Cheree Dyers, Chief Executive Officer
I’ve spent over 25 years in financial services, with the last 20 at Prescient. After earning my CFA designation, I transitioned from finance into investments, first as an equity analyst, later becoming CEO of Prescient Securities in 2015 and CEO of Prescient Investment Management in 2018. I’ve completed an Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD and serve on various boards, including General Reinsurance Ltd, CFA Society South Africa and PBT Group.
How would it have been different if you were male?
I might not have had to prove myself as often. I’ve been fortunate to work at Prescient, where diverse thinking is valued, but the broader industry still presents challenges – from unconscious bias to unequal access to leadership opportunities.
What, in your opinion, deprives women in South Africa of financial freedom?
Women in South Africa are still denied financial freedom by systemic barriers: lack of financial education, limited access to banking and the economic burden of survival over saving. Globally, women face similar constraints, earning less, saving less, living longer. Without early intervention and structural reform, the gap only widens.
What role does the government play in charting the course to true gender parity?
Government plays a vital role in enabling financial inclusion. South Africa’s two-pot retirement system is a step in the right direction, as are compulsory savings structures and tax-free savings accounts, which provide accessible, tax-efficient ways to start saving. We also benefit from a sound financial framework with widely available collective investment schemes and ETFs. But tax incentives alone aren’t enough.
What’s missing is broad, early-stage financial education, especially for women. Globally, governments are doing more: matched savings, subsidised childcare, targeted education. South Africa can, too.
In 2018, you assumed the role of CEO of Prescient and have steered the company into developing South Africa’s leading systemic wealth manager that relies on data-driven investment processes to provide clients with certainty in managing their money. Please expand on the benefits of this approach.
Clients today want reliability, not hype. They want consistent alpha, low cost and low volatility especially in uncertain markets. At Prescient, we deliver this through a disciplined, systematic investment process. We remove emotion and rely on empirical evidence, not gut feel. We process millions of data points daily and use tools like nowcasting to stay ahead of shifts in the economic cycle. When the unexpected happens – a pandemic or a rate shock – traditional forecasts often fail. Our process doesn’t.
What is the way forward for Prescient?
Prescient’s way forward is clear. The world is uncertain, and traditional economic models are no longer fit for purpose. That’s why we’ve built our approach around three core pillars: technology, data and smart people. We appeal to clients who see the value in data-driven, process-led investing and who understand that in today’s world using big data is not optional. We’ll continue to expand our use of technology and alternative data, refine our systematic models and scale responsibly while staying true to our purpose – helping our clients invest with confidence.
What is your objective for the company?
My objective is to make Prescient the most trusted partner for clients seeking certainty. That means delivering repeatable outcomes, empowering our people and never compromising on the principles that set us apart. In a world of volatility, we offer clarity, and we plan to keep it that way.
Prescient Investment Management (Pty) Ltd is an authorised Financial Services Provider (FSP 612). Please note that there are risks involved in buying or selling a financial product, and past performance of a financial product is not necessarily a guide to future performance. The value of financial products can increase as well as decrease over time, depending on the value of the underlying securities and market conditions. There is no guarantee in respect of capital or returns in a portfolio. No action should be taken based on this information without first seeking independent professional advice.
Letshego Rankin, Executive Director and Head of Institutional
Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of building a career in South Africa’s dynamic financial services sector. I’ve held roles across business development, strategy and client engagement, and today I serve as an executive director and head of institutional at Prescient Investment Management, leading our institutional distribution strategy.
My growth in this industry has been shaped by the mentorship of both women and men, many of whom I initially reported to, and who continue to guide me as trusted voices in my professional circle. Their influence has taught me the value of inclusion, long-term thinking and lifting others as we rise, principles that now underpin my leadership style.
BBBEE is an essential part of long-term success and sustainability in South Africa. Please outline how equity ownership impacts on staff.
