People of Vox: Brian Rossouw
At Vox, we believe our employees are the beating heart of our company, with merit and value built into all our available positions. In this edition of People of Vox, we find out more about Brian Rossouw, who is Vox’s Regional Sales Manager for Mpumalanga and Limpopo. When you meet Brian, you notice straight away how warm and funny he is, with an incredibly positive attitude.
As Vox’s Regional Sales Manager for Mpumalanga and Limpopo, Brian’s daily work sits where sales leadership meets customer experience. In addition to chasing targets and working on quotations, his daily purpose includes solving problems and creating consistent momentum, for both customers and his team members.
Before joining Vox three years ago, Brian worked in retail and telecommunications. He’s experienced a number of curveballs and challenges during his lifetime, but instead of using former hardships as an excuse to throw in the towel or feel sorry for himself, he has let those experiences shape his approach to work and leadership.
Let’s meet Brian and find out more about his amazing work ethic.
Juggling His First Job with His Final School Exams
Brian actually began his adult working life while he was still writing his matric final examinations. “When I was growing up,” he says, “my family was extremely poor, and my mom sometimes struggled to make ends meet. But, you know, God has always been good to us and I believe that He always had a plan for us. I knew that just as soon as I was able, I was going to start working to try and help her and my siblings.”
An opportunity arose when Brian was offered a short-term contract job as a picker-packer for a company that supplied frozen fish to restaurants. He explains: “It was a bit problematic because of the clash with my final school exam period, but I took the job to help my family. It was challenging – I was working the night shift in freezers that were about 10 degrees Celsius below freezing point! – but I managed.
“During the day, I would study and write my exams, and then I would work the night shift until about four or five o’clock in the morning. I’d get back home, study a bit or sleep if I could, depending on my exam schedule…. It was tough, but I made it through!”
After matric, Brian was able to find more permanent work and later landed up selling tech accessories in stores.
“These early jobs were tough but formative,” he says. “They taught me resilience, humility and the value of small, steady steps. Taking consistent small actions is a personal philosophy for me, which I like to describe with the acronym ACSA: ‘Attitude and Consistent Small Actions’. I believe this mantra will help with achieving success in any realm in this world but I find it especially helpful within the sales arena.”
Brian believes everyone has the potential within them to change the world for the better. He elaborates: “And if you don’t have the power to change the world, at least change your world for the better!”
Human Connection: The Competitive Advantage
Brian describes himself as someone who creates ‘magic’ for customers when things go wrong. He treats each problem like an opportunity to deliver exceptional customer experience and to show his team how to close the loop properly.
For Brian, attitude includes emotional resilience and the ability to keep going when prospects are difficult or rejection happens. “I believe that attitude is a choice: you own how you feel and react, and resilient people outlast obstacles,” he says. “Consistent small actions are the daily disciplines that compound into success: making calls, following leads, refining quotes and improving process detail. “
Brian wants those he leads to cultivate emotional resilience, and he also believes in leadership as a teaching opportunity.
“I want to model the behaviour that I expect from my team members: doing the work, being present for others, and demonstrating how to handle objections and close deals. I’m proud to be in the role I once looked up to, and I enjoy helping others to climb the same ladder.”
Brian’s day starts early: he’s in the office at 07:00, reviewing sales interactions, quote volumes and order accuracy for every team member. From 08:00 Brian meets the team, unpacks individual performance and looks for the precise actions that will turn a weak day into a better one tomorrow. He spends the rest of the day in meetings, solving customer queries, planning strategic projects for multi-dwelling units and liaising with stakeholders. His role combines hands-on sales with coaching and troubleshooting.
For Brian, the best part of his job is the people he works with. He says: “People matter above all: customers, colleagues and the communities around them. I find people fascinating – how everybody is different and has a different story to tell. And in the work environment, human connection is a competitive advantage. While it’s true that AI and automation is bringing uncertainty, my advice remains the same: build adaptable skills, stay curious and focus on the human capabilities that technology cannot replace.
“My favourite success story is about a team member who could not write one quote in four months; after coaching, encouragement and steady accountability, this person became a top performer nationally. That is the essence of consistent small actions – you don’t need overnight successes; instead, you need persistence.”
Why Vox? The Human Difference
Brian believes that the combination of customer care and front-line coaching is what sets Vox apart, together with its people.
“Vox employs a direct sales force, with employees out in the field who represent Vox, not outsourced contractors,” he says. “This human connection matters. Customers speak to someone who knows the product, owns the process and cares about the outcome. For me, this is a defining advantage: it makes Vox personal, accountable and responsive.”
He also values how Vox embraces newcomers, explaining that when he joined the company, product managers and colleagues reached out to help him learn. He says: “This culture of openness and ownership impressed me, because not every company welcomes new starters with that level of support. My colleagues are incredibly generous and will always go the extra mile.”
One of Brian’s most memorable Vox experiences was a team event in Nelspruit where colleagues from across Mpumalanga gathered for training, laughter and community. After a day of face-to-face coaching and team building, the group sang together late into the evening. He explains: “It was a spontaneous moment of unity that moved me deeply, and reinforced my conviction that beyond metrics and targets, shared human experiences build a stronger company culture.”
Ending on a Positive Note…
Outside the office, his family life gives Brian his solid foundations. He lives with his wife Fanisia, and two young daughters, Klara and Donné, who are around three and one years old currently, and spends most evenings with his family after work.
He explains: “Most days, I work until just after four o’clock, and then I go and pick up the two most beautiful children in this world – and lucky enough they are also my children, otherwise that could be a bit awkward!” he laughs.
“I can’t imagine a life without my children – when it comes to kids, you just can’t fake those feelings. They are little now, but when my daughters are bigger, it’s my ambition to travel with my wife later in life, and we would like to alternate time between developing and developed countries on a three-month global trip,” he says.
Brian is also community-minded. He once chaired a Round Table chapter and helped raised significant funds – over R10 million – for local charities in Mpumalanga, which is a reminder that his leadership extends beyond the sales floor.
He adds: “My ultimate aspiration at Vox is simple but also ambitious: I’d like to be known as the person who brings positivity to every room, and as a leader who inspires others day after day. And I definitely don’t believe in ‘pity parties’ – throw yourself a pity party if you must, but make sure it’s on a tourist visa and doesn’t take up permanent residency!”
And with that blend of honesty and humour, Brian sums up his attitude to life: acknowledging life’s difficult moments while always keeping his eyes on solutions.
About Author
