace
•  SA has enough secured fuel supply to last until mid-April – Newzroom Afrika 

Different generations have unique experiences of the world and their workplaces. By 2030, over 75% of the workforce will be millennials and Gen Zs, so things are shifting rapidly. In a 2025 Deloitte survey, it was found that Gen Z take work-life balance very seriously, with only 6% saying that their primary career goal is to reach a leadership position. Yet these employees will still need to be able to retire someday. How do we help them to save for it? 

Welcome to the Big Business Insights podcast, brought to you by Old Mutual Corporate. The host, Blessing Utete, the Commercial Executive Head at Old Mutual Corporate, is joined by thought leaders and visionaries across sectors. Together, they seek to understand how we got here and where we’re going.   
 
For this eye-opening episode, Blessing is joined by Omega Shange, a data analyst with a passion for psychology, marketing and finance, and KG Bako, Managing Executive of Talent Management and Transitions at the Absa Group. They share ideas on how to encourage younger generations to plan ahead.  

Tune in to hear more about the financial realities that younger employees are facing, different mindsets in the workplace, and what role employers can play in making sure the next generation is set up for financial success.
 
 Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn and visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub for more insights, research and analysis to help you make the best decisions for your business, your employees and yourself. 
 
Resources used in this episode: 

• KG Bako on LinkedIn 
• Omega Shange on LinkedIn 
• Deloitte 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey
• Money Mondays   
• Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub 

We spend most of our waking lives at work, making the workplace the most powerful platform for fostering financial wellness. Without the employers’ facilitation or participation, our savings levels in South Africa would be far lower. So how can we make the most of this to improve employee outcomes on a large scale? 
 
In this episode of Big Business Insights, brought to you by Old Mutual Corporate, host Blessing Utete, Commercial Executive Head at Old Mutual Corporate, highlights the power of collaboration. He is joined by Geraldine Fowler, president of the Institute of Retirement Funds Africa and Managing Director of GQM Fund Administrators, and Nyasha Dhlembeu, financial management lecturer and PhD candidate at the University of Pretoria, who researches the influence of financial literacy on retirement planning in South Africa.  
 
Together, they unpack the moral and practical obligations of employers. Is it enough to simply offer a fund, or must companies actively nurture the financial wellness of employees, with education and advice? 

The conversation delves into the impact of financial literacy, revealing why women and young people are often the most vulnerable. The discussion also explores what South Africa can learn from emerging economies like Kenya and Chile regarding auto-enrolment and innovative solutions for the informal sector. Tune in to understand how we can collectively shift South Africa’s savings culture. 

Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn and visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub for more insights, research and analysis to help you make the best decisions for your business, your employees and yourself.  

Resources used in this episode:   

• Geraldine Fowler on LinkedIn
• Nyasha Dhlembeu on LinkedIn
• Institute of Retirement Funds Africa
• The Influence of Financial Literacy on Retirement Planning in South Africa (co-authored by Nyasha Dhlembeu) 
• Bankers and Financial Advisers in an Emerging Economy – Are They Financially Literate? (co-authored by Nyasha Dhlembeu)
• Retirement vs Reality  
• Designing Better Outcomes  
• Only 6% retire with enough – Here’s how you can beat the odds 
• Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn  

Adaptability, fluency and flexibility. These are the essential skills of business leaders as they face the coming decade, in which 59% of workers will need to completely re-skill. This isn't just a challenge – it's a matter of survival, defined by rapid technological shifts and unique local complexities. 

In this episode of Big Business Insights, brought to you by Old Mutual Corporate, host Blessing Utete, the Commercial Executive Head at Old Mutual Corporate, asks how big businesses can thrive in the future, instead of scrambling to keep up.  
 
He is joined by Valter Adão, a TEDx Speaker and expert in the fields of disruptive innovation and business re-imagination, and CEO of Cadena Growth Partners. Our second guest is scientist-practitioner, HR executive, keynote speaker, and global advisor Dr Dieter Veldsman. Dieter is Chief HR Scientist at the Academy to Innovate HR, and professor of practice at the University of Johannesburg.  

The conversation covers what keeps executives up at night, why HR demands a strategic role, and some habits leaders can adopt to prepare for the unknown. Tune in to discover why company cultures that encourage experimentation and informed risk-taking are the foundation for technology adoption that truly moves innovation forward and delivers on your goals. 

Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn and visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub for more insights, research and analysis to help you make the best decisions for your business, your employees and yourself.  

Resources used in this episode:  

• Dr Dieter Veldsman on LinkedIn   
• Valter Adão on LinkedIn  
• Why AI adoption in HR starts at the front line, not in the boardroom
• The HR Dialogues podcast 
• The Reskilling Revolution – a WEF initiative
• Old Mutual Resource Hub 
• Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn  

In today's compliance-driven employee benefits environment, employers are wondering how to create connection and cohesion, and manage costs while remaining competitive.
 
This MINDSPACE soundbite, inspired by the February edition of our MINDSPACE newsletter, shares the three major trends that emerged from the Remchannel 2025 Employee Benefits Guide. 
 
Out of 60 organisations, collectively employing over four hundred thousand people, the hot topics include wellness, performance-based rewards, and face time. Listen to this episode to find out more about how cost cutting measures, specialised health benefits, and office mandates are impacting businesses and their people. 
 
If you’d like to subscribe, contact us at [email protected] or visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub at www.oldmutual.co.za/corporate/resource-hub.  

Want to stay in the loop with the latest updates, insights, and ideas around retirement, investment, risk, health, and wellbeing on LinkedIn? Follow the new Old Mutual Employee Benefits page for practical insights and fresh perspectives.   