In the ever-evolving South African investment landscape, transformation is a strategic imperative for long-term sustainability. At the heart of this transformation is BBBEE, particularly in the realm of equity ownership. When employees are given a real stake in the organisation, they develop a deep sense of accountability, alignment with long-term goals and motivation to innovate. It’s not just about redistributing ownership but purpose and pride too. Staff engagement, productivity and retention improve. At Prescient, where we’ve intentionally embraced transformation, this has fostered internal cohesion and a culture where diverse talent thrives and feels valued.
Prescient is one of the Top 100 Most Gender Empowered Companies in South Africa. In your opinion, what makes Prescient lead the women frontier? Please talk to us of the critical importance of financial inclusion.
Our progress in this space is not coincidental, it is deliberate. What sets us apart is our active integration of gender equity into recruitment, leadership development and succession planning.
One of our most exciting initiatives is our women’s mentorship programme, launched internally and driven by the young women in our organisation. This peer-led approach supports emerging talent and strengthens our commitment to diversity, inclusion and authentic leadership development. It’s not just about top-down empowerment, it’s about creating space for young professionals to lead, influence and shape our culture.
Beyond corporate transformation, financial inclusion is another pillar of sustainable transformation. For us, it’s about designing accessible, cost-effective and outcomes-based investment solutions, ensuring that clients across the spectrum have access to products that serve their needs. Inclusion also means engaging clients in ways that build trust and clarity.
To support these goals, we’ve embraced systematic investing using portable alpha strategies. In today’s evolving market, marked by fee pressure, volatility and regulatory shifts, this approach allows us to target alpha from uncorrelated sources while maintaining efficient market exposure.
Please share some advice for South African asset managers determining how best to future-proof their investment processes to access new sources of alpha in an increasingly evolving global investment landscape?
Portable alpha separates skill-based returns from beta, giving investors greater flexibility and control. At Prescient, we apply a disciplined, data-driven framework to deliver risk-aware, cost-sensitive strategies aligned with our clients’ long-term objectives. It’s a powerful tool for building resilient portfolios, and one that’s increasingly relevant in a world where traditional alpha is harder to find.
South African asset managers must evolve with agility. The global investment landscape is changing rapidly, with rising ESG expectations, increased use of data science and the expanding influence of private markets. To remain competitive, we must invest in both technology and talent. That includes integrating advanced analytics into our investment processes, upskilling the team and fostering a culture of innovation and curiosity. We must also embrace cross-functional collaboration, bringing together investment professionals, data scientists, ESG specialists and client strategists to unlock deeper insights.
We must become client-led, not product-led. Clients today want more than just performance. They want impact, sustainability and a partner who understands their evolving needs. Listening more closely, responding more thoughtfully and innovating with intention will define the successful asset managers of the future.
Collective Investment Schemes in Securities (CIS) should be considered as medium-to-long-term investments. CISs are traded at the ruling price and can engage in scrip lending and borrowing. A schedule of fees, charges and maximum commissions is available on request from the Manager. A CIS may be closed to new investors for it to be managed more efficiently in accordance with its mandate. Where a current yield has been included for Funds that derive its income primarily from interest bearing income, the yield is a weighted average yield of all underlying interest-bearing instruments as at the last day of the month. This yield is subject to change as market rates and underlying investments change. Prescient Management Company (RF) (Pty) Ltd is registered and approved under the Collective Investment Schemes Control Act (No.45 of 2002).
Nasreen Hisham, Chief Operations Officer
My journey to becoming COO at Prescient Investment Management has been one of strategic progression and operational excellence. I hold a Bachelor of Business Science degree with Honours in Finance from the University of Cape Town. In February 2019, with 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, I joined Prescient Investment Management as head of operations. From the outset, I was given the exciting challenge of establishing our middle office with a clear career path towards becoming chief operating officer.
In April 2022, I assumed the role of chief operating officer. This journey has taught me that achieving success in financial services not only demands diligence, technical expertise and the ability to drive meaningful organisational change but also requires dedicating time to deeply understand the business and its offerings.
