Stellenbosch Business School, Stellenbosch Business School Executive Development, and the Alumni Association recently partnered together to host a series of face-to-face Thought Leadership events from 31 October to 10 November with prominent and influential panelists in South Africa, Eswatini, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

Eswatini Thought Leadership Panel Discussion

The panel discussed the importance of technology and organisational leadership to unlock economic prosperity, reflecting on the financial services and manufacturing industries.

Queen Nozizwe Mulela-Zulu, Managing Director of Eswatini Bank and second wife of King Misuzulu Ka Zwelithini of the Zulu Nation, said on leadership: "People need to see you as a leader who takes them in the right direction. You need to show honesty, integrity, and patience. Everything rises or falls with leadership." She is an #MBA alumna of Stellenbosch Business School.

Nick Jackson, Managing Director at the Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation, said getting the buy-in from people from the start is essential because change is challenging. "Businesses need the workforce behind them in the change process."

David Mfanimpela Myeni, CEO of the Centre for Financial Inclusion in Eswatini, asked the question: "How do we translate technology into economic prosperity?"

Botswana Thought Leadership Networking Panel Discussion

The speakers, who are all alumni of the Business School, discussed the National Mindset Change Campaign - Moving to a High Economy. 

Bopelokgale Soko, Director General of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), said executives must be suitable as a mind shift change starts with leadership. She said Rwanda is an example of a country with zero tolerance for corruption with an involved community, "an example of a mind-shift to achieve a high economy".

Dr Mbako Mbo, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer at First National Bank of Botswana, said: "When executives fail to leave a fixed mindset, corporates fail".

Zimbabwe Thought Leadership Networking Panel Discussion

The panel of experts explored the topic of "Building Nations: Effectiveness of public-private partnership in infrastructure development in Zimbabwe."

Prof Charles Adjasi, Acting Director of Stellenbosch Business School, said public-private partnerships are long-term and require constant negotiations. "The Moroccan model of public-private negotiations as part of each project is worth investigating."

Engineer Martin Manuhwa said these partnerships must address the infrastructure deficit and impact downstream, and Dr. Eng. Talon Garikayi says alumni can help to set #SMART partnerships in Zimbabwe to make an impact on selected projects.