Key Takeaways

  • Charles-Louis Herbst was appointed as development manager in Pretoria for Atterbury in August 2021.
  • He studied Construction Management and sought to understand the full process of property development beyond construction.
  • He feels the company culture and people are the biggest things that stand out for him at Atterbury.
  • The most important lesson he has learned while working there is the ability to see the bigger picture.

In August 2021 Charles-Louis Herbst was appointed as development manager in Pretoria.  We met with Charles to reflect on his first year at Atterbury and to find out what stood out for him this year as highlights, what he envisions for the next year in this position and to reveal to us who he is when he’s not wearing his job title.

Tell us about the professional persona Charles-Louis Herbst: Where did you study, what was your first ever job, your first proper job and what path did your career take from there to where you’ve started at Atterbury?

I studied Construction Management at the University of Pretoria. When looking back, it was definitely a very exciting time in my life! I always had a strong attraction to the construction world from a very young age and was always eager to learn and experience more. It was great once I could study the field and surround myself with like-minded people moving in the same direction. I made lifelong friends while studying, and I think the one thing I am grateful for is that I chose a professional career which I am passionate about.

My first proper job was working for J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects. To be honest, my goal was always to end up at a big developer on the forefront of new and exciting developments in South Africa. But I quickly realized, coming out of university, that although I studied hard and thought I knew a lot, I did not understand much and barely scratched the surface of how the industry works. I had to learn and understand the basics of our industry before attempting to lead projects and developments. I think JC was a great place to do so, as I had incredible exposure working my way through the ranks and learning from great mentors. From erecting scaffolding towers, concrete pouring from a banana bucket, and sweeping the warehouse floor the night before handover, to later contract managing large-scale projects and dealing with complex contractual and financial issues.

As my career progressed and I completed each project, my interest in how developments go from a piece of land to a magnificent new warehouse, office building, mall, or whatever you might pass driving from Pretoria to Johannesburg on the N1 increased. Not just from a construction point of view, but from legal, town planning, financial, operational and all other aspects of a development outside of building a development. Thus, interest and a thirst for knowledge drove me to join Atterbury as I wanted to experience the full picture of what it takes to create a successful development from start to finish.

How did you find out about the available position for a development manager at Atterbury?

I was quite active on LinkedIn and kept my profile up to date with what I had achieved in my career and what I was currently busy with. I believe LinkedIn is a great tool for professionals and businesses to showcase their expertise if done right. One day, a recruiter called and asked if I was interested in the available position because my profile matched what the job description was outlining.

Where and when did you realise you have an interest in property development?

As mentioned, I always had a general interest in the built environment but never really knew the extent of the industry or how it worked until I got exposed to it and started putting the puzzle pieces together. One great thing about the profession I chose is that it is extremely versatile, and you deal with a lot of different aspects, people, and professions daily. Through this exposure, I quickly realized that managing a development from start to finish and dealing with all stages of the process was what I wanted to do.

If you look back today to one year ago, taking those first steps into Die Klubhuis, what about Atterbury stood out for you and has this perception changed in the past year?

The biggest thing that stood out for me the moment I walked into Die Klubhuis was the people. I think that is what makes Atterbury. I think a person can quickly gather from your initial interactions with new people whether you will be able to not only work with them, but form part of a team with the same inspiration, passion, work ethic, and culture as you. I think it is extremely rare in modern times to find a company which truly embraces and allows its employees to thrive by creating an environment which forms the basis of exceptional performance. From the day I walked into Atterbury and my initial interactions with the people, I could gather that this was a place and team I wanted to be a part of.

What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learnt to date working at Atterbury?

There are, of course, a lot of technical lessons learnt, but I think the one that drives home is having the ability to see the bigger picture. I believe that a lot of the time, trying to focus on individual elements of a project or problem at hand can cause you to lose sight of what the end goal is you are attempting to achieve. We are fitting smaller puzzle pieces into place day by day to form a much larger picture at the end, and each day you must keep that end goal in mind and ensure that your daily decisions are moving you in the right direction.

How does a typical day in your life unfold in this position?

You must be ready for anything. Dealing with multiple projects, all at different phases, means that you must wear a different hat from one moment to the next to deal with whatever challenge might arise. No one day ever looks like the one before or the one to come. Each day has new opportunities and problems to solve, and there is never a dull moment. My key responsibilities involve the management and planning of technical, legal, and financial aspects of a development at all stages. Thus, my day may entail any one of these duties that I need to carry out.

What will be your main focus points for the rest of 2022?

Many of my projects were completed by the middle of 2022, and my current focus is on bringing projects from the proposal and design phase to the ground-breaking stage. With 2023 around the corner, I want to get a running start as there are some very exciting projects about to kick off, such as Afrilog’s new facility, and some that just broke ground, such as Smoke Restaurant. A lot of time and effort has been put into getting everything ready on paper, but the key is to make sure we now deliver and execute as planned.

* Everyone has a favourite. Which Atterbury project is yours, and why?

A project like Nelspruit We Buy Cars is up there. Everything went to plan, with a successful project and great new development. But I think the new Mattress & Couch facility on Old Mint Park is, thus far, my favourite. In that case, it required the entire project team to work together, with everyone performing and going above and beyond what was required as we faced different challenges throughout the course of the project. I think what stands out for me in this project is how having the right mindset and attitude across the board in your team ensured that we could deliver a beautiful new facility which was handcrafted and molded to make the space work for the tenant and allow them to excel in their business.

* And on a personal level, who is Charles-Louis when he is at home?

My fiancé says I am a busy body. I am always busy fixing, mending, or breaking something around the house. I learned that from my father, but I believe I missed a couple of key lessons because, while I always have good intentions, when you try to fix a tap and end up with a massive leak on a Sunday afternoon, it is better to call the professionals. We have a Border Collie, so when I am not running after him, you can usually find us at the CrossFit box, or lighting a braai, taking it easy and planning our upcoming wedding.

* Tell us three things that we will find on your bucket list.

A couple of things include:

  • Fly Fishing in New Zealand
  • Going to watch the CrossFit Games
  • Watch a Hillsong concert live