Tshego Bokaba, National Portfolio Manager at Nedbank Foundation, recently completed USB-ED’s Executive Development Programme (EDP). As an empowering executive leadership program, it aims to prepare individuals with the necessary management skills to make difficult business decisions in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) domain. The focus of this program is to equip each executive with global perspectives, business and ethical framework knowledge, all of which will inform unique business strategies to accomplish objectives and successfully overcome change management.

The EDP is designed for senior leaders and executive managers who are responsible for managing teams, and interested in becoming leaders who make a real difference. When enrolling for this program, Tshego was at a point in time in which she was involved in a strategy review – and it could not have come at a more opportune moment. “I was able to immediately integrate a ‘Systems-thinking approach’ into our strategy development, “ she shared. “I no longer look at the SDGs as standing-alone,” she continued, “I approach them in an interconnected way. For example, we have identified agriculture as an area of focus, where we assist small scale farmers to become commercially viable. My contribution was to ensure that we incorporate sustainable farming methods in our strategy, that we partner with organizations that employ sustainable farming methods and produce responsibly, in an environmentally friendly manner. I apply the causal loop in all the areas of focus so that I can see the interconnectedness of the SDGs to all of our focus areas – this is something that I have continued to do in both my work and personal life.”

As a member of the EDP class of 2020, Tshego highlights that even though it was conducted in an online format, she was still able to connect with everyone. Indeed, she continues, “One of the things that stood out for me was the systems thinking module – and how we need to approach things in a non-linear way.” She also enjoyed the challenge of assessing her strategies in the strategy module and having guest speakers during the leadership modules. “This was the most practical way to teach leadership – we got an opportunity to hear from female leaders sharing their leadership journeys and recipes for success with us.” 

In the ever-complex business realm, global priorities and challenges often fall on executives’ shoulders. Leaders, therefore, need to adapt their executive roles with new ways of thinking to make room for such changes. This leadership course equips you with the tools needed to expand your ability to lead, motivate and achieve business objectives, enhance your global perspectives and empower you to formulate strategic goals. Over the course of 7 months, delegates learn new techniques and management skills and will be equipped to:

• Appreciate a global perspective and understanding of global markets
• Employ cognitive strategies to appraise systems and consider emergent futures
• Employ adaptive thinking to support strategic leadership decisions
• Deploy creative workforce strategies to enhance diversity and organizational performance
• Collaborate and integrate business knowledge, skills, and professional networks to enhance your career
• Develop ethical reasoning in determining the role of business in society

Our upcoming 2021 Executive Development Programme (EDP) is now open for enrolment here