Prescient’s enduring values inform how the company makes decisions. What are these values?
Prescient’s core values are deeply embedded in everything we do:
- Trust sits at the centre of certainty. When it comes to money, trust is paramount, which is why we are fastidious about our processes and partnerships.
- Focus on facts. We maintain a meticulous approach that creates certainty for our clients. Our scientific approach to managing money enables us to give clients comfort that we can meet their objectives with a high degree of certainty.
- Transparency and fair pricing. We are transparent with our clients and ensure fair pricing structures.
- Multiplier behaviour. We believe in the imperative to make those around us better, fostering an environment where everyone
can excel.
What qualities do women bring to the role of financial planning?
Research consistently shows that women overall make better investors and generate higher returns when making investment decisions at financial firms. Women tend to be natural relationship builders, demonstrating strong empathy both with colleagues and clients. This quality is invaluable in financial services, where understanding client needs and building trust are fundamental to success. Women often bring a more collaborative leadership style, which fosters better team dynamics and more comprehensive decision-making processes.
Women frequently demonstrate greater risk awareness and long-term thinking in investment approaches, which can lead to more sustainable financial outcomes for clients. Women tend to be more holistic in their approach, considering not just immediate financial goals but the broader life context and long-term implications of financial decisions. Women often excel at active listening, with a tendency towards more conservative approaches that prioritise financial stability alongside growth objectives.
Charity begins at home. What does this mean at Prescient?
At Prescient, “charity begins at home” is embodied through our three responsible investment pillars, which demonstrate our commitment to creating positive impact:
- Investment Management. We integrate ESG factors into our investment analysis and decision-making processes. We focus on ESG integration, product development and proxy-voting to ensure our investment decisions consider ESG factors.
- Product Development. We create ESG-centric products and responsible investing solutions, including our flagship Clean Energy and Infrastructure Debt Fund, which has deployed over R5-billion across 30 renewable energy projects, contributing 2.2GW of clean energy capacity to South Africa’s grid.
- Corporate Responsibility. Encompassing our commitment to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), adherence to CRISA and ASISA guidelines and our ESG committee’s oversight of development and social impact initiatives.
What are Prescient’s flagship funds?
Prescient’s flagship range represents core propositions across the full risk/return spectrum, applying their combination of core skills: yield generation, risk management and asset allocation. These funds target CPI +3% to CPI +7% returns annually, with varying risk profiles and investment horizons ranging from three months to five (plus) years. The range includes money market offerings with enhanced yields, short-term funds targeting returns above money market rates, equity funds and multi-asset flexible funds.
All flagship funds are designed with strong capital preservation and downside risk measures, reflecting commitment to providing clients with certainty and confidence.
Among Prescient’s suite of flagship funds, two noteworthy standouts are the Prescient Income Provider Fund and the Prescient Clean Energy and Infrastructure Debt Fund. The Prescient Income Provider Fund is recognised as the largest income fund in the country, having successfully served clients for over two decades with a consistent track record of performance and reliability. The Clean Energy Fund, now running for a decade, represents Prescient’s commitment to sustainability, channelling investments into renewable energy and infrastructure projects that drive environmental progress.
Together, these funds embody Prescient’s dedication to delivering robust financial solutions while making a meaningful impact for both clients and the broader community.
The information contained herein is provided for general information purposes only. The information and does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or purchase any investments. Opinions and views expressed in this document may be changed without notice at any time after publication and are, unless otherwise stated, those of the author and all rights are reserved. The information contained herein may contain proprietary information. The content of any document released or posted by Prescient is for information purposes only and is protected by copy right laws. We therefore disclaim any liability for any loss, liability, damage (whether direct or consequential) or expense of any nature whatsoever which may be suffered because of, or which may be attributable directly or indirectly to the use of or reliance upon the information. For more information, visit www.prescient.co.za.