Resources used in this episode:
 
 SABC clip on Coronavirus

Menopause in the workplace – The Conversation podcast, BBC World Service

Remote work and the law – Newzroom Afrika

Gen Z prioritises mental health over wealth in the workplace – peoplemanagement.co.uk

The rising tides of cancers among young adults – National Library of Medicine

Old Mutual paid out R29m every working day in underwritten policies in 2024 – Business Day

1 in 6 people globally affected by infertility – World Health Organization   

Understanding the impact of menopause in the workplace – SHRM   

After decades of misunderstanding, menopause is finally having its moment – Yale School of Medicine

Cost management remains an executive priority in 2025 – BCG  

The number of registered retirement funds in South Africa has collapsed from almost 16 000 in 2000 to fewer than 5 000 in 2023. Currently, only around 870 of the registered funds are active. For companies, this is a chance to fundamentally redesign employee benefits to help deliver substantially better financial outcomes for their people.

In this episode of Big Business Insights, brought to you by Old Mutual Corporate, host Blessing Utete, Commercial Executive Head at Old Mutual Corporate, discusses the opportunities of fund consolidation for employers. 

Joining us is Astrid Ludin, Deputy Commissioner at the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, with 15 years of experience in consumer protection, financial regulation, inclusion and education. Our other guest is Michelle Acton, Chief Customer Officer at Old Mutual Corporate, whose work involves research and insights, customer engagement, education, data and reporting. Prior to this, she successfully led the Two-Pot programme across the Old Mutual Group.
 
The discussion covers the myths and truths about umbrella funds, how technology can personalise an employee benefits experience, and the consolidation lessons we can learn from other countries. All of this to achieve our collective goal: giving members the best possible chance at a secure retirement.
 
 Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn and visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub for more insights, research and analysis to help you make the best decisions for your business, your employees and yourself. 
 
Resources used in this episode:

• Michelle Acton on LinkedIn 
• Astrid Ludin on LinkedIn
• The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)
• Umbrella fund boom: advisers should assess fit, not just fees  
• SME South Africa: Employee benefits for small businesses 
• The future of employee benefits in South Africa  
• Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn  

For many South Africans, life is a balancing act. The Competition Commission’s September 2025 Cost of Living report found that the average worker spends over 57% of their income on transport and electricity. It’s easy to see why financial planning and saving may feel like luxuries. 
 
The Two-Pot system has been a step in the right direction: it gives South Africans access to a portion of their savings in case of emergency, while preserving the retirement pot and thereby help South Africans save more. So, what have we learnt a year in? How can employers help improve preservation rates? And what can neuroscience offer when it comes to understanding why people make the choices they make? 

This episode of Big Business Insights, brought to you by Old Mutual Corporate, has some answers. Host Blessing Utete, the Commercial Executive Head at Old Mutual Corporate, is joined by neuroscience change specialist and CEO of the Neuroscience Institute for Business, Dr Charlene Heyns-Nell. Also joining the discussion is Michelle Acton, Chief Customer Officer at Old Mutual Corporate, whose work involves research and insights, customer engagement, education, data and reporting. 
 
Together, they help us better understand what drives employees’ decisions around retirement contributions. We delve into the complex emotional and cognitive parts of the process, and what kinds of rewards drive certain behaviours depending on the individual’s personality type.   
 
We also hear what successful communication looks like in a local context – what kind of messaging by employers inspires positive action by employees. 
 
Tune in to understand more about how behavioural science and retirement policy intersect, while looking at what can be done from the top down to encourage better financial preservation.
 
Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn and visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub for more insights, research and analysis to help you make the best decisions for your business, your employees and yourself.  
 
Resources used in this episode: 

• Michelle Acton on LinkedIn 
• Dr Charlene Heyns-Nell on LinkedIn   
• The Neuroscience Institute for Business 
• StatsSA report on monthly earnings in SA 
• The cost of living crisis in SA – Daily Maverick 
• Salaries in South Africa – half of all workers earn less than you think – BusinessTech
• Looking back on six months of Two-Pot 
• Helping you understand the Two-Pot Retirement System 

In 1950, the average global life expectancy was about 46. Today, we’re marching closer to the 100 mark. But that means that people are set to outlive their savings – in some cases by decades. We need to reimagine retirement. 

This MINDSPACE soundbite, inspired by the January edition of our MINDSPACE newsletter, gives some ideas how. We reveal South Africa’s score in the 2025 Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index, and consider the solutions on how to improve it. 

If you’d like to subscribe, contact us at [email protected] or visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub at www.oldmutual.co.za/corporate/resource-hub. 

Want to stay in the loop with the latest updates, insights, and ideas around retirement, investment, risk, health, and wellbeing on LinkedIn? Follow the new Old Mutual Employee Benefits page for practical insights and fresh perspectives.  

When South Africa’s Two-Pot System went live, many employers and retirement funds braced for uncertainty. How many members would withdraw? How quickly? And what would they use the money for? Now, more than a year on, the data has provided clarity. Listen to this episode to find out more. 

This MINDSPACE soundbite is inspired by the November edition of our MINDSPACE newsletter. If you’d like to subscribe, contact us at [email protected] or visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub at www.oldmutual.co.za/corporate/resource-hub. 

Want to stay in the loop with the latest updates, insights, and ideas around retirement, investment, risk, health, and wellbeing on LinkedIn? Follow the new Old Mutual Employee Benefits page for practical insights and fresh perspectives.