Money management
Nedbank Private Wealth’s Rebecca Cretney recently sat down with Robin Woodhead to talk about his philanthropic origins, which led to the creation of Khula, a charity focused on improving education and opportunities for children and young people in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Khula is one of the charities with which Nedbank Private Wealth has chosen to partner, encouraging employees to support the cause by giving their time and talent.
When success evolves into responsibility
Robin Woodhead built a remarkable career leading the London Commodity Exchange and later Sotheby’s, working in a world shaped by wealth, fine art and global influence. Yet what struck him most was not the scale of people’s fortunes, but the very different ways they chose to use them.
“I met people who gave extraordinary amounts away,” he recalls. “And others with enormous wealth who didn’t give a penny.”
Those experiences taught him an important lesson: philanthropy is not a function of wealth; it is a function of mindset.
Long before philanthropy became a central part of his life, however, its foundations were already being laid. Growing up in what was then Rhodesia, Robin was aware from an early age that many people lived in circumstances far more difficult than his own. His parents quietly helped where they could, never making a show of it. One memory, in particular, remained with him.
“During the Belgian Congo revolution, as families fled violence, I watched my mother rise in the middle of the night and gather blankets. She took them to a church hall that was providing refuge for those escaping the conflict. It was not a grand act of charity or part of any organised campaign. It was simply an instinctive response to human need.”
Looking back, Robin recognised that moments like these had shaped his understanding of responsibility and compassion. Seeing his mother respond so naturally to the suffering of others taught him that those fortunate enough to have resources have an obligation to help those without them.
Years later, after establishing himself professionally, Robin found a new passion in rural South Africa, restoring degraded farmland and transforming it into a sustainable ecosystem. As the land recovered, his attention turned to the communities around it: local schools were struggling and educational opportunities were severely limited. When his neighbour and friend, David Rattray, was tragically killed, Robin joined the family in formalising and expanding the support David had begun. Together, they helped create and grow Khula, an educational foundation that today supports thousands of young people.
For Robin, the journey transformed a personal interest into a life-defining purpose. “I turned the pleasure of restoring land into something far deeper,” he reflects. “I became involved at a level I could never have imagined. It has given me a personal return beyond measure. It is a bit embarrassing to say this, but for me this has been one of the most important things I’ve done in my life. I have seen that by bringing my skills, contacts and experience, I could inspire people and make a real difference on the ground. That’s the journey I have made.”
The return that can’t be measured
The phrase struck me instantly: a return beyond measure. When I asked Robin to explain it, he paused. It was not financial, nor reputational; in fact, he was quick to dismiss philanthropy driven by recognition.
“If you do it for vainglory – for people to see how powerful or wealthy you are – it won’t sustain you,” he says plainly. “If you give because it’s part of who you are, it becomes very powerful. You can be just as proud of improving other people’s lives as you can of building a business.”
Stewardship: The liberation of letting go
Central to Robin’s philosophy is a simple but transformative idea: ownership is temporary.
He recalls preparing to auction a historic library assembled over two centuries by a Chancellor of the Exchequer and his son, and later housed in their castle. By the time of the sale, the castle was owned by a butcher who lived alone in just two rooms, surrounded by the collection. When the library came to auction, it sold for £26 million. The evening before the sale, Robin addressed a room of private library owners and reflected on stewardship.
“Being a steward,” he said, “means holding and caring for something only temporarily preserving it, maintaining it, and ultimately passing it on to the next custodian.”
To Robin, the story illustrated a belief at the heart of his philanthropy: wealth, collections, land and heritage are never truly ours to keep indefinitely. We are responsible for them for a time before passing them on.
That perspective has shaped both his personal decisions and his philanthropy. Seeing ourselves as stewards rather than owners makes it easier to let go, to share, and to use our resources for the benefit of others.
“If you understand that you only have these things for a while, you can enjoy them without desperation,” Robin explains. “That makes it easier to let go, and to give. It also changes family dynamics. Without stewardship, wealth can become a source of tension, control, even division. With it, wealth becomes a shared responsibility.”
Philanthropy as practice, not gesture
One of the most persistent misconceptions about philanthropy is that it is simply about giving money.
“You wouldn’t invest in a company without due diligence,” he points out. “So why would you give money away like that?”
The most impactful philanthropists bring all their resources: capital, expertise, advisers, networks, and time. They engage with organisations, build long-term relationships, and adapt when circumstances change.
Robin explains that as Khula evolved, that approach proved critical. After years of improving educational outcomes, a difficult question emerged: what happens next? Better schooling alone was not enough. Students needed pathways into employment, which meant building the frameworks and networks to support them. Addressing that meant stepping into unfamiliar territory: skills development, vocational training and new partnerships.
“It was a risk,” Robin admits. “But we were stewards of these young people’s education. We had to continue.” That decision transformed the organisation.
A mindset anyone can adopt
What emerges from Robin’s story is not a blueprint, but a way of thinking. He believes philanthropy is not reserved for the ultra-wealthy. It does not begin with large sums or formal foundations. It begins with awareness, evolves through involvement, and deepens through commitment.
It is about asking:
- What do I care about deeply?
- Where can I contribute meaningfully?
- How can my skills, experience, or network make a difference?
- What does it mean for me to be a steward?
For me, the conversation with Robin will remain. In the end, philanthropy is not just about changing others’ lives. As Robin’s journey makes clear, it changes the giver too. And the return? It cannot be measured, but for those who experience it, it often becomes the unmistakable mark of a life well lived.
Nedbank Private Wealth partners with philanthropists to help them achieve their philanthropy and legacy objectives. If you would like to explore how philanthropy could become integral to you or your family, please get in touch.
