True leaders build capacity

Rev Jesse Jackson

"South Africa has gone from disgrace to dignity. It was oppressing and killing its African leadership... Today, South Africa is a metaphor of hope. Because you have this massive transformation from ashes to beauty... [South Africans] are credible as a people, you speak with moral authority around the world."

Jackson used the examples of 9/11 in New York and the devastating New Orleans hurricane as examples of different leadership impact - the face of a United States government, which, in the case of New Orleans, had no plan... and tarnished President George Bush's regime irrevocably.

Leadership must be credible, Jackson emphasized in an impressive speech littered with metaphors. His stage presence was appreciated by the surprisingly small audience at the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate, Randburg, given the global leadership legends booked to speak live and in person.

"South Africa chose co-existence over annihilation... truth and reconciliation over retribution... getting ahead over getting even. This is a political and business model for the global stage," Jackson added.

He said leadership was often defined by the size of the cause, not the crowds and that great leaders needed to take risks.

"Leadership cannot be a thermometer to measure leadership, but a thermostat to regulate leadership."

International speakers in person

All the international thought leaders who will address the Global Leaders Africa Summit over the next three days are appearing in person on the Summit stage:

• Tom Peters, management guru and one of the most influential business thinkers of all time.
• Michael Porter, Harvard Business Professor and expert on 'Competitive Strategy'.
• Carly Fiorina, former chairperson and CEO, Hewlett-Packard.
• Rudolph Giuliani, former mayor of New York.
• Scott Bedbury, former marketing chief for Nike and Starbucks and author of "A New Brand World: 8 Principles for Achieve Brand Leadership in the 21st Century".
• Clayton Christensen, professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, author of "Seeing What's Next".
• Rev Jesse Jackson, who opened the Summit.
• Hernando de Soto, president - Institute for Liberty and Democracy, Peru and author of "The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else".
• Daniel Pink, author of "Free Agent Nation" and "A Whole New Mind".

They are being joined on stage by local African leadership guru's including:

• Wiseman Nkuhlu, former economic adviser to President Thabo Mbeki and chief executive of NEPAD, current chairman of Pan-African Capital Holdings Ltd.
• Crispin Sonn, general manager, Old Mutual Personal Financial Advice & Private Wealth Management.
• Dr Charles Villa-Vicencio, executive director of the Cape Town-based Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.

All the speakers will each address the Summit over the first two days. On the final day, Tom Peters and Michael Porter will conduct workshops on "Re-imagining leadership" and "Competitive strategy", respectively. Peters will also share his views on "Ultimate success secrets".

For more information, go to www.globalleadersafrica.com.

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