13/11/2025
From captaining the Springboks to leading in boardrooms, Bob Skinstad’s story is one of growth, grit, and balance. I had the pleasure to meet and photograph Bob for Word Magazine where he shared how rugby shaped his approach to business, teaching him the value of teamwork, discipline, and resilience. Even when the sport turned professional, he never gave up having “another job” on the side, believing in balance and learning beyond the field. The same lessons that built champions on the pitch now drive his success off it.
Life after rugby wasn’t simple, but Bob turned the challenges into opportunities. He built a career in advertising and marketing, which gave him skills he could carry into business, and he encouraged athletes to plan early for life beyond sport. Bob’s approach is all about constant improvement rather than just winning, a mindset he brings to every project he takes on.
Today, Bob wears multiple hats: partner at Elixirr, co-owner of ASBH Béziers Hérault in France, and investor with KNF Ventures, supporting innovation in South Africa. Bob also helps run a data and analytics academy connecting local graduates to global opportunities. He balances all this with family life, traveling between the UK and South Africa, and aims to keep growing in business while helping Béziers climb back to the top league. Bob’s advice to young South Africans? Work hard, embrace technology, be bold, and surround yourself with people who inspire you.
