NEO MUYANGA, Class III: Seriti
“I was awed by the wealth of talent … in the new generation of leaders … and the commitment demonstrated by many of the Fellows in contributing towards building … a just society.”
I have an abiding fondness for all of my ALI classmates, despite the fact many of us haven’t actually spent much time exchanging ideas in person since the very intense sessions we shared during our preset 18 months of fellowship. It was through these very personal engagements and exchanges that I first was awed by the wealth of talent which resides in the new generation of leaders in this country and, furthermore, the commitment demonstrated by many of the Fellows in contributing towards building a better, more just society.
The challenges we face in South Africa currently confirm that we sit at yet another national inflection point. I hope that our current conditions may also be viewed as a fecund platform from which to consider practicing forms of leadership which consider creativity, curiosity and care as key to our appraisals of principles such as efficiency and productivity.
LINDI DLAMINI, Class VI: Tselela
“ALI Fellowship became a north star for my career decisions. Firstly, I never took on a role which did not include impactful socially responsive and responsible contributions.
It was 2009 and I found myself in Isaac Shongwe’s office at Barloworld. He was telling me about this mystical leadership initiative I had been nominated to. I didn’t fully comprehend but I was intrigued and my interest piqued. It sounded right up my alley, the intersection of meaning and purpose that I felt was missing from my otherwise successful corporate career.
I was in, and so it was that I made my way to Spier for the first sessions. The more suspicious around us wondered, have we joined a cult? By the end of the first day, I was all in. I remember Isaac telling us how life-changing the ALI was and that for many, the pursuit of the good society means accepting that one would always be troubled by the state of the world and the role of leaders from all walks of life in actively contributing positively to society.
It was after a few of the sessions, that I inevitably developed a taste for red wine! I would later find that ALI Fellowship became a north star for my career decisions. Firstly, I never took on a role which did not include impactful socially responsive and responsible contributions. Shortly after attending the final Tshelela class and the Global Summit, I made my first career change – true to our class name which means “Crossing Over”. Accepting the role of CEO of the GBVF Response Fund launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 4 February 2021 to fight the deadly scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in South Africa, was directly attributable to my need, indeed responsibility, to play a meaningful role in addressing a deep societal problem in the country. For if we sit back comfortably in bastions of privilege in the peanut gallery, who then?
The South African women who marched on the Union Buildings in 1956 had played their part and I felt overwhelmingly, that our generation needs to pay its dues having benefited from democracy. I had always meant to attend the annual AGLN in Aspen and took it for granted I would be able to, once ready to. Until Covid. And so it was that the first AGLN retreat in Aspen after Covid restrictions, I had no doubt about attending. The theme of Emergence into a Future of our own Making, held appeal, I was contemplating my life and future and needed the reflective space I have come to associate ALI and the AGLN. And what a profound experience it was – it was while there that I shared with a close friend Gugu Sepamla, who promptly dragged Dele Ologede into the fray to prevail upon me to positively consider the opportunity at hand.
Of course this is ALI and at the AGLN, there was a ALIWA Fellow in a similar role from Ghana –Dr Naomi Adjepong (Alpha Beta Schools Ghana) with whom I had a lengthy conversation about the merits of the role. Not long after my return from Aspen, I accepted the role of Executive Director of Roedean School (SA), a prestigious girls school established 120 years ago by Founders whose vision was to provide a quality education for girls and ensure girls participate in social enrichment programmes. Roedean’s purpose is to prepare our students to live a life of Significance, it was a sign – what is ALI if not about going from Success to Significance!
BABA MASHOLOGU, Class VII: Dinatla
“… being an ALISA Fellow actually became a lifestyle for me. Consequently, I watched in horror as countless associates, and in some instances, even friends (not related to ALISA) succumbed to the temptations for self-enrichment at the expense of our community and society. However, I have also watched with immense pride as numerous ALISA Fellows have adopted the high ground and taken up leadership positions in private and public entities in order to be able to shape the society …”
I have heard it said of one of the great religions of our world that, by being a practitioner, one adopts it as a holistic lifestyle and not simply a periodic observation of prescribed rituals. In other words, one becomes wholly immersed in the beliefs and values of that religion and lives them on a continuous, uninterrupted basis, minute-to-minute, day-to-day, week-to-week and, ultimately, year-to-year. I often feel this way about the Africa Leadership Institute (ALISA), and of course the extended Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN), of which the ALISA and its Fellows automatically become part.
