In August this year, the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Alumni Relations Office launched the LeadUP Podcast series, in which alumni and friends of the University share their stories and leadership lessons.

With new episodes released every second Monday, listeners can expect to hear from prominent UP alumni who have become leaders in the worlds of the arts, business, sport and more. Guests include Taelo Mojapelo, CEO of BP Southern Africa, and Yvonne Dausab, Justice Minister of Namibia.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has forced UP to find new ways of communicating and staying in contact with its alumni,” said Samantha Castle, Senior Alumni Relations Manager. “Podcasts are increasingly becoming a way of communicating with existing and new audiences in a way that brings the world of growth that UP and its alumni can offer right onto any device, and during any time the listener has available to continue their own personal-growth journey.”

Castle explained that UP was the first university in Africa to host and deliver events on LinkedIn Live in the wake of lockdown restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which made hosting face-to-face events impossible.

“We launched the LeadUP alumni webinars, which is a series of virtual topical debates hosted on UP’s LinkedIn and YouTube pages to create a space for UP’s highly skilled and well-placed alumni to stir debate and engagement on various critical issues affecting South African, African and global society. Our new LeadUP Podcast series aims to be a platform of engagement for our alumni, staff and students, while also inspiring other interested listeners everywhere. It’s our way of motivating and educating, bringing interesting alumni and topics to the audience, reaching our alumni all over the world and encouraging a sense of pride in this wonderful institution.”

Professor Tawana Kupe, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, said that the podcast series aims to inspire listeners to be a force for positive change. “We aim to add our collective voice to global conversations and help find solutions to some of the challenges we face as a continent and broader global society.” He added that institutions of higher learning are important spaces for the preparation of each new generation of trail-blazing innovators and leaders. “At UP, we empower our students and staff through high-quality education and cutting-edge research that makes a positive transformative impact.”

Subscribe to the LeadUP Podcast today ­– click here to find LeadUP Podcast in your favourite podcast app, or go to www.up.ac.za/LeadUP and click on LeadUP Podcast. New episodes are out every second Monday.