When faced with complex challenges or unclear outcomes, there is sometimes a tendency amongst business leaders to convince themselves that they are smart enough, work hard enough, or only need to make use of the best management tools available to overcome anxiety.  Truth of the matter is that there no longer exist a one-size-fits-all approach to business.

The North-West University (NWU) Leadership Summit  – which will take place on 10 August 2017 – aims to not only address the ever changing corporate environment, but also to empower business leaders by means of best practices and lessons learnt from some of South Africa’s most brilliant business and public sector minds.

The summit, which represents a dynamic collaboration between the Ukuvula Foundation and Studio55 Events and Production, will cover the following themes:

• Thriving during uncertainty and complexity
• Leadership and economic development

The summit programme boasts with several high-level keynote speakers, including:

• Dr Adrian Saville: Chief Strategist for Citadel Asset Management and Cannon Asset Managers
• Bonang Francis Mohale: Vice President Upstream and Chairman of Shell South Africa (Pty) Limited
• Prof Raymond Parsons: Professor at the North West University School of Business and Governance (SBG)
• Prof Dan Kgwadi: Vice Chancellor of the North-West University
• Yusuf Abramjee: Social activist, Chief Ambassador of the Namola Safety App, Chief Ambassador of the CEO SleepOut SA, Play Your Part Ambassador, Interpol Turn Back Crime Ambassador and Social Cohesion Advocate

Why attend the summit?

By introducing multiple perspectives, asking different questions, and enjoying exposure to varied business systems, leaders – from business, government and civil society, will better understand themselves, their roles, and the world around them. Mr Warren Makgowe, director for stakeholder relations at the NWU, and the coordinator of the summit, sums-up the value of the summit when he says: “Through the sharing of skills and knowledge leader will become more nimble, respond to change with agility, and be able to guide their respective teams to thrive in the ever-shifting business landscape.”

According to Makgowe the vision of the summit is to support the sustainable future, growth, and development of South Africa and ultimately the continent. “Impactful leadership is about creating a space to cultivate self-awareness and compassion, and to lead with authenticity in a way that inspires other. Through effective leadership we can transform not only our own lives, but also our organisations, our communities and the world,” says Makgowe.

Paying it forward

Proceeds from the summit will go to the Ukuvula Foundation, a charitable not-for-profit organisation that was established to coordinate and fund social development initiatives. The Foundation’s vision of making a difference through shared learning, development and empowering people is underscored by the fact that most of the assistance granted will be in the form of bursaries for tertiary education. Students of the NWU will therefore directly benefit from this initiative.

For more information on the summit as well as to register please click here. Attendance amounts to R1 500 per person, R1 200 for NWU staff and alumni and R1 000 for registered university students.