Meet the boss
Nine years after joining Botswana Insurance Company (BIC) as an intern, Oratile Gaboutloeloe’s journey with the leading insurer’s reached a new high in July, when she was made Francistown Branch Manager.
The promotion was just rewards for Gaboutloeloe’s hard work and unwavering commitment to the job; it has also earned her a place in this week’s Meet the Boss hot seat…
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Oratile Gaboutloeloe. I hail from Hebron in the Southern part of the country. I am a mom to an adorable six-year-old girl called Yaya. I’m an easy-going and fun-loving person.
When did you join Botswana Insurance Company (BIC)?
I joined BIC as an intern in September 2013 through the National Internship Office shortly after completing my undergraduate degree. BIC has been my professional home since then.
What’s your educational background?
When I joined BIC, I had just completed my Bachelor of Business with a specialisation in International Trade and Marketing. I later completed a series of short courses including Events Management, ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility Certification among others and a Certificate of Proficiency in short-term insurance. As my career in insurance progressed, I enrolled at Milpark Education for two years doing a Higher Certificate in short-term insurance and an Advanced Certificate, after which I became an Associate of the Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA).
I intend to continue with my studies and become a Fellow. I am currently enrolled in the Management Development Program with Stellenbosch Business School.
Impressive stuff! Before your appointment as Francistown Branch Manager in July, what was your position?
I was an Underwriting Technician within the Personal Lines and Bancassurance division.
And what do you think helped you acquire this new role?
I’d like to think it’s because of my work ethic and track record as a member of the BIC team. I am a go-getter; I’m not one to back down from a professional challenge and I’m an avid believer in continuous development. So that, coupled with my enthusiasm and positive attitude, is something I’ve got going for me.
Talk us through your daily responsibilities?
Over and above risk management, I lead my team, providing them with guidance on deliverables and support as needed, ensuring that they have the resources they need to be effective and succeed. I try to be an exemplar to my colleagues and create a conducive environment for them.
I also maintain relationships with our clients and other stakeholders to ensure that we continue to be the preferred destination for their insurance needs as well as attend to any issues affecting our customers. I liaise frequently with the team at headquarters in service of our valued clients.
What services does BIC provide?
BIC is a one-stop shop for tailor-made short-term insurance products that cater to the unique needs of our customers. Through our Personal, Commercial and Specialised insurance offerings, customers can appreciate a holistic and distinctive approach to insurance.
BIC’s insurance covers offer affordable policies that protect homes, home contents, personal gadgets, vehicles, agriculture, engineering, workmen’s compensation, public liability, professional indemnity, and many more.
We are dedicated to continuing to serve our key industries like aviation, banking, finance, mining, hospitality, and the Government, to name a few, through our diverse distribution channels and digital platforms.
What sets BIC apart from other insurance companies?
BIC has its own local underwriting and claims mandate. We do not have to refer to a parent company across borders to make our decisions to insure a risk or pay a claim. We are the only insurer with an international credit rating from Moody’s of Baa2.
We are also the only general insurer that services our customers across a multi-channel distribution platform including: Brokers, Banks, Agents, Representatives, Branches, Website, WhatsApp and Customer Portal called My BIC.
We are the largest general insurer by market share by far and no other insurer can top that.
What do you consider to be the major highlight of your career so far?
This current role has got to be a major highlight. It comes with huge responsibilities but with the unwavering support I continue to receive from both internal and external stakeholders I am confident that it will be worthwhile. My journey with BIC has been very rewarding, from the first day I set foot within the organisation, throughout the transition from marketing to underwriting and today, leading others, it has been a process of learning and growth.
What challenges do you face as a young boss in a country where the majority of corporate leaders are over 50?
Over the past four years, there has been a significant increase in the number of seats occupied by young professionals. At least 80 percent of BIC’s management team is under 50 years. I have not been faced with any significant challenges thus far, save perhaps for a few situations where people have conflated age with competence. But by and large, I am very fortunate. The support that I have received and continue to receive from my colleagues and other stakeholders has been incredible!
What exciting developments can Batswana look out for from BIC?
BIC has recently appointed and promoted new talent within our organisation which will not only improve our service performance significantly but also bring a lot of fresh thinking to our way of doing business.
Our digitization strategy continues and we are working tirelessly to innovate our service offering to serve Batswana wherever they are.
Have BIC implemented any Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives?
CSR/CSI has always been a critical aspect of our business activities at BIC, because we recognise our obligation to be a responsible corporate citizen and make a meaningful contribution to the communities within which we operate.
In that direction, some examples of our CSR initiatives include the following: We sponsor the Security Systems XI soccer team and The Broadcasters Organisation, which is an organisation run by Journalists to improve education in our schools.
We also support other sporting and health causes like: Autism Botswan, Golfing (HATAB and many other Golf Days), Cycling (Tsela Riders and Mokolodi Scorpion Race), Show Jumping, Road safety in association with the Botswana Police and MVA and Miss Teen Botswana 2021
Away from work, what do you get up to?
Since moving from Gaborone, where I left most of my friends and family, I spend much of my time hanging out and doing fun activities with my daughter. Every now and then, I travel to visit friends and family.
Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?
I hope to continue to create value within whatever spaces I occupy and become a seasoned Insurance executive, leading an organization.
Personal Profile
Full Names: Oratile ‘Rati’ Gaboutloeloe
Date Of Birth: A woman never tells!
Marital Status: In a relationship
Favourite Meal: Creamy seafood pasta
Favourite Drink: Dry red wine
Holiday Destination: Bali