Dramatic as this might sound, a large proportion of ALISA Fellows become fervent practitioners. You see, ALISA advocates an ideal – the Aristotlean vision of a ‘Good Society’ (also referred to as ‘the Good State’) – that a large number of us inherently and resolutely believe in, and find ourselves striving for in ways that have now become both conscious and subconscious.
From the time of my induction into ALISA in 2010, into the Dinatla class – my nominator having interrogated, then correctly concluded that I was indeed at an inflection point in my life and at a life stage where it had become imperative for me to contribute more meaningfully to my society – I was introduced to an altogether new level of consciousness. In the readings and the moderated sessions of our wonderful seminars, through the intellectualism and engaging fellowship of the other participants, and through the recognition of a shared set of profound, normatively immutable values, being an ALISA Fellow actually became a lifestyle for me. Consequently, I watched in horror as countless associates, and in some instances, even friends (not related to ALISA) succumbed to the temptations for self-enrichment at the expense of our community and society. However, I have also watched with immense pride as numerous ALISA Fellows have adopted the high ground and taken up leadership positions in private and public entities in order to be able to shape the society and world they aspire to live in – in order to develop the Good Society. I am privileged to count my Dinatla classmates, Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke as well as Rejane Woodroffe of the Bulungula Incubator as such leaders, amongst numerous others.
Being part of this community has also profoundly shaped my ethical worldview and the lens which I intuitively use to shape my decisions and contributions related to my immediate and national social, cultural and professional environments. I am now a Policy Adviser in a prominent global law firm, one that I consciously chose for its ability to positively influence and impact (public) policy in boardrooms and Government departments, both in my country as well as numerous others on our continent. Indeed, so committed and fulfilled am I by the privilege and ability to be encouraged, allowed and supported to try and make a difference, that I have since motivated members of my family to also become participants in the ALISA/AGLN movement. To wit, my spouse is now a Fellow of the AGLN Finance Leaders chapter and my fifteen year old daughter has started to participate via the AGLN Young Socrates Fellowship. And I have seen firsthand the positive effects on them of participation in this esteemed community, with both having an elevated sense and dedication to community upliftment, and relevant initiatives. My eleven year old daughter is also visibly inspired and one can sense her impatience to be old enough to join the community.
I also wish to highlight the diversity of interactions that I have enjoyed as a result of being a Fellow – from having access to local professional networks to rubbing shoulders with personalities as varied as the late esteemed former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, to cultural celebrities such as ‘Lupe Fiasco’. And while I will confess that I have frequently been starstruck at the sight of certain Fellows within our community, it has been the less prominent Fellows that have secured my unending admiration. In this regard, I cite the ALISA Fellows who have run school feeding schemes here in South Africa, to political activists in parts of Latin America who have been jailed for their activism (CALI Fellows), through to the son of a mayor in Charleston, SC who motivated for the development of a slave museum at the port where a massive estimated forty percent of African slaves transited into the USA, never to see their homelands again. These are the nature of Fellows who most irreversibly capture my imagination and compel me to always strive to live and be the vision of ALISA.
Lastly, I have to express my deep thanks to my nominator, Bongi Njobe, as well as to Isaac – I will never forget our first interaction – as well as the capable team of Moderators who have so successfully translated complex and critical concepts and maintained truly safe spaces for engagement (the likes of my good friend Dele, Watanan, Bruce and Ralph amongst others), as well as the numerous members of the management and administration team of ALISA who have kept the institute going over the years, and finally, my dear classmates in the Dinatla class.
ASHWELL JENNEKER, Class VII: Dinatla
“Participating in the Africa Leadership Initiative has fundamentally transformed my approach to combating racism and my role at Stats SA. Through heightened awareness, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, education initiatives, and advocacy, I have embraced a more proactive and purpose-driven approach to effecting positive change.”
Since my participation in the Africa Leadership Initiative (ALI) and taking on the role in Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) with new vigour, my perspective on the world has shifted significantly, and I have approached my community task of fighting racism with renewed determination and purpose. This experience has not only shaped my understanding of systemic issues but also transformed the way I navigate and engage with the world around me. Here are some of the highlights how my ALI experience has influenced my actions, mindset, and impact in my role at Stats SA and in my community’s fight against racism.
Through the ALI programme, I have developed a heightened awareness of the pervasive nature of racism and its detrimental effects on individuals and communities. This newfound sensitivity has allowed me to recognise and challenge subtle forms of racism that may often go unnoticed.
ALI has emphasised the importance of promoting diversity and inclusion in leadership and decision-making processes. In my role at Stats SA, I have strived to create an inclusive work environment where all voices are heard and valued. Recognising the power of representation, I have actively advocated for increased diversity within the organisation, both in terms of hiring practices and professional development opportunities. By championing diversity and inclusion, I aim to dismantle systemic barriers and create a workplace that embraces the richness of different perspectives and experiences.
As a result of my ALI experience, I have realised the importance of advocating for policy changes that address systemic racism. In my role at Stats SA I have actively engaged with policymakers and government officials to highlight the need for data-driven policies that tackle racial disparities. By providing accurate and comprehensive statistics, I contribute to evidence-based decision-making processes that promote social justice and equity. Additionally, I have actively participated in public forums, conferences, and campaigns to raise awareness and influence public opinion on the urgency of addressing racism in our society.
Participating in the Africa Leadership Initiative has fundamentally transformed my approach to combating racism and my role at Stats SA. Through heightened awareness, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, education initiatives, and advocacy, I have embraced a more proactive and purpose-driven approach to effecting positive change. By incorporating the principles and values instilled by the ALI programme into my work and community task, I am making a tangible difference in the fight against racism, while also inspiring and empowering others to join this crucial endeavour.
TSAKANI MALULEKE, Class VII: Dinatla
“If it wasn’t for ALI, I would not have taken a job in public service as Auditor General of South Africa, but would rather have opted for a lucrative position in the private sector. One has to raise your hand in order to bring about change.”
In South Africa today we have a clear need for ethical, capable leaders operating across sectors of society. Currently our country and the world are fraught with inequality, human rigts violations, challenges to democracy and our trust in leaders and institutions is diminishing. We live in a complex world that demands a lot from its leaders: ethical and attuned leaders are conscious of what’s needed, adopt a posture of service and responsibility and they are conscientious in delivering within their chosen field.
The ALI experience changed my world view. Fellows are exposed to moderated conversations that challenge and inspire us. I became addicted to this rare space of authentic conversation where I became aware that Fellows might come from different parts of South Africa, but we all want the same thing: a better SA, an equitable and stable society that inhabits a healthier planet. We want a better world.
We are also faced with tough questions of duty and responsibility. Have I done what I could, given the talents and resources availed to me? ALI helped me to nurture and embrace the duty of service, because what I do today can benefit generations to come. If it wasn’t for ALI, I would not have taken a job in public service as Auditor General of South Africa, but would rather have opted for a lucrative position in the private sector. One has to raise your hand in order to bring about change.
DR SIBONGILE GUMBI, Class VIII: Mahube
“ALI instilled in me the importance of thinking beyond oneself”
ALI was the pause button I needed at a very busy time in my life and career. The discussions, ideas, experiences and perspectives shared inside and outside sessions were intense, but also a lot of fun. We not only challenged each other as Fellows, but more importantly I challenged myself in areas I probably would not have explored before. Today I’m “paying it forward” in the form of time, talent and treasure by supporting an educational institution. I’m “giving back” having set up a community vegetable garden run by rural women in northern KZN. I may not have gotten an ALI project off the ground (sorry Isaac!), but ALI instilled in me the importance of thinking beyond oneself and doing that much more for society in whatever field or sphere of influence available to me.
TANDI NZIMANDE, Class VIII: Mahube
“My ALI journey has revealed a layer of courage I had no idea I had.”
To start with, I am something of an introvert, somewhat shy and not keen on taking centre stage at all. My ALI journey has revealed a layer of courage I had no idea I had.
When I look back over the past few years, I am certain that had it not been my ALI experience, there are certain challenges I would not have stepped up to. The reading “The Ones Who Leave Omelas” had a huge impact on me. I found myself taking on more ownership and challenging myself to make a greater difference. In that journey, I found myself taking on high impact roles, the most high profile of those being taking on the very public role of CEO of the Solidarity Fund.
