The Liberty Leading-Edge Symposium, hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre, brought together an inspiring lineup of industry leaders, visionaries, and innovators to explore the role of ‘care’ as a transformative force in business, community empowerment, and societal growth. Aimed largely at an SMME and C-Suite audience, delegates left the event armed with actionable strategies to foster growth, sustainability, and success within their own companies.
Setting the inspirational tone for the event, Siya Xuza - one of Africa's brightest young minds - shared his extraordinary journey from Umtata to the global stage. Fêted by world leaders like Barack Obama, Siya made a pivotal, care-driven decision to turn down lucrative opportunities in the US and return to South Africa to tackle the continent's energy challenges.
"I returned to Africa because I care, and care leads to impact," said Xuza, highlighting his efforts to digitise energy payment systems and empower communities through technology.
Jorge Mendes, CEO of Cell C, shared the vision behind Cell C’s remarkable turnaround strategy, centred on a people-first approach that is transforming the company’s culture and setting it on a path toward profitability within the next 24 months. From fostering transparency to introducing trust-based employee-centred initiatives like unlimited leave policies, Mendes illustrated how care-driven leadership is pivotal to organisational success.
Eskom Chair Mteto Nyati emphasised clarity, accountability, and empathy as key components of effective leadership and a key driver behind the beleaguered SOE’s turnaround. On Eskom’s transformation, Nyati celebrated a remarkable milestone of 234 uninterrupted days without load-shedding, attributing this achievement at the troubled parastatal to a people-centred approach. He highlighted that South Africa’s energy security challenges are largely resolved, with the next focus being affordable energy solutions - a testament to the power of leadership rooted in care and support.
Kabelo van der Merwe - Liberty Head: Strategic Programmes highlighted Liberty’s caring ethos and success in re-uniting 100 000 South Africans and their descendants with unclaimed benefits totaling R1,2-billion, reinforcing the organisation’s care for beneficiaries by undertaking a massive campaign to track and trace people who were owed money they did not know they were entitled to. Sparked by the question: “How many people did you help today,” the campaign has underscored Liberty’s success in paying out R450-million in unclaimed benefits.
Drawing on insights from his best-selling book Servings of Self-Mastery, former Google Country Director Dr. Alistair Mokoena delivered a powerful message on how leaders can foster a deeper understanding of care and its transformative impact on organisations while at the same time tapping into their personal sense of purpose and selflessness. He highlighted how leading with empathy and creating an environment that prioritises trust and care can profoundly energise a workforce.
The Care in Context Roundtable showcased the intersection of care and business innovation. Speakers highlighted actionable strategies to tackle youth unemployment, the potential of AI to empower workers, and the importance of employee well-being in driving growth. Ravi Naidoo of Youth Employment Services (YES) showcased the work of this groundbreaking public-private initiative addressing South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis. Over the past five years, YES has created 162 000 jobs, injecting R9-billion into youth salaries and empowering thousands to start their own businesses via the private sector.
Portia Thokoane, HR Director, Nestlé East and Southern Africa, advocated for businesses to shift from viewing employees as mere commodities to nurturing them as vital growth drivers. Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company, exemplifies this philosophy by conducting social compliance audits to ensure employee well-being and ethical workplace practices. Thokoane also highlighted Nestlé’s initiatives in empowering Sub-Saharan Africa’s youth, reaching nearly 400 000 young individuals.
"Caring is one of the most courageous forms of leadership,” she said.
AI Expert Kaluba Chikonde reframed AI as an opportunity for workforce transformation, advocating for small, impactful changes that yield long-term results and empower a generation of tech-savvy youths.
Prof. Adrian Saville, Senior Political Economist at Standard Bank Research, provided a nuanced overview of the economic landscape and a tentative positive outlook for South Africa. While acknowledging ongoing global challenges, he highlighted South Africa’s renewed optimism fueled by energy security and the nation’s future strategic role in renewable energy.
Reflecting on the success of the third iteration of this inspirational event, Lindi Monyae, Head: of Liberty Corporate Benefits, reflected,
“This symposium has shown us that care is not just a value - it is a strategic lever that drives business success and resilience and one that can be delegates can begin implementing immediately.”
Jenine Zachar, Standard Bank’s Head: Value Propositions & Client Experience; Business & Commercial Banking SA, added, “A care-centred approach to business and leadership positively impacts the entire value chain of an organisation and company. Through care-driven leadership, we’re not just building businesses; we’re building a better society for all.”
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