Tag: mentorship

For decades leadership development has focused primarily on one thing - skills development. The so-called “hard” or “technical” skills were viewed as being of the utmost importance when it came to facilitating effective and efficient team coordination. This makes sense given that we’ve largely viewed leadership as either a transactional or motivational act. The theory behind this training is that new tools and knowledge are necessary to communicate a vision and values, as well as direct effective execution.

The phenomenon of job-title inflation has gained traction in South Africa, driven both by young professional’s ambition for accelerated career progression and employers' efforts to engage staff while managing costs. This trend has led to an increase in roles with prestigious titles, such as 'Lead', 'Vice President', or 'Manager', being offered to individuals with limited experience, skills, or corresponding salaries.

As we celebrate Women’s Month in South Africa, this is a time to reflect on the pivotal role male allies can play in amplifying women’s voices in the workplace, particularly in leadership roles.

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.

South African women are closing the gender gap in entrepreneurial activity. Driven by many factors ranging from perceived opportunity to job scarcity, they are starting businesses which in turn creates employment opportunities for others, with the country boasting one of the highest proportion of women-led companies employing 20 or more people globally.

In the fast-paced realm of people management, "induction" and "onboarding" are frequently used interchangeably, yet each bears unique significance in shaping the employee experience (EX). First impressions leave a lasting impact. Employers have an average of 44 days to “make or break” a new joiner, according to a survey released by cloud-based human resources platform BambooHR.

Starting a new business is an exhilarating venture, filled with both opportunities and challenges. However, the path to success requires more than just a great idea - it demands a strategic approach, careful planning, and the ability to adapt to evolving market conditions. 

Ask any budding young entrepreneur in South Africa what they need most, and they will probably rattle off a list as long as your arm: Some moola to invest in their business. A stable electricity supply. The eradication of crime that destroys businesses and results in financial loss. Lower borrowing costs. Reasonable interest rates. And the list goes on.

Whether you succeed or fail in the world of design has little to do with whether you went to university, college or neither. It has to do with you, the person behind the design and the decisions you make on your journey to success. Being a great designer is all about the individual, their work ethic, the portfolio they build and very importantly, their love for design.

As South Africa continues to grapple with its massive youth (15-34 years) unemployment rate of 4.7 million individuals (Q4 2023), there is a critical need for innovative approaches to skills development and employability. I view learnerships as an excellent platform for creative training methodologies thereby, paving the way for a more agile and adaptable workforce.