Symphonia for South Africa’s inaugural Citizen Leadership Conversation comes at a crucial time for South Africa socially and economically. The platform encouraged meaningful discourse among those who care about the country’s well-being and progression, and created a space where everyone could contribute to #TheFutureWeWant
Internationally acclaimed South African NPO, Symphonia for South Africa (SSA), hosted the first of its Citizen Leadership Conversations on Tuesday, 25 January.
The virtual session, attended by over 150 active citizens, featured South African thought leaders, Dr Louise van Rhyn and Dr Reuel Khoza, in discussion on the importance of leadership in transforming South African society. Both leaders have been globally recognised by leadership and management platform, Thinkers50, for their exceptional leadership, innovation and commitment to social change in their respective organisations, communities and South Africa.
Key insights from speakers
Reflecting on his induction into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame, Dr Khoza explained what this coveted recognition meant for the African continent.
‘’With this recognition, Africa has broken into a different class of thinkers. We are moving away from thinking parochially towards a more global orientation. At the very least, this means that Africa can really benefit from globalisation more equitably. Moreover, we can position ourselves, and leapfrog as global leaders. We cannot, as a continent and people, continue to be described as ‘developing’.’’
Dr van Rhyn, who received the 2021 Thinkers50 Ideas into Practice award for pioneering SSA’s flagship programme, Partners for Possibility (PfP), articulated a similar sentiment.
‘’Africa has a contribution to make to the world. We understand that leadership is relational. It is about humanity, Ubuntu, a different way of being together.
The pandemic showed us that the world needs alternatives to westernized systemic thinking – and Africa has an opportunity to lead on this.’’
The need for conscious political and citizen leadership for an alternative future emerged as the topic of the day.
Speaking to the foundation and function of sound leadership, Dr Khoza put it simply: ‘’Leadership should take us from where we are to our desired destination as a nation. Leadership should be predicated on the main pillars of competency, accountability and ethical conduct. These pillars equate with legitimacy and practical respect for human rights. If leaders fail these tests, they also fail the tests of morality, efficacy and trust. They cease to be credible and should step aside. This is crucial in a world where tyrants abound in corporations and in states.
Leadership must also be fit to compete for the future. Leaders should also think generationally, so as to preserve and build our society socially, economically, legally and philosophically for the benefit of future generations. As citizens, we should prescribe who should lead us in this way.’’
As leadership development practitioner, Dr van Rhyn offered her view on how best to develop the type of leaders and citizen leaders that can create #TheFutureWeWant.
‘’The world needs leaders and citizens alike to get involved on the ground and in communities so that we learn from our own experiences. This is exactly what the Partners for Possibility programme enables. Leadership is ultimately not just theory, it’s practice.’’
Humanising the impact of the multi award-winning PfP programme, Dr Ntombikayise Ngcobo, Deputy Chief Educations Specialist and PfP alumnus, shared how she benefited from the programme when she was a school principal at Waterloo Primary in Verulam.
‘’Being on the PfP programme taught me how to strategise to increase community involvement in the school. We learnt how to communicate and contract effectively with the various stakeholders. PfP capacitates principals so that they become leaders. Capacitated principals have the ability to strategise as leaders to solve the challenges they face.’’
The conversation concluded with a call to the audience to consider their own contribution to citizen leadership, and business leaders and school principals were invited to consider PfP as a vehicle to strengthen their leadership skills.
About Symphonia for South Africa and Partners for Possibility
Symphonia for South Africa’s purpose is to develop conscious leadership that builds social cohesion, uplifts communities and works towards achieving a just society. Partners for Possibility, Symphonia for South Africa’s flagship programme, pairs principals with business leaders in a 12-month collaborative and practical leadership journey. Through these partnerships, principals are supported to drive positive change in their schools to ultimately ensure quality teaching and learning. School principals and business leaders who are interested in learning more the programme can email [email protected].
