Arisha is Hollard’s first female risk consultant and like many of her industry peers, she had not planned to go into insurance. She holds a BSocSc degree in Housing and Town Planning and a BSc Honours degree in Environmental Management. She is one of a handful of women to achieve Automatic Sprinkler Inspection Bureau (ASIB) Competency.
“I’ve come from a fixed fire protection sprinkler background, as a designer. This is where my interest in fire protection was sparked, and therefore risk mitigation. Even though I’ve never had the opportunity to grow in the fields I studied, it has certainly made me realise how to make the most out of what I have, which has fortunately led me to love what I do professionally,” she says.
Arisha joined Hollard in March 2020, where her education and fire protection background stand her in good stead as a risk consultant. “My tertiary education has shaped the way I think and approach difficulties. It has forced me to be resilient in taking any opportunity that is given to me and owning it,” she states.
A typical day at Hollard for Arisha usually consists of conducting surveys for clients at their premises and thereafter compiling comprehensive reports on her findings and how to manage the risk if necessary. Clients don’t often expect to see a female risk assessor.
“I still have a lot to learn, but I also appreciate being given the chance to do my job as I think most clients find it refreshing to see women now taking on such roles,” Arisha says.
Managing risk is part of Aisha’s personal life, too.
“My fiancé Keeghan and I postponed our wedding to 2021 because we were too afraid to risk the lives of our loved ones [due to the COVID-19 pandemic]. It gave us a chance to take a step back and focus on exactly how we want to celebrate our union.”
“No matter where the COVID journey takes us, I would not be able to get married without my parents and sister by my side. These four human beings have had the greatest impact on my life and have moulded me to be the bold person that I am today,” Arisha says.
When she’s not helping others to mitigate their risk, Arisha enjoys spending time with her family and friends, having more “me” time, and spoiling herself with her favourite Lush products. She also enjoys exploring Cape Town with her fiancé, as this will soon be their new home.
“During the lockdown, I finally made the time to focus on myself, and my physical and mental well-being. It is absolutely amazing when you realise what your body is capable of. I have never been a fan of going to a gym, which is why I love the Les Mills programme; it has changed my life on a mental, physical and spiritual level. I also have a crazy obsession with Mt Everest and Freddie Mercury, so any related documentaries or books feed my soul.”
Her quotation to live by is by Canadian author Robin Sharma: “Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.”
“This is my spiritual belief in a nutshell: your life is a reflection of your thoughts, as it is a reflection of what you attract,” says Arisha.
