Webinar

As the pandemic year draws to a close, not all its challenges will disappear. Botswana is in the middle of making decisions that will determine whether it can transform this crisis into an opportunity to “build back better”.

Whether you are an entrepreneur or employee, the future ahead will depend on your response to the crisis – your investment outlook and financing decisions. Join Dr Alfred Mthimkhulu as he leads an insightful panel discussion, which delves into the building blocks for a dynamic post-Covid19 economy.

Date:               Thursday, 15 July 2021

Time:              09:00 – 10:30 (CAT | GMT+2)

Enquiries:        Lizelle Kannemeyer | [email protected]

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr Alfred Mthimkhulu

Development Economist

Dr Alfred M. Mthimkhulu is an Economist and former Stockbroker. He received his PhD from Stellenbosch University in 2015. Since then, Alfred has worked with Good Governance Africa as Head of Research and with Benchmarking & Manufacturing Analysts as Senior Researcher, both organisations based in South Africa.

He returned to full-time academia in 2018 and is affiliated with several universities in southern Africa including his alma maters, the University of Stellenbosch Business School in South Africa and the National University of Science & Technology in Zimbabwe.

Dr Mthimkhulu lives in Gaborone, Botswana and his current work maps scenarios for industrialisation in the unfolding AfCFTA era. The scenarios gently draw from economic history of selected regions in the global north such that clients find insights from the scenarios captivating and invaluable in strategy formulation sessions. Alfred is a regular contributor to periodicals in the region and some of his articles are available on this website along with his academic publications and other on-going research projects.

The future of Africa’s commercial, social and political relations with the global north is due for an upgrade. An investigation of the future generates new opportunities and perspectives. It creates a space for imagining innovation and reinvention. At the same time, the present is almost always the product of an imperfect past, which lingers relentlessly, and this is particularly true in the case of Afro-European relations.

Join this thought-provoking collaborative session between our business school, Stellenbosch University (SU) and the Institute for Futures Research (IFR). Dr Njeri Mwagiru and Dr Morne Mostert of IFR will investigate options and opportunities for a new balance in relations between the Afro-European and UK regions. They each will attempt to transcend the past to explore alternative possibilities going forward. Whether you are in business, government or civil society, we are certain you will  as we interrogate perceptions and provide an update of possibilities.

Date:               Wednesday, 9 June 2021

Time:              12:00 (BST), 13:00 (CET and SAST)

Enquiries:        Lizelle Kannemeyer | [email protected]

                        Alison April | [email protected]

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Dr Morne Mostert
Director: Institute for Futures Research at Stellenbosch University

Dr Morne Mostert advises globally on Futures-based executive decision-making and cognitive development for senior leaders. He is the Chairman of media tech start-up Africa Business Radio, and is a regular keynote speaker and frequent guest on radio and television in the business media. He is the author of the influential book Systemic Leadership Learning – Leadership Development in the Era of Complexity, which has been the prescribed text for several international programmes on strategic leadership. He is a member of the ILO international panel of experts on the Future of Work

Dr Njeri Mwagiru
Senior Futurist and head of the African Futures at IFR

Njeri Mwagiru is a Senior Futurist at IFR, focused on African Futures. She has a master’s in International Relations, and a doctorate in Business Administration. Her research interests include leadership, organisational performance, knowledge, gender, diversity, and transformation. Her work supports long-term, integrated strategic planning, and facilitates organisational initiatives to maximise on potential and mitigate risks, towards desired futures in/for Africa.

 #USBAlumniTalk

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, taking your business online was already imperative. Today it’s critical. But where do you start? With so many options, from e-commerce to cryptocurrency, payment systems, web frameworks, cybersecurity and social media, finding the right approach can be challenging.

Join Steyn Strauss, an experienced marketer in this space, as he guides enterprises into the seemingly complex digital sphere, and explains how you can take your business online.

Date:               Friday, 11 June 2021
Time:              09:00 – 10:30 (CAT | GMT+2)
Enquiries:        Lizelle Kannemeyer | [email protected]

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Steyn Strauss
Associate Director Strategy and Special Projects at Expo 2020 Dubai

Steyn is an experienced international business executive and marketing strategist with a keen interest in leadership and management. Driven by a passion for business strategy, design thinking and technology, he is passionate about the opportunities that exist at the intersection between analysis and creativity. A career spanning 15 years and multiple industries globally, he counts noteworthy successes, invaluable failures and critical experience as part of his quest as a lifelong learner with an ambition for achievement.

His love for learning and exploring the unknown started in the advertising industry. Graduating from AAA School of Advertising with a diploma in Integrated Marketing Communications he faced the then-uncharted waters of social media and digital advertising. He worked on multiple award winning campaigns for brands such as Unilever and Vodacom, and was part of a team that launched a mobile social network that achieved over 1 million users. Since then he completed his MBA at the University of Stellenbosch Business School cum laude and has had demonstrable experience in mobile app and product development, eCommerce, management consulting and mega-event development, serving on various Executive Committees.

Today, he is Associate Director Strategy and Special Projects at Expo 2020 Dubai — the first mega event scheduled to take place since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic — responsible for the development and implementation of domestic and international sales strategy across multiple teams and ensuring integration across Marketing and Communications functions.

In his free time he likes to tinker with new technologies and ideas, a trait which has previously resulted in a nomination for Best Podcast at the South African Blog Awards. He also appreciates art and design and has played bass guitar and drums in bands, one of which has opened for a noteworthy South African ensemble.

Ghana’s insurance industry suffered exposure to COVID -19, with insurance penetration sitting below 2% of the country’s GDP. In addition, climate change and increased disaster risk make inclusive insurance solutions a significant financial protection tool in building resilience.

How can the insurance sector increase their resilience to positively impact on operations, with industries around the world developing innovative ways to stay sustainably relevant? Join Dr Morne Mostert as he helps us forge our own path to success in this ever-changing world of working.

Date:               Tuesday, 20 April 2021
Time:              11:00 – 13:00 (CAT | GMT+2)
Enquiries:     Lizelle Kannemeyer | [email protected] and Dr Geraldine Abaidoo | [email protected]

ABOUT THE SPEAKER 

Dr Morne Mostert
Director: Institute for Futures Research at Stellenbosch University

Dr Morne Mostert advises globally on Futures-based executive decision-making and cognitive development for senior leaders. He is the Chairman of media tech start-up Africa Business Radio, and is a regular keynote speaker and frequent guest on radio and television in the business media. He is the author of the influential book Systemic Leadership Learning – Leadership Development in the Era of Complexity, which has been the prescribed text for several international programmes on strategic leadership. He is a member of the ILO international panel of experts on the Future of Work.

Over the last 20 years, Mentally Fit has developed a unique methodology to coach all types of performers from Olympic teams to CEOs, managers, employees and students all over the world.

The goal of this Executive wellness webinar is to re-energise individuals on the four axes of human performance through an online event in collaboration with the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) and its global alumni network.

Join this powerful mini coaching session with Mentally Fit’s Luc Van der Hofstadt, Suresh Naidoo and Alban Jacquinot, who will each help you shift your mindset towards becoming a high-performing corporate athlete.

Date:               Thursday, 27 May 2021
Time:              12:30 – 14:00 (CAT | GMT+2)
Enquiries:        Lizelle Kannemeyer | [email protected]

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Luc Van der Hofstadt
Executive Business Coach and Country Director: Mentally Fit

Luc Van der Hofstadt has been an Executive Business Coach at the Mentally Fit Institute since 2000. In that capacity, he regularly directs team and individual coaching sessions for Executive Committees and Managers for corporate and institutional clients in various countries around the world.

Suresh Naidoo
Executive Business Coach: Mentally Fit

Suresh Naidoo held many senior management and leadership roles throughout his career, he is passionate about people development and transformation. One of his key goals is to help with transformation by ensuring we build a better and brighter South Africa for all.

Alban Jacquinot
Business Developer – Physical Intervention: Mentally Fit

Alban Jacquinot is an experienced soccer player. He has played for various clubs in France where he won trophies and cups and was the physical coach of his college’s football team. Through this sports background, he has repeatedly experienced the importance of mental and physical energy management in the search for performance.

INVITATION TO ALUMNI, STUDENTS, CORPORATES, ORGANISATIONS

Date: Wednesday, 31 March 2021

Time: 08:00 – 09:30 (CAT | GMT+2)

Enquiries: Lizelle Kannemeyer | [email protected]

Is whistleblowing a virtuous act? Or is it an immoral defamation of character? Join Liezl Groenewald and Brett Hamilton in association with SU Alumni, as they draw informed conclusions on whistleblowers and the repercussions involved in what they do.

SPEAKERS

Liezl Groenewald
Senior Manager: Organisational Ethics at The Ethics Institute (TEI) in South Africa

Brett Hamilton
Director at First River Capital

Nobody negotiates to lose. Yet ‘winning’ means different things to different people. For some, it’s just about doing better than the counterparty. For smart negotiators, it’s about creating sustainable deals that satisfy relationship, outcome and process concerns.

Yet, despite decades of research, there is still no unified theory of negotiation, nor, for that matter, a uniform definition of negotiation.

This masterclass looks at negotiation as essentially a decision-making process and explores the implications of this including preparation and planning, strategy choices, tactics, and negotiation success. The session will include the use of simulations and discussion points.

Date:               Wednesday, 3 March 2021

Time:              09:00 – 12:00 CAT (GMT +2)

Enquiries:        Lizelle Kannemeyer | [email protected]

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Prof Barney Jordaan
Professor of Management Practice at Vlerick Business School (Belgium)

 Barney Jordaan holds a doctorate in law from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and teaches on the MBA, masters and executive education programmes at Vlerick Business School in Belgium. Prior to moving to Belgium in 2014, he held a number of academic appointments in South Africa, including 14 years as professor of law at Stellenbosch University and thereafter as professor of negotiation and conflict management at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (professor extraordinaire) and the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town (visiting professor).

In conjunction with his academic involvement, Barney also practised as human rights lawyer in South Africa during the apartheid era before co-founding a consulting firm in 1998 which advised organisations on conflict management strategies, negotiation, mediation and related matters. He has been involved in the mediation field since 1987 as practising mediator, trainer, academic and author. He is a certified mediator with the International Mediation Institute, Conflict Dynamics (SA), the ADR Group (UK) and CEDR (UK). Between 2011 and 2014 he also acted as external consultant to the World Bank Group’s Office of Mediation Services.