Leading Boldly into the Future

What does good governance look like in a world facing unprecedented challenges, from a global pandemic to the ever-growing threat of climate change? Join us as we delve into the mind of Phil Armstrong, a renowned expert on corporate governance who has worked across 85 countries and consulted for governments, regulators, and the World Bank. From Phil’s remarkable career to his experiences with dive...

What if the stories we hear every day are shaping the world more than we realize? Join us for a compelling conversation with Rosemary Okello Orlale, an award-winning Kenyan journalist, as we delve into the power of media in shaping narratives, influencing society, and driving change. Rosemary shares her insights on media ethics, the role of journalism in conflict resolution, and the importance of...

Can a mobile operator truly drive social change? Join us as we explore the transformative journey of MTN, Africa’s largest multi-billion-dollar mobile operator, with a commitment to shared value, inclusion, and belonging. In this episode, we sit down with Paul Norman , an influential leader at MTN, who shares his personal journey and insights into the company's impressive growth, including their w...

In today's episode, we dive deep with Jo-Ann Pöhl, a powerhouse of resilience and leadership, who shares her journey of measured vulnerability. From humble beginnings in small mining towns in South Africa to becoming a recognized leader in international finance, Jo has garnered accolades, including Africa's Top 20 Rising Stars and the Trailblazer Award. Join us as we explore how this former Chief...

In this captivating episode, join us as we sit down with an extraordinary guest, Dr. Mansour Malik—a corporate lawyer turned international human rights advocate and founder of Kingdom of Love—whose career spans London to Dubai. Discover how his unique journey, rooted in his early exposure to herbal medicine, transformed his life’s mission from practicing law to serving humanity. From fighting land...

The Mandela International Magnet School is leading the way towards an innovative model of higher education that aims to give our world a human face. Leading a dynamic team to fulfill this challenge is Tony Gerlicz, an international educator who came up with the concept for the international magnet school in 2014. In this conversation with Anne Pratt, Tony relives the pivotal moments in his life an...

In the mid and late 1980s, a brave, young lawyer defended the “Sharpeville Six,” who were wrongfully prosecuted and sentenced to death for a crime they did not commit. Prakash Diar lost the case, but he used that loss to propel himself to a bigger struggle – to take on the entire apartheid system and apply global political pressure to galvanize the world, to fight for a collective cause. Prakash m...

Our children are our future. But what kind of future will we have if our children can’t get the best healthcare they deserve? Like many other things, health is intricately linked with deeper societal issues. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to do it with excellence. Dr. Nkuli Boikhutso exemplifies this virtue as the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital. Sitting down with Anne Pratt i...

There is a lot of untapped power in big business, and it’s not just because of the financial power they possess. Collectively, the world’s capitalists have the potential to join forces and create positive change in the world. And what better what to leverage all that power and scale than to address some of the most pressing problems the world is facing? There are a couple of directions this could...

With all the tragedy happening in the world every day, it’s quite easy to lose hope in humanity. However, as leaders, we should be the first to model that optimism so that others can be inspired. In this episode of Leading Boldly into the Future, Anne Pratt is joined by Jon Foster-Pedley, dean and director of Henley Business School Africa. Jon invites us to rethink “tragic optimism” and use it as...

You can only lead others to the extent that you can lead yourself. Self-discipline and leadership go hand-in-hand. This is something that every aspiring bold leader needs to understand if they are to lead effectively. Dr. Modupe Taylor-Pearce of Sierra Leone learned this important principle from his stay in West Point and his years of experience in wartime and peacetime leadership in his home coun...

Many times, what people really need to change their lives for the better is a sliver of hope, and that hope can come in many forms. As leaders, we can use the power of story to inspire hope in others. This is what Janis Kearney has been doing as an author and philanthropist. Janis is the author of the inspirational memoir, “Cotton Field of Dreams.” we listen and learn about some defining childhood...

Vulnerability is the new leadership superpower. Gone are the days when leadership meant winning at all cost. The great Nelson Mandela himself valued vulnerability, and he modeled it in his own leadership. Today’s guest, Amb. Nozipho January-Bardill strives to live by Mandela’s example as she leads the very organization that bears his name. She the current Chairperson of the Council of the Nelson M...

The youth is our greatest untapped weapon to help solve the ongoing climate crisis. With the right tools and inspiration, we can leverage the youth to take unprecedented climate action that impacts not only the planet but also their own economic betterment. Dr. Richard Munang has been involved in this initiative in the past few decades, empowering Africa’s youth to engage in innovative volunteeris...

Nelson Mandela was the most iconic figure in South African history because of his heroic struggle against apartheid and racism, but he wouldn’t have done what he had done if not for the brave leaders who also took the stand against the oppressive establishment in their own ways. Decades before being a Lord in the UK Parliament, Peter Hain was one of those people. A young man at that time, Lord Hai...

Can you imagine what it must have been like in South African corporate board rooms when apartheid was lifted and a new political order started to rule over the country? Diversity, inclusion, and equity didn’t come about as if by magic. Brave, and sometimes unwilling activists have to take active steps to make it happen. Zeona Jacobs has seen her fair share of this DEI struggle in her corporate rol...

Gone are the days when sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and ESG are just nice concepts to have as a company. In this digital age, ESG is intrinsically tied to corporate success. In this episode, tech entrepreneur and board director Ryan McManus eloquently discusses the place of ESG in the evolving digital economy and how companies can use it as a competitive advantage. Ryan firmly...

What must it take so Africa can fulfill her true potential? Embark on a transformative journey with Anne Pratt on Leading Boldly into the Future as she welcomes Mr. Frik Landman , a distinguished figure from the southern tip of Africa. In this episode, Mr. Landman, a seasoned businessman and academic, passionately shares insights on why Africa is too rich to be poor. Drawing parallels between Nels...

For a significant part of human history, religion has always served to unify communities in a shared set of values and beliefs. But