Visiting scholar reflects on responsible leadership in South Africa

22 November 2013

During her stay, Waddock spoke with the Centre’s staff, masters and PhD students about their fields of research, helping them shape their ideas into researchable topics. “I found the students and staff to have great ideas for their studies – ideas that ranged from looking at the meaning of ‘responsibility’ through a philosophical lens to assessing community reactions to mines over the course of mines’ lifecycles to various aspects of integrated reporting,” says Waddock.

Among the most interesting conversations that Waddock had, were the ones about the projects of three staff members of the Centre, namely Mr Ben van der Merwe, Mr Pieter Conradie and Mr Claud Chikozho. They are working on three of the Centre’s major initiatives, namely: defining and developing the concept of responsible leadership (Ben VanderMerwe); developing the concept and programmatic initiatives associated with integrated reporting, which is required in the South African context for any companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (Pieter Conradie); and looking at the role of companies in helping to sustain (achieve) biodiversity (Claud Chikozho). Together with a programme on Leadership for Africa, these initiatives span crucial arenas associated with responsible leadership: defining responsible leadership, measurement of company initiatives associated with responsible leadership, and issues associated with sustainability.

According to Waddock, the whole concept of responsible leadership is new. Gaining greater clarity about what responsible leadership actually is, what characteristics and skills are associated with it, and what responsible leaders are actually responsible for, is a central element, along with defining the concept of responsible leadership, integrated reporting, business and biodiversity and leadership for Africa.

From her visit to South Africa, Professor Waddock reflects that South Africa seems, in many ways, to be a land of contrasts. This made her re-think the meaning of responsible leadership differently. “Responsible leadership, which is what the world needs, is really about stewardship of not just the present, but more importantly, the future,” says Prof Waddock.