Future of Skills 2024

2024 Future of Leadership Summit: The Highlights & Review

Highlights: The 2024 Future of Leadership Summit

The Highlights Reel of the 2024 Future of Leadership Summit: The 2024 Future of Leadership Summit™ brought together 250 business, public and civic society leaders to find solutions to the country's socio-economic challenges, and in particular to retaining South Africa's top talent and critical skills (in partnership with Brand South Africa).

Opening Keynote Address of the 2024 Future of Leadership Summit™

The 2024 Future of Leadership Summit™ brought together 250 Top Leadership Voices from across South Africa to examine the key dimensions of co-creating the future of leadership, including amongst others, the future of leadership skills, financial inclusion, the future of work, public leadership, nation branding and entrepreneurship.

Against the backdrop of the recently released Student Confidence Index conducted by PPS, which indicates that South Africa is facing mass skills exodus (with 90% of graduates wanting to leave, mainly due to lack of job opportunities), the Future of Leadership Summit™ examined how the public and private sector can join hands in rebuilding confidence in the country, both domestically and internationally, and attract and retain skills that are crucial for the socio-economic development of South Africa.

Full Review of the 2024 Future of Leadership Summit

Opening Keynote Address by The Presidency, Hon Pinky Kekana (Deputy Minister responsible for Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation)
Industry Leading Panels on the Future of Leadership, and Keynote Addresses by prominent Public & Business Leaders;
The Future of Leadership Book Launch: 24 TOP Leadership Voices from South Africa;
The Presidents’ Dialogue™ & The CEO Dialogue™ with Principial Leaders from South Africa’s Political Parties & leading CEO’s
The Future of Leadership Awards: 14 Leadership Awards nominated and voted for by the members of the Future Leader Forum;
Special Keynote Address by the MEC Finance Gauteng, Hon Jacob Mamabolo (on behalf the Premier of Gauteng)

The 2024 Future of Leadership Panel Discussions

Panel Discussion on The Future of Leadership Skills (hosted by GIFS)

Hosted by GIFS, this panel delved into the changes required for the future of leadership. Said Christopher Mulder, Chief Strategy Officer at GIFS: “What I loved about this morning’s panel is that there’s definitely a discourse happening among leadership. We are discussing topics that are perhaps sensitive but necessary to address. One of the key things I would like to see coming out of all these discussions is action. As leaders, we spend a huge amount of time talking about societal issues, but often, once we leave events, that’s where the conversation stops. What I'd like to see from our panels and discussions is real action because, at the end of the day, leadership is about doing.”

Panel Discussion on The Future of Healthcare (hosted by PPS)

Said Ayanda Seboni, Group Executive for Mutuality at PPS: “There were a few key takeaways, and the most significant is how much digital technology has become a part of healthcare. In the past, healthcare was very physical, but now it has become far more digital. Things like being able to scan your face and obtain various medical information about you have been quite a revelation. Another major insight was the impact of disease on the economy, particularly mental health, and how expensive it is for the economy. The focus should shift toward preventing such diseases rather than solely focusing on cures.”

Panel Discussion on The Future of Nation Branding (hosted by Brand South Africa)

Said Sithembile Ntombela maNdaba, Acting CEO at Brand South Africa: “It has been a successful narrative, as the country continues to demonstrate its potential in various ways—from an investment perspective to creative arts. If we rewind back to 2012, we redefined ourselves by stating that we are a country that "inspires new and different ways." We couldn't just say "inspiring" - we had to highlight the "new" because South Africa is constantly evolving. Whether it’s the world embracing Amapiano music or breakthroughs in science and technology, such as Professor Mashudu Tshifularo's groundbreaking ear transplant, South Africa continues to inspire.”

Panel Discussion on The Future of Banking for the Youth (hosted by Nedbank)

Said Lindokuhle Tau, Head: Retail and Relationship Banking Segment Strategy at Nedbank: “At Nedbank, we’ve allowed young people to walk into the bank and gain real-world experience, regardless of where they come from or their qualifications. We provide them with skills, tools, and exposure to what corporate life is like. As president, that is something I would enforce in every organization - to open up the doors for young people to gain experience, acquire skills, and understand what happens in corporate environments. Personally, I think about my three-year-old son and wonder what his future will look like. If we, as leaders and organizations, don’t create such initiatives and open doors for the next generation, where is South Africa heading? It’s crucial not to just live in the now but to think about your own children, nephews, and nieces. What will their future look like if we don’t implement initiatives and create opportunities for them?”

The 2024 CEO & Presidents' Dialogue (and The BIG Question)

The CEO Dialogue

The CEO Dialogue brought together executive leaders from South Africa's key industries, such as the CEO of BPESA (Business Process Enabling South Africa), the Director General of South Africa's biggest employer, the Department of Public Administration, to explore solutions to South Africa’s Brain Drain amongst university graduates.

The Presidents' Dialogue

With just 10 days to go to South Africa’s 2024 National Elections, the leaders of the various political parties came together to discuss solutions to South Africa’s Brain Drain, including Mmusi Maimane (President of BOSA, now Chair of Parliament’s Appropriation Committee), Michael Beaumont (Chair of ActionSA), Vuyiswa Ramokgopa (Chair Gauteng for Rise Mzansi, now Gauteng MEC for Agriculture), Dr Thanthi Mthanti (Chief Economist for MK Party), and Dr Albert Mokoena (COO at Inkatha Freedom Party, IFP).

Audience Survey: The BIG Question

The 2024 Future of Leadership Summit™ gathered top-ranking executives from South Africa's leading institutions to assess the current state of affairs in the country and to develop a comprehensive roadmap to reverse the brain drain, retain university graduates, including the following questions:

· Do you believe South Africa can become one of the 10 Best Countries to live in by 2030?

· Are you thinking of #imleaving or #imstaying in South Africa? And why?

· By this time next year, what would be a reasonable target to reach for increasing the number of university students wanting to stay (currently10%)?

· Which of the following Reasons to Leave worries you the most at the moment?

· What strategies have you found to be most effective for attracting and retaining Talent?

The 2024 Future of Leadership Keynote Addresses

Keynote Address by the Hon Jacob Mamabolo (MEC Finance at Province of Gauteng)

Keynote Address by Brecht Mohonathan (CFO at Lions Cricket Union)

Leading the sports industry in the newly established discipline of FanCentricity. This is how Brecht, the CFO at the Lions Cricket Union and his team at the DP World Wanderers Stadium, aka The Pride of Jozi, transformed a Cricket Stadium into a multipurpose venue and transformed the FAN Experience into a unique and personalized experience that caters for the different sectors of fans and provides for true Customer Centricity.

Keynote Address by Lubabalo Magwentshu (MMC Community Development, City of Joburg)

The MMC emphasizes the importance of compassionate and ethical leadership, drawing a parallel to the characteristics of a servant leader.

He believes that impactful leadership involves not just setting a good example but also empowering others within the community.

Magwentshu highlights the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to address the service delivery needs of Johannesburg residents. He advocates for partnerships to revitalize community spaces like parks, community centers, and libraries, aiming to foster human interaction and personal connections in a technology-dominated world.

Keynote Address by Dr Kershen Pillay (CEO at GIFS)

Keynote Address by Dr Nik (Chair of The Future of Leadership Summit)

How South Africa won the World Cup of Nation Branding - the 2010 Leadership ROI:

Highest ever Net Promoter Score 92% (Visitors)
Project Management & Service Delivery 9/10 (FIFA)
Infrastructure (Airports, Roads, Hotels, Gautrain)
Zero Major Crime in 31 Days (Visitors & Venues)
Leisure Tourism up 31% year-on-year
Business Tourism up 47% (City of Cape Town)
Nation-building (Civic Pride Index 8.5)
Business Confidence highest since 1995 (RWC)
Exchange Rate R7/$

The Future Leader Forum

The 2024 Future of Leadership Summit™

View the 2024 Future of Leadership Summit™ Report