Chiara Gorlach

“Don't live the same year 75 times and call it a life.” Lawyer, writer and motivational speaker, Robin S Sharma could easily have had Chiara Gorlach in mind when he penned down this powerful line. A lawyer herself, Chiara has in her relatively short life made it her mission to learn as many new skills as possible. Her curiosity took her all over the world from Germany, South Korea and the Netherlands and to Omaha where she attended Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger's Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting with fellow RMB Class Ofs.

While the financial world is not unfamiliar territory for Chiara, having obtained her Honours Degree in Economics, the world of corporate and commercial law first called. It was after two years at the law firm, Webber Wentzel, that she was offered a scholarship to do her Masters Degree in International Business Law at the University of Tilburg in the Netherlands. She completed her Masters Degree cum laude, was admitted as an attorney and notary public of the High Court of South Africa, undertook the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon and summitted Mount Kilimanjaro – all in a matter of five years. Next on her short-term to-do list is completing the CFA certification.

Hungry to learn

The day Chiara’s mentor mentioned the possibility of spreading her wings at a Corporate and Investment Bank through the RMB Class Of Programme, Chiara knew it was an opportunity of a lifetime that she had to pursue.

Chiara’s first rotation was in the fast-paced Corporate Finance division of the bank, whereafter she took up a unique rotation opportunity as Executive Assistant to Herman Bosman (CEO of RMI and RMH).

Learning from the best

Being an only child to a Dutch father and South African mother, Chiara is used to being independent. However, one of the advantages of being on the Programme is the camaraderie and support from fellow RMB Class Ofs. The five-men, one-woman Class Of 2018 recently made history as the first RMB Class Ofs to attend Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha.

The Class Ofs put a proposal together to motivate their visit to hear the unscripted views of Chairman and CEO, Warren Buffett (88), and his right-hand man, Charlie Munger (93). One of the many nuggets she brought back home was Warren Buffett’s ability to think about investing in a simple, uncomplicated way – and that one does not have to retire at 60!

Closer to home, Chiara is full of praise for the RMB Class Of Programme as it offers one a unique opportunity to learn from the best in the industry, but also to learn more about oneself. A match made in heaven, we say.

“This is one Programme that takes you completely out of your comfort zone. It teaches you to persevere, to be resilient and that there is always an opportunity to learn something new.”