Prescription for the mind: understanding the unexplained sadness
Depression often carries with it a burdensome shadow of ‘shame’ and societal ‘stigma’. These aspects further exacerbate reluctance to seek essential mental health support, propelling a debilitating cycle. Disturbingly, research suggests that 1 in 4 South Africans experience depression, often without recognizing it.
In the world of credit: a network of trust
Let’s explore how the credit landscape resembles a soccer match, where trust, teamwork, and fair play are essential components.
The economic cost of SA’s mental health crisis
Mental health conditions cost the economy more than R200bn a year through people missing work and presenteeism
Medical costs a major money stressor for South Africans
People are downgrading their medical plans as they cannot afford the premiums — but at what cost? Roughly 20 months ago, the Covid-19 pandemic struck and life as we knew it was turned upside down. For many, the pandemic was a huge wake-up call, spotlighting our...
Middle-managers and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic
Fifteen months into the global COVID-19 pandemic, many middle-managers feel like they are the proverbial ‘ham in the sandwich’. They face pressure from their leaders above to implement strategic objectives and deliver on targets while experiencing pressure from their...
How to help employees deal with mental and emotional health stressors during pandemic
It has been more than a year since the first case of the Covid-19 coronavirus was reported in South Africa. Organisations and employees have had to navigate several national lockdowns of varying intensity. Global and local research, including my own, offers several...
Goodbye Johannesburg, Hello Boston!
On Friday 30th August, I bid temporary farewell to Johannesburg when my South African Airways flight left Johannesburg for New York. My final destination was Boston, where I am spending September and October. Why Boston, you might ask? Boston is the home to the Harvard Business School.
Hello Boston!
Photo by Ira Ostafiichuk on Unsplash After a 15 hour Johannesburg to New York flight, I arrived at an extremely busy JFK airport on Saturday 31st August. It took an hour to clear immigration and another fifteen minutes to get to terminal 8 for my connecting flight to...
Hello Harvard Square!
After some rest at the Sheraton Commander Hotel, the next item on my agenda was to find the famous Harvard Square.
Harvard AMP – a truly global programme
On 3rd September, I joined a diverse group of 162 senior executives from all over the world with a wide range of industry and management experience for Harvard Business School’s 185th Advanced Management Programme.
Harvard AMP – a typical day
A friend recently asked me to describe my typical Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme (AMP) daily schedule.
Harvard AMP – the living group
The living groups are intentionally structured for maximum diversity among the participants based on participants’ country of origin and industry experience.
Harvard AMP – the case method
The case method has been one of the highlights of my HBS experience. It is a profound educational innovation that presents the challenges confronting organisations – complete with the constraints and incomplete information found in real business issues—and places me in the role of the decision maker.
Harvard AMP – guest speakers and lecturers
An aspect of the Harvard Business School (HBS) Advanced Management Programme (AMP) that I am thoroughly enjoying is the guest speaker/lecturer series.
Harvard AMP – Is South Africa “stuck in the middle”?
In Competitive Strategy, published over two decades ago, Michael Porter built a framework for business strategy around three generic approaches: overall cost leadership, differentiation and focus.
Harvard AMP – Retired Colgate-Palmolive Chairman and CEO talks about leadership
Mark said business leaders should look at their company’s performance like a bell curve. The left side of the curve represents very bad results, and the right side excellence. The bulk of a company’s activities will fall in the thickest part of the bell curve in the middle.
Harvard AMP – Harvard Business School‘s critical success factors
Today is the end of week 6 of the 8-week Advanced Management Programme (AMP) that I am participating in at the Harvard Business School (HBS).
Harvard AMP – General Electric’s Jeff Immelt on leadership
Recently, it was my pleasure as a current HBS AMP participant (AMP185) to engage the CEO and Chairman of General Electric (GE), Jeff Immelt on the topic of leadership.
Harvard AMP – the case “protagonist” in class
The cases for the Harvard Business School’s (HBS) Advanced Management Programme (AMP) that I am participating in since the beginning of September have been as varied as the companies, markets, and industries from which they are derived.
Harvard AMP – Boston: A runner’s paradise
The Harvard Business School (HBS) campus offers many running routes. The one I enjoy the most is along the Charles River. The Charles River is an extraordinary recreational resource running through the very heart of Greater Boston.
Harvard AMP – triumph against odds: Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance
Photo by Derek Oyen on Unsplash The Harvard Business School (HBS) Advanced Management Programme that I am participating in has introduced me to many leaders. Of all these leaders, one stood out - Ernest Shackleton and the saga of his 1914 Imperial Trans-Antarctic...