The SA Champions Network: 2010 Case Study

---

Fifteen years ago, South Africa united the world under one unforgettable banner - The Nation of Champions.

It was more than a slogan. It was a movement that captured who we are at our best: resilient, creative, and united in purpose.

I had the privilege of helping shape that story during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when we showed the world that South Africa doesn’t just host great events - we inspire them.

The mission of the Nation of Champions Campaign was simple yet profound: to deliver President Mbeki's Brand Promise of "Hosting the Best World Cup Ever" 

Not only did we beat the previous benchmarks and collectively earned the highest Net Promoter Score of all FIFA World Cups to date (92% NPS by the visitors), but we also delivered an Economic ROI that placed South Africa in the TOP10 Countries to visit: 

• Project Management & Service Delivery 9/10 (FIFA)
• Major Infrastructure Upgrades (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)
• Business Confidence highest since 1995 (RWC)
• 500,000 New Jobs Every Year 2004-2010 (3m+)
• Exchange Rate R7/$

Today, that same spirit is being reborn through a new national movement - the SA Champions Network™.

What Is the SA Champions Network™?

The SA Champions Network™ brings together South Africa’s proven leaders and changemakers across business, sport, academia, media, science, and civil society.

Our goal is simple yet profound:

To celebrate excellence, connect influence, and co-create national solutions that build a better future and propel South Africa into the TOP10 Countries on the Global Prosperity Index (currently ranked 75th out of 167 countries). 

This is not another leadership forum. It’s a movement of doers - people who are already shaping South Africa’s future and want to collaborate, mentor, and make a measurable impact.

The Future of Jobs Think Tank

At the heart of this network lies the Future of Jobs Think Tank - our flagship impact lab focused on job creation, skills development, and connecting the youth to global opportunities at scale.

This is where South Africa’s champions come together to design the future of jobs — through shared insights, cross-sector partnerships, and collective action.

Because job creation is not just an economic goal. It’s a national legacy project.

A Movement for Impact

Through the SA Champions Network™, we will:

• Unite proven leaders to collaborate on job creation and nation-building.
  
• Showcase South Africa’s success stories to inspire others.
  
• Measure impact annually through the State of Jobs Report.
  

Join the Movement

We’re inviting business leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, educators, and community builders to join us as Founding Members.

Let us build a South Africa where opportunity is the new currency of hope.