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Deploying yourself as a leader

In times of crises leaders have to deal with increasing expectations and pressure, while maintaining a balance of focus between survival and opportunities. Leadership styles are tested and pre-existing conditions in relationships are amplified. In this interview, which is a follow-on from the interview on Mobilising Yourself as a Leader, Mr Nomvalo gives sterling advice on how leaders can be effective in the midst of chaos.

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When Ethics and Compliance Cast a Shadow

5 August 2026

Some topics are not easy to write about. Not because we do not know what our views are about them, but because we know how easily the views may be misunderstood—especially by those who prefer a version of pristine ethics and compliance that does not allow for shadows.
I know. Ethics and compliance shadows? That is where you land when you take the liberty—perhaps a little audaciously—of borrowing a concept from one discipline and applying it to another. I have borrowed from psychology and found the result illuminating enough to risk a few furrowed brows.

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Menopause Is a Leadership Issue

4 August 2026

Since it has become clear that organisations that are deliberate about ensuring diversity in leadership tend to be more successful, many organisations have been trying to strengthen the pipeline of women into senior leadership. They invest in development programmes targeting women, are intentional around targets and succession plans, as well as mentoring of women in the leadership pipeline. Then, just as many women reach the point at which their experience, judgement and influence are at their most valuable they hit a wall. A natural biological transition suddenly makes remaining at work considerably harder – and the organisation is often entirely unprepared for it.

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When Leadership Wounds the Conscience

30 June 2026

The last thing I expected that day was an apology. For a few seconds that felt like an eternity, I was at a loss for words. The young man sitting opposite me had just admitted that he had helped fabricate stories about me because his boss had instructed him to do so. I remember my anger. What I did not understand then was the injury he had suffered himself.

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