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For many in the City of Roses, and across South Africa\u2019s agriculture and finance sectors, the name Brendan Jacobs is a familiar one. As the Head of Agribusiness at Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking SA, Brendan holds a pivotal national role. Yet, for all his professional accomplishments, he remains first and foremost a devoted husband, father, and family man.<\/p>\n
His journey began in Kimberley, Northern Cape, where he attended Newton Primary and Kimberley Boys\u2019 High. \u201cI had excellent teachers, coaches, and mentors,\u201d he recalls. \u201cMany of the lessons I learned on the sports field, especially from the losses, have stayed with me. They shaped how I approach both life and business now.\u201d<\/p>\n
He credits his parents with instilling timeless values of honesty, integrity, and the importance of hard work. \u201cI had a happy childhood. My parents gave my sister and I unconditional love, support, and a strong moral compass.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was during his studies at Kovsies that the world of finance, as he puts it, \u201cchose him\u201d. Initially exploring entrepreneurial ventures, Brendan was handpicked for Standard Bank\u2019s graduate programme. Though he joined with curiosity, he stayed out of passion. \u201cI quickly realised that banking is about much more than tellers and ATMs, it\u2019s about building relationships, solving real-world problems, and being part of something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Today, in his national role, he thrives on daily interactions with clients, colleagues, and industry stakeholders. \u201cAgribusiness is a vibrant and essential part of our economy. We get to support food security and help grow local communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
But despite the high demands of corporate life and frequent travel, Brendan\u2019s anchor remains his family.<\/p>\n
\u201c<\/em>The reality of my job is that I\u2019m often away. That only works because we\u2019re a team, my wife and kids support me, and we support each other. Everyone\u2019s role in our family is equally important.\u201d<\/p>\n For over a decade, the Jacobs family lived in Johannesburg, where their two children were born. They\u2019ve since returned to Bloemfontein, which Brendan describes as a truly special place. \u201cBesides the great schools and lack of traffic, it\u2019s the people that make Bloem what it is. There\u2019s a deep sense of community here.\u201d<\/p>\n Time off is sacred and often spent on running, playing padel or golf with friends and family and when possible getaways to the coast or the river. \u201cThose moments recharge me and ground me.\u201d<\/p>\n Brendan also strives to lead by example, especially for his children. \u201cI want them to know that success doesn\u2019t come overnight. It\u2019s built over time, through hard work, being their authentic selves, and kindness. That\u2019s a value we hold dear as a family: Kindness doesn\u2019t cost anything.\u201d<\/p>\n To those aspiring to build careers in business, Brendan offers this advice: \u201cYou can only be yourself. Be the best version of that. You\u2019re the captain of your own career. Build your knowledge base, learn relentlessly, and the opportunities will come.\u201d<\/p>\n And the best advice he\u2019s ever received? A motto from his school days that still resonates deeply: \u201cPer Labores Ad Honores\u201d which means through hard work comes honors.<\/p>\n As Brendan Jacobs continues to navigate the world of high finance and agriculture, his guiding star remains constant: the love and strength of his family. And that, perhaps, is his greatest success of all.<\/p>\n Text: SAZLY MOSES Photographs: CLEMENT MATROOS<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cI hope my wife and children know I\u2019m always there for them, that I love them unconditionally, and want nothing more than for them to become the best versions of themselves.\u201d For many in the City of Roses, and across South Africa\u2019s agriculture and finance sectors, the name Brendan Jacobs is a familiar one. As […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":18932,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,20],"tags":[7690,7687,7686,502,7689,7688],"class_list":{"0":"post-18931","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-people","8":"category-personalities","9":"tag-agribusiness","10":"tag-brendan-jacobs","11":"tag-brendan-jacobs-on-success-family-and-staying-grounded","12":"tag-city-of-roses","13":"tag-standard-bank","14":"tag-standard-bank-business"},"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/bloemfontein\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2025\/05\/COVER-305x400.jpg\")
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