Tag: adaptability

Predictions about the future of work have become commonplace. Every year brings forecasts about new technologies, changing job roles, and the skills employees will need to remain competitive. But as 2026 has unfolded, many of those predictions have moved beyond theory. They are shaping hiring decisions, influencing business strategy, and redefining what employers expect from their people.

Every day, I talk to CEOs and executives facing the same storm. It’s a challenging time to lead a business. Macro shifts are relentless, pressure is mounting, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing everything. I’m all for it. It’s a massive step forward, and we should embrace it. But the reality is intense. Companies are holding back on hiring, work is being displaced, and everything is moving at warp speed.

In the days following the recent World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, the distance between global decisions and local consequences feels uncomfortably short. Tariff negotiations, technology regulations and trade policy shifts made in Davos are already surfacing in South Africa. They are causing delivery delays, price volatility and financing challenges.

As traditional career paths shift and the demands of work evolve, the skills that matter most are also changing. This article explores how entrepreneurial thinking has moved beyond the start-up sector and become a defining advantage for professionals across every industry. I draw on academic research and practical experience to explain why this mindset, centred on initiative, adaptability and problem-solving, now forms a foundation for long-term career success.

Leadership adaptation amid disruption is essential as organisations navigate rapid changes in technology, workplace dynamics and global challenges. The past few years have been among the most challenging in recent history.

As the hype around artificial intelligence (AI), and more particularly, Generative AI, continues to grow, manufacturers must assess the benefits of adopting this cutting-edge technology into their platforms and processes. Similar to the innovation in cloud technology, the closer AI is to a business’s processes, the more transformative it will be.

In South Africa, women aspiring to leadership roles encounter a landscape shaped by historical inequalities and persistent socio-economic challenges. Women in leadership, particularly black women in South Africa, face a unique set of challenges deeply rooted in both historical and contemporary contexts.

The role of women in global leadership has become increasingly significant. Women bring unique perspectives and qualities that are not only transforming businesses but also shaping the future of industries and societies at large. Despite the considerable progress made in recent years, female leaders continue to navigate a complex landscape filled with challenges.

In Sci-Fi, the Grandfather Paradox hypothesises that if one should travel into the past and change certain key events, the future will also be changed or even become unrecognisable. But what if we turn this hypothesis on its head, defining a desirable future and then reverse engineer the requisite actions to achieve this future? Unlike the Grandfather Paradox which, as far as we know, only lives in Sci-Fi movies and novels, backcasting is completely possible.

I have always been interested in the theory and practices of different leadership styles across the wide range from ‘authoritative’ to ‘visionary’. For a long time now, I have supported the practices of servant leadership as one of the most effective leadership styles.