Professor Verona Leendertz, Deputy Dean: Research and Innovation, North-West University, South Africa – (Right) took to the stage to speak about developing a mindset to lead in an uncertain world. She identified leadership traits as thinking, vision and courage in action. She posed a question to the young women in the room “Imagine if you graduated today without a guaranteed job or you lose your first job and struggle to find another one, would you wait for an opportunity, or would you create one? This is the question that separates entrepreneurial thinking from traditional thinking”; she said.
Professor Leendertz went on to define the difference between traditional and entrepreneurial thinking, “Traditional thinking is always looking at what is the safest option and what worked before, but leadership thinking, what problem needs solving? What opportunities are others missing? How do I create value, or how can I create value?”
Elaborating on her point about entrepreneurial and leadership thinking she shared examples of entrepreneurs who have taken the leadership approach by innovating products and services that cater for untapped markets and among these entrepreneurs were Oprah Winfrey, Rihanna, Dr Motsepe and Rapelang Rabana. She further expressed that the greatest entrepreneurs did not build companies they changed the status quo.
“The future belongs to those who see opportunities before they become obvious.”
Expanding on the concept of leadership in action she told delegates that some of the richest people in the world once failed significantly; “It’s ok to fail, most entrepreneurs fail more than once.” She said. Professor Leendertz also declared that leadership thinking requires resilience and at every failure point one must ask “What is this experience teaching me?” She further went on to say “failure is tuition, success is graduation.”
She also advised delegates to develop emotional intelligence and self-awareness because people invest in individuals before they invest in businesses. She encouraged them to ask themselves three questions; who am I, who am I not, what is the unique contribution you want to make in society? “Play to your strength your default setting will always prevail.” She added.
Also speaking on self-awareness, Ms Sally Newnham, Professional Trainer, from the United Kingdom (UK) – (Left) asked delegates to reflect on their leadership journey and further reiterated Professor Leendertz’s point on the importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
“We have to know where we’re going to, as Stephen Covey would say, start with the end in mind; if we know where we’re going to, it will help us.” She said
Ms Newnham, highlighted that leadership thinking is not a skill that should only be developed or possessed by entrepreneurs. “An entrepreneurial mindset is crucial for any employer and employee, whether one is in academia or the health sector as an employee if you are able to show an awareness of the things that matter to an employer , you’ll also make yourself more recruitable; an entrepreneurial mindset helps with proactive thinking and action and prevents reactive action.” She said..
Speaking on ethical leadership, Professor Leendertz advised delegates to surround themselves with people that share the same value as them. “People must be able to trust you, keep your promises and show-up because successful entrepreneurs create wealth; great entrepreneurs create trust.”
In the same vein, Ms Newnham urged the student women entrepreneurs to invest in relationships where they can share their values with others and also understand other people’s values, she referred to it as leadership through collaboration and further stressed that entrepreneurs rarely succeed on their own; “People need people.” She invited delegates to participate in an exercise where they identified and discussed their values.
Also speaking on values and authenticity during her skills workshop, Professor Louise Bezuidenhout, advised the student women entrepreneurs to align their words, actions and values, engage with genuine presence and most importantly to speak in their own voice. She also urged them to communicate their purpose for example, why their company exists and also identify values that align with their purpose and communicate them consistently.
She also motivated them to communicate their story and share their achievements including their successes and failures. “Your story is your superpower; stories are memorable because they are personal.” She said.
These discussions carried on into the fireside chat where Ms Newnham and the student women entrepreneurs conversed about the importance of self-awareness and personal growth and the need to prioritise oneself, saying no to certain commitments, and surrounding oneself with positive influences. They emphasised the significance of self-care, self-discovery, and the realisation that personal happiness should not be compromised for others. They also touched on societal expectations, particularly for women, and highlighted leadership as a role that requires clear vision, goals, and the ability to manage boundaries effectively. They concluded the conversation with a reminder to celebrate personal achievements and investing in oneself.