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The SA Champions Network™
Uniting South Africa’s Champions to Inspire, Innovate, and Build Legacy
1. Purpose Statement
The SA Champions Network™ is a national alliance of South Africa’s most inspiring, values-driven individuals and organisations - those who have punched above their weight, uplifted their communities, and led with integrity.
We exist to:
- Celebrate excellence across all sectors of society
- Connect champions into a purpose-driven, high-impact network
- Co-create national initiatives that drive hope, opportunity, and prosperity
- Inspire the next generation of champions
“We don’t just celebrate champions - we activate them.”
2. Founding Principles
Every Champion in the network embodies:
- Excellence: Proven results in their field (local or global impact)
- Integrity: Respected reputation and values-based leadership
- Contribution: A track record of uplifting others or giving back
- Resilience: Overcome adversity or significant challenge
- Pride in Nation: Committed to building a better South Africa
3. Sectors of Society Represented
We invite Champions from across the full spectrum of South African society:
- Business: Entrepreneurs, founders, CEOs, innovators
- Sport: Athletes, coaches, administrators (local heroes & global stars)
- Education: School leaders, teachers, youth mentors, reformers
- Science & Tech: Researchers, inventors, digital pioneers
- Creative Arts: Musicians, filmmakers, designers, storytellers
- Community & Civil Society: NGO leaders, faith leaders, activists
- Public Service: Mayors, ministers, policy pioneers
- Youth & Emerging Voices: Under 35 changemakers
- Hidden Champions: Unsung heroes shaping South Africa’s future quietly but powerfully
4. Qualification Criteria
To ensure credibility and impact, Champions must meet at least 3 out of the 5 following criteria:
- National or Global Recognition: Proven impact and/or awards for excellence
- Transformational Leadership: Demonstrated leadership in transforming systems, people, or organisations
- Giving Back: Evidence of active community upliftment or mentorship
- Resilience: Overcame adversity or built success from limited resources
- Positive Influence: Actively inspiring others through work, voice, or platforms
5. Membership Tiers
- Founding Champions: Personally invited, inaugural members who shape the vision
- National Champions: Nominated by peers or partners in each sector
- Rising Champions: Under-35 changemakers, innovators, or disruptors
- Corporate Champions: Organisations that are building a better South Africa
- Community Champions: Everyday heroes with exceptional local impact
6. Member Benefits
- Access to private events, think tanks, and roundtables
- Featured in the SA Champions Yearbook™ and online Hall of Honour
- Early access to nation-building campaigns and leadership dialogues
- Invitation to co-create policy briefs and public-private initiatives
- Connection with a values-aligned, high-trust network
- National exposure through Future Leader Forum platforms
7. Signature Initiatives
- SA Champions Awards – Annual celebration of cross-sector excellence
- The Champions Anthology – Stories of resilience and inspiration from members
- Voices of Champions – Keynote platforms at summits, schools, and media events
- Champion-Led Campaigns – Education, youth employment, health, innovation
- Legacy Circles – Intergenerational mentorship programs
8. Powered By
This movement is convened by the Future Leader Forum in collaboration with key partners across business, media, education, and government.
It is inspired by South Africa’s global impact in sport, innovation, and resilience - and designed to unify the people who are building our future.
Invitation to Join (by application)
You are invited to join the SA Champions Network™ if you believe:
- South Africa is worth building for
- Your story has the power to inspire others
- Collaboration is the path to sustainable success
- It’s time to leave a legacy, not just a career
All applicants undergo a light-touch vetting process by a Champion Review Circle.
From 2010 to Today – South Africa’s Champions Keep Inspiring
The 2010 Nation of Champions Movement
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.
