In the scrum with Jardine on his lekker addictions

Roger Jardine is so passionate about rugby that when he looks in the mirror, he sees Schalk Burger - we ask if perhaps he isn't looking through a window and that he is neighbours with Schalk Burger. As our conversation develops, we realise that maybe his perception of himself as an open side flanker in life isn't so far off. Roger is a big thinker and light on his feet, and his love for his rugby team, the Raiders in Bosmont, is inspiring.

He manages to see-saw his obligations to shareholders, and his responsibilities as chairman of Kagiso Media and chief operating officer of the Kagiso Group, with his mandate and personal drive to act in the best interests of the communities of his country. We think you'd need to be a rocket scientist to pull that off. Luckily, this former director-general of arts, culture, science and technology has a degree in physics, and the words of a wise teacher to go with it: "A clever man knows what he doesn't know." We believe that having a sound knowledge of exactly that has shaped this remarkable man into the multileader he is.

As with many other able leaders we have met, Roger has an air of ease. We get the impression that nobody ever really hears or feels how hard Roger works except Roger. He is an affable and funny library of relevant information. He is solidly grounded, and we believe he generally wakes up way before most of us.

Roger glows with pride when he shares with us that more than 20 000 students have benefited from the bursaries and scholarships that have been facilitated by the Kagiso Trust. And then he gets back to rugby and we never once catch him offside.

How can we become better listeners?

Sorry, what did you say? well, actually, by not believing that we are always right.

Would you describe yourself as a risk taker?

An educated risk taker. Taking a risk for the sake of taking the risk is irresponsible. When you take a risk you have to have a good sense of what could go wrong and how to mitigate against that. I am in favour of calculated, educated risk.

Were you at the right place at the right time?

Absolutely. My career was built on people taking risks on me.

What are the fundamentals of an investment?

People. Warren Buffet says that your main job as a director or shareholder is to make sure that you have the right people managing the investments you make.

Is black economic empowerment (BEE) working in SA?

If the measure of BEE is the broad-based participation of black people in the mainstream of the economy, then we have a long way to go. However, it is providing black professionals an opportunity to take up leadership positions in business. There is still a way to go in terms of mainstream business taking risks on black executives.

Are our banks in SA world class?

I think so, but there is always room to improve service quality. If you look at some of the benchmarks of operational efficiency, there is a lot to be proud of.

Which is better, a proton or a crouton?

A crouton, with parmesan. I spend more time honing my skills as an amateur chef than in the laboratory. I stopped taking science questions a long time ago.

Is technology meant to save us time?

It is meant to make us more efficient. And to make toast.

Why then do we seem to have so little spare time?

Because we are so busy reading manuals.

Are you a radio or a TV man?

I have a face for radio but I am not averse to a good thriller on TV, and of course I watch as much rugby as I can on the weekend. I would like to see more club rugby on TV. I love radio for its immediacy and advertising power.

Is the media too powerful these days?

I think as media people we shouldn't underestimate the intelligence of other human beings.

Is the Internet changing everything?

If I look at my 12-year-old daughter it is definitely changing all aspects of our lives. In South Africa mass uptake is lagging but that is now changing.

Do you love what you do?

I do. If you do something without passion you become a shell. If you don't love what you do then you shouldn't be doing it. If you come to the conclusion that you don't have passion for that thing any more then it is time to move on.

Does it love you back?

I do a diverse range of things and in some cases it is a passionate love affair and in other cases it is less intense. Sometimes I feel like I am on a blind date.

Is the hard part of doing business the drive or the putt?

I don't play golf. It's the scrum and the offside actually.

What's with all the rugby?

It's a sport that belongs to all South Africans and everyone is passionate about it. The majority of the country watched this last World Cup. Although, with a linear progression, there will be four black guys in the team when I am 66 years old. I am taking my vitamins and I am hoping to see a representative team before I die. It is not in our interest to choose our team from a limited gene pool. But the truth is South Africans want to win, and we don't actually care who scores the try.

Is the business of America, business?

It is driven by business. That business imperative can sometimes be confused with foreign policy and military misadventures.

What is your view on crime in our land?

It is one of the most important public policy issues facing our society today. It is a real issue for ordinary South Africans and it can potentially destroy this great dream.

What is the secret to closing a sale?

People have to feel comfortable with each other. It is often a neglected aspect of a transaction; the chemistry between people is fundamental.

Is it all about the bottom line?

Shareholders make an investment to earn a return. Sam Walton once said that he never focused on making profits but on building a great company. If you do all the right things you can have a great company and a strong bottom line.