Marc Train

While it is not uncommon for South Africans to pack their bags to emigrate to Australia these days, it is quite rare for Australians in turn, to move to our shores. That is, unless you are young, adventurous and hungry to make radical changes in a continent that is abundant with opportunities waiting to be explored. Enters Marc Train. Marc Train decided to return to his birth country after his family emigrated to Sydney two years ago. At the young age of 25 he officially became the youngest candidate ever to join the elite RMB Class Of Programme.

Growing up fast

Marc describes himself as entrepreneurial, driven and brave – a perfect description, considering all that he has achieved in his short life thus far. Growing up in the Natal midlands on his parents’ dairy farm, Marc knew all about surviving in a sink or swim situation from an early age. As the laatlammetjie of the family he followed in the footsteps of his three elder siblings by enrolling in boarding school when he was only seven years old. There was just one option – he had to grow up and become independent very quickly.

New ventures

Growing up on a dairy farm also taught Marc and his siblings that hard work pays off. This mantra became his philosophy in life. He started trading on the Stock Exchange with his dad when he was only 15 years old. It was clear that a future in finance and venture capital beckoned for this young, fearless entrepreneur. Six years later, he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Financial Management Services at the University of Stellenbosch in 2015.

It was shortly after the Train family emigrated to Sydney, Australia, that Marc started his own venture capital firm, the Istimela Investment Group. His passion to enable people reach their dreams set the scene for the next few exciting chapters in his life. It was during this time that he also completed his Master’s degree in Business Management at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Sydney, all along while gaining experience at various asset management firms in the city.

While he could easily have carved a successful career as a venture capitalist in Australia, Marc knew that there was a bigger calling back home in South Africa where his skills, passion and drive to make a real difference in people’s lives, were more needed. Leaving behind the comforts of life in a first world, crime-free country and the support of his family, Marc bought a one-way ticket back to South Africa.

Back home

His first stop was to open South Africa’s first F45 Training facility in Camps Bay. The F45 Fitness brand is the brainchild of Rob Deutsch, an Australian entrepreneur who spotted the gap in the fitness market for people to transform their lives, both physically and mentally with personalised, instructor-led gym sessions.  Marc was inspired by the similarities between himself and Deutsch who also used to work as an equities trader before he developed a unique training technique for busy people. There are currently over 1 600 F45 studios in 36 countries.

But there was more to the move back to his roots. Marc wanted to explore the numerous opportunities for venture capitalism in Africa. A former RMB employee told him about the unique RMB Class Of Programme and Marc was sold. “I’ve been looking for an opportunity to grow my venture capital experience and knowledge to ultimately enable more people to realise their business dreams,” says Marc.

Marc joined the RMB Class Of Programme in November last year and started his first rotation in the Credit and Risk division of the bank. He believes that the experience he will gain in Credit and Risk will give him a solid foundation before his move to one of the bank’s two private equity divisions. In the meantime he is looking forward to doing a few rotations in other areas of the bank such as the FOUNDeRY and investment banking.

“The ability to be your own captain and drive your own rotations make the RMB Class Of Programme a very special and unique Programme,” adds Marc.

Bright future

Marc believes that Africa has many untapped opportunities for banks to explore. “Technology such as blockchain has the potential to give entrepreneurs access to essential services that were not possible until recently. It has the ability to transform the way businesses share information, track assets and deliver their services. The time to improve processes and drive efficiencies is long overdue. Africans are naturally very entrepreneurial and resourceful,” concludes Marc. A bright future beckons.