Andrew Barnes

Andrew Barnes, the owner of Barnes Properties, specialises in residential and retail property development in and around the Pietermaritzburg area in KwaZulu-Natal.

Andrew was schooled in Pietermaritzburg and initially followed in his parents’ footsteps into conservation. His first job, at 18 years old, involved running an anti-poaching unit, but Andrew quickly realised that his passion lay elsewhere. “Animals don’t speak back, and I enjoy working with people,” he reflected. This marked the beginning of his journey into the property industry, a field he entered “by absolute default” over 30 years ago.

His early mentors played a crucial role in his development, particularly his parents, who were government employees. One of his first employees was his mother, a situation that added some pressure to his early career. “If I didn’t pay her salary, she’d probably kick me out!” he quipped.

SPORT AS A FOUNDATION
Andrew’s passion for sport has influenced his business approach. Over the years, he has participated in numerous events, including half a dozen Duzi canoe races, nonstop Duzis, the Comrades Marathon, mountain bike races, and has climbed some of the highest mountains in the world.

“Things that I’ve learned from sport are probably some of the greatest lessons that I’ve learned outside of the business world,” he said. “Things like tenacity and making a plan; because to a large degree, as with sport, the business environment requires absolute zest and a need to come out on top. That doesn’t mean you need to get one over anybody else. It means that you’ve got to work with people.”

This belief extends to his leadership style. Andrew emphasises the importance of leading by example and fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and motivated. “You’ve got to constantly look for a balance between big decisions and careful thought,” he noted.

His approach recognises that people are motivated by a variety of factors, and that as a leader, you must be willing to take risks, make difficult decisions, and remain humble in the process. “Working hard and being prepared to do anything that you ask people to do creates a strong foundation for trust and respect,” he explained.

NAVIGATING CHALLENGES
Andrew’s involvement in the community extends beyond property. When his children started school, he became involved in education, initially serving on the board of Cowan House, a local independent school, and later the regional committee of South Africa’s Independent Schools’ Association.

A challenge Andrew faced was during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The first confirmed case of the virus in South Africa was linked to Hilton, a neighbouring town, and the infected individual’s children attended Cowan House. This situation placed Andrew at the centre of a crisis that required action. “Engaging with various ministers, the community, and the media was probably one of the most trying times in my life,” he recalled. “I think I navigated the crisis well for my community of people. A lot of my upbringing has been one of engaging with people and sorting out problems off the front foot, and that’s what I’ve tried to do constantly.”

Andrew’s believes that success is not just about personal achievements but about contributing positively to society. “My why is that I think that you owe it to society and to yourself to be the very best at whatever you do every minute of the day,” he explained. “I deliver on my mandate, for all those people that I work with.”

His approach to business and life is shaped by a genuine love for people. “I believe that I have the ability to deal with a plethora of people from different backgrounds, from captains of industry to bricklayers and plasterers, who need to be heard and understood,” he said.

“The best advice I’ve ever received is to face things head on... And in life, you need to love people for where they are at and laugh. I think that’s incredibly important. These three things have helped keep me real, kept me grounded and enabled me to work with different people constantly.”

A CRITICAL SKILL
Andrew’s leadership style is also characterised by his emphasis on listening. He believes that truly hearing what others are saying, as well as what they are not saying, is a critical skill. “The ability to listen is probably the greatest, most undervalued skill,” he emphasized. “It’s something I’ve learned and I don’t always get right, but I work at it every day.”

In the challenging environment of first-generation property development in South Africa, Andrew has faced significant obstacles, particularly when competing with larger, more established players. “There’s a lot of really deep pockets, and you are often on the outside looking in,” he admitted. “But the best way to combat that is to work hard, work honestly, and face challenges head-on.”

Andrew works at keeping up his team’s morale by understanding that you need to be human because people don’t follow robots. “That means you need to be humble, caring, conscientious and genuine. If you apply those traits, the right people will follow you. And people will put themselves on the line for you.”

Andrew is inspired by people who have built businesses from the ground up. “Anybody can buy an asset; not everybody can create one,” he stated. He holds a deep respect for simple, hardworking individuals who often must overcome significant life challenges. “You can learn an exceptional amount from simple people,” he says.

Looking ahead, Andrew is optimistic about the future of business in Pietermaritzburg and the Midlands, which he believes has significant potential for growth, especially with the rise of the middle class over the past few decades. He sees opportunities for those willing to work hard and collaborate with others. “You’ve got to decide whether you’re a half-empty glass or half-full glass kind of person,” he said. “And I’d like to think that I’m the latter.”

Andrew’s motto, “Pitch up at the start line and put your ears back,” captures his approach to life and business. He advocates giving your best effort in every situation, regardless of the competition.