A New Operating System inspired by the Back-to-Back World Cup Rugby Champions
By Paul Steenkamp
The Springboks’ remarkable journey from a humiliating 57–0 defeat in 2017 to their narrow 12–11 victory over the All Blacks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final provides the foundation for Paul Steenkamp’s Stacked.
The book explores how talented individuals can transform into exceptional teams through deliberate development, accountability and shared responsibility.
Steenkamp uses this sporting transformation to present lessons that extend beyond rugby. He argues that sustainable success requires organisations to identify potential, develop talent and empower individuals to nurture future leaders.
Building a system for sustainable success
Stacked introduces The Stack, a practical operating system structured around five levels:
- The Foundation
- The Organisation
- The Team
- The Career
- The Country
This framework connects individual growth with organisational performance and broader societal development.
Rather than treating leadership as an isolated skill, Steenkamp emphasises the systems that enable people to thrive. His approach encourages readers to examine how they recruit talent, establish standards and build cultures of continuous development. Consequently, Stacked offers practical insights for business leaders, managers and professionals navigating change.
The book’s central message is that exceptional performance rarely happens by chance. Instead, it emerges when people combine individual capability with collective purpose and a commitment to developing others. For readers seeking sustainable success, Stacked provides a useful perspective on building stronger teams and organisations.
About the author
Paul Steenkamp is a writer, speaker, builder and rugby enthusiast. He examines the operating systems behind exceptional teams in sport and business.
He spent nearly three decades working within organisations. During this period, he managed FNB’s award-winning Innovators programme and launched Standard Bank’s internal ventures lab. Since 2016, Steenkamp has operated his own practice. He designs and tests leadership and management practices with teams across South Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
His first book, Character Insights for a Regenerative Future, co-authored with Tanya Meeson, explored five science-backed character strengths that support breakthrough work.
- PUBLISHER | KR Publishing |
- Recommended Retail Price | R389.00 |
- ISBN | 978-1-991272-85-0 |
- Classification | Leadership, Organisation |