Tag: boardroom

In today’s South African corporate landscape, shaped by governance scrutiny, activist shareholders, geopolitical volatility, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) pressure and rapid technological disruption, the role of the CEO has changed fundamentally. Boards are no longer looking for steady operators. They are looking for strategic architects of resilience, growth and trust. Achieving CEO excellence is now essential.

Governance conversations everywhere - in boardrooms, conferences, and social platforms - are often punctuated by phrases such as “best practice”, “governance with purpose” and “future-ready boards.” Yet good intentions alone rarely change outcomes.

From classrooms to boardrooms, gaming is building the leaders of tomorrow. Picture this: millions of people worldwide are voluntarily putting themselves through intensive cognitive training programmes. These programmes would make corporate leadership courses look like child’s play. They are developing lightning-fast decision-making abilities, mastering complex strategic thinking and building teamwork skills.

The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) used to be the rock star of the boardroom. The role determined how a company presented itself to the market. It also carried the authority of being the customer’s voice in an executive team dominated by finance and operations. The death of the CMO is now a growing concern.

For years, LinkedIn carried the aura of a digital name tag. It was present, but it largely stayed out of the spotlight. Now, in South Africa, corporate engagement with LinkedIn has moved beyond routine activity and into strategic intent. The new SA Social Media Landscape Report 2025, we produced, in partnership with brand intelligence company Ornico, reveals a sharp shift.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool for progress. It is quickly becoming a test of responsibility. South African companies race to harness artificial intelligence for innovation and growth, but few ask the most critical question: at what environmental cost?

South Africa’s businesses pay billions in skills levies. Yet the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA’s) administration signals a crisis that could derail our economic future. This retains the original intent but adds urgency.

In today’s fast-paced and complex governance environment, the traditional annual board work plan remains a useful tool. The traditional annual board work plan structures routine responsibilities, such as scheduling board evaluations, reviewing policies, and approving annual financial statements and budgets. However, the board work plan’s largely static nature often fails to capture the fluid realities of modern governance.

We have announced the release of our latest report, ‘CEO Agenda 2025’. This comprehensive study offers critical insights into the complex challenges facing global CEOs. It also presents strategic priorities for leaders as a roadmap for navigating a rapidly evolving world.

In any boardroom, agency or war room, leadership is the lever that moves the team. In advertising, where deadlines are brutal and the spotlight is always on, the difference between a manager and a true leader shows up fast. You can’t fake it. You either bring the spark or you don’t. I didn’t learn how to lead from a textbook. As such, I learned it in midnight pitch preps, delayed approvals, hard conversations, and the quiet post mortems that followed.