Flashback: Spotlight on conscious leadership in SA

Business leaders from around the world gathered in Rivonia for the quarterly Conscious Leadership Dialogue to discuss the importance of conscious leadership within the country.

The panel discussion aims to begin a national conversation about conscious leadership that, together with the knowledge learned from other Conscious Companies Dialogues, will be presented in a paper to the Department of Higher Education and Training.

Conscious Companies seeks to celebrate businesses leaders who are not only focused on their bottom line but those who use their business as a force of good. Brenda Kali, the CEO of Conscious Companies and the founder of the Conscious Leadership Academy said, “It is a privilege to be a leader of a company because you have a positional power, resources and the means to influence and better the lives of those around you. That’s what a purposeful, conscious life is really about.”

The panellists at the dialogue included Luc-Olivier Marquet, CEO of Unilever South Africa, Ronnie Ntuli, founder and chairman of Thelo Group. Adam Craker, CEO of IQbusiness and winner of the Conscious Companies Awards, Marc Lubner, CEO of Afrika Tikkun and founder of the Smile Foundation, Viviana van Agtmaal, Chief Representative Officer of Banque SYZ South Africa and corporate governance expert, Advocate Ouma Rasethaba.

The panellists highlighted that in their various fields of work, it is not only about making profits but rather creating a long-lasting change and impact in the world. Marquet said, “The capitalistic system cannot continue as it is and we have a duty, I think, to prove that there is a model where you can have an economic model where you can grow the profit of your shareholders but at the same time create an impact on the society in which they operate.”

Craker, Lubner, van Agtmaal and Rasethaba also highlighted the importance of imparting better values on the youth so that they automatically grow to become conscious adults who care about making a difference through their company.

Van Agtmaal said, “We need to change the values towards money…Why do people feel the need for personal financial gain and how much do they need… that attitude needs to change to consider, ‘Am I looking after the environment?’ or ‘Am I looking after the people who work for me?’ and ‘Am I doing any harm?’.”

Conscious Companies have called for nominations for next years Conscious Companies Awards.

For more information visit www.consciouscompanies.co.za

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