Tracey Swart
When Tracey Swart joined Blake & Associates' dynamic management team at the end of 2008 as Relationship Executive, she began a new chapter in her career, along with a brand new relationship strategy for Blake & Associates,
but it’s her subsequent success at the company that has ensured that she was recently appointed to the Board of Directors.
After spending 25 years in the banking industry in South Africa, Tracey welcomed the opportunity of joining 5 year client, Blake & Associates, and embarking on a new chapter in her career. Coming from a very structured corporate financial environment, the move to the dynamic, constantly innovating environment of Blake & Associates was a decision that was not difficult to make. Her 25 year career with Standard Bank, took her from Retail Banking, to Corporate and Investment banking, with a strong focus in her later years on Relationship Banking, focusing predominantly on JSE listed companies in the Durban region. Her experience was perfectly suited for her role at Blake & Associates, a position that was specially created for her. But ultimately it was her personality that proved to be most suited to the dynamic work environment that Blake offered. Tracey has embraced the culture, constant innovation and energetic management style at Blake, and the fact that their open door policy makes decision making quick and efficient. The culture at Blake with which they manage the business is always dynamic, underpinned by a strong entrepreneurial spirit, allowing Tracey and her team to act quickly on opportunities that presents itself in the marketplace.
Raised and educated in Durban, Tracey’s studies led her to a year of full time study which was abandoned in favour of the working world, where she continued with her studies part time. It is her passion for service that is probably her biggest differentiator, as well as what attracted her to Blake & Associates. As one of the leaders in their industry, service is what sets Blake apart from its competitors. That, and their dynamic leadership style, which combined, packs a powerful punch in today’s competitive consumer service driven environment.
At Blake & Associates, Tracey is responsible for dealing and growing a client base ranging from large financial institutions and insurers right through to major retailers. Their client list includes companies such as ABSA, First National Bank, Nedbank, Mr Price and Truworths to name but a few. Her focus is also on focusing on industries and sectors not traditionally in the call and contact centre market. Customer Life cycle management is key to client retention and management and Blake and Associates works with their corporate clients to ensure that they attract, retain and delight their customer base.
Tracey says that the ability to innovate, act quickly and have direct access to decision makers, is one of the best things about working for Blake & Associates. “Often we are able to resolve something around a quick coffee break, which makes the work environment so much more open and efficient”. Tracey really feels passionate about ‘service’ though – it’s what she values more than anything else about working at Blake. “Service (and people) is the ultimate differentiator in this business, and the main reason why Blake is so successful at what they do.”
From a personal perspective, when not busy with work, her children are her biggest passions – seeing them achieve inspires her to give her ‘all’, every day. And when she’s not busy with either, she loves gardening and just being in the outdoors. Hiking is also a big favorite... Tracey loves exercise, and also makes time for Gym a good few times a week to keep her physically fit and healthy.
When asked about her personal philosophy on success and maintaining a balanced lifestyle as a woman in a management position (not easy to achieve in today’s world), Tracey comments: “Balanced lifestyle? That is not an easy thing to achieve and takes a lot of hard work to get right. A few years ago I might not have known what the words meant… But, all in all, I’m very happy today to have a successful career as a woman. My children are always the ones to remind me that I’m a better person for ‘working’ (having a career as a mom), and I truly believe them. Having said that, I think it has taken me a good few years to realize the importance of a good work-life balance and how to get it right. It’s also important to ensure that you don’t necessarily make your career your only passion. You have to have balance and diversity in your life, in order to be the best you can be.”