The Solidarity Fund showcased how a successful partnership across the public sector, private sector and civil society could look like, and brought hope to many South Africans as we confronted an unknown and unrelenting Covid-19 pandemic. The Mahube Class continues to provide a space of warmth and support, cheering each other on and lifting each other up when the going gets tough! I am looking forward to getting more involved in the gatherings hosted beyond Johannesburg and South Africa. I feel like my journey has just started with this amazing group of people!
KHULEKANI MATHE, Class IX: Tariro
“Being part of the ALI programme has been invaluable to me. It expanded my network of ethical leaders that I can always rely on for sound advice.”
Congratulations to ALI on turning 20! This is a BIG achievement.
Whenever I attend an ALI event, I am always amazed at the quality and depth of leaders that I have the priviledge of interacting with. Being part of the ALI programme has been invaluable to me. It expanded my network of ethical leaders that I can always rely on for sound advice when facing ethical dilemmas in my personal life as well as in my career.
I joined ALI (Tariro Class) during the State Capture years when lines between right and wrong in the civil service were blurred. Ethics were thrown out the window. The lives of those who insisted on doing the right things were threatened and their livelihoods destroyed. As various commissions and investigations have uncovered, many civil servants were put under immense pressure to make unlawful and unethical decisions. Sadly, some succumbed to the pressure but thankfully many more withstood the pressure. Joining the ALI programme at that time was the best thing that could have happened to me.
ALI equipped me with the tools to navigate difficult challenges without compromising my ethics. My leadership journey has been greatly assisted by the many rich lessons in the readings that exposed us to different leadership styles.
Through ALI, I met Dele, who like me is a staunch Manchester United supporter. In recent years, he and I must have done more defending of the team in spirited football banter than those hired and paid to do so. The exposure to very good wine by ALI has enhanced my wine appreciation for which I am eternally grateful.
Finally, a big thank you to Isaac Shongwe for not only having the vision, but executing it and in the process impacting so many lives. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to members of the board of ALI over the years, the moderators, and the staff for their selfless service to the ALI community.
REFILWE MOLOTO, Class XI: Tekano
“Our ALI engagements on leadership – its virtues, its perils, and its opportunities – have been instrumental to refining my approach to being a part of this solution.”
In two decades of covering African markets and economies, I have encountered the continent’s simultaneous celebration of its demographic dividend and the lamentation of entrenched elderly leadership that refuses to release the reins. This is the case (both in public sector and in private sector) for a young economy such as ours where founder-CEOs are resistant to letting go – even thirty years in. It would seem an obvious quandary to solve: the elderly relinquish control and the young take on the mantle of a future they will actually experience. Vested interests, however, always get in the way – wherein incumbent leadership seems unyielding to the fact that our interests are shared. Our ALI engagements on leadership – its virtues, its perils, and its opportunities – have been instrumental to refining my approach to being a part of this solution. My graduation as an ALI Fellow coincided with my foray into media as well as more discursive platforms where I have been afforded the opportunity to table this platform of shared interest, to some welcoming response. The task is greater than is appreciated, and so has also been met with some disheartening resistance. Unsurprisingly, the resistance is most felt on the continent.
However, at one of my most recent platforms, I delivered two talks on Africa at the Northern Light Summit in Helsinki – an annual closed gathering of 150 of the most senior and influential Nordic and European listed company CEOs and former heads of state, hosted by the European Business Leaders Convention. There, as during our ALI programme, the potential for the recognition of Africa’s shared leadership interest could not be more starkly apparent. Rather than deputising ‘future’ leaders until incumbents are ready to retire (or perish), CEOs and former prime ministers were largely under 50, and where they weren’t, successors were not only in the room but vocal, passionate and heard. Their focus on European-specific opportunities, risks and threats for European citizens was single-minded – even to the extent that, in its 20-year history, this was the first time Africa was on the agenda, and largely because of the multi-polarity of Africa-Russia-China relations that might affect them. Their private-to-public candour about the shortcomings of leadership, and robust discussion shifted mindsets on nuclear engagement, artificial intelligence, mineral rights and the environment, and even their own engagement with the global south, over a few short days. It not only reminded me of my unique ALI experience, but reignited my resolve to pursue shared ownership of strategic direction by leaders of all ages in Africa – not in some ‘youth’ format, but in recognition of the fact that those best-placed to lead strategic decision-making will likely be those who will be alive to feel its impact.
ALI is a fundamental asset in continuing to assert the need for African leaders of all ages, and continues to underpin my pursuit of it, in Africa, and abroad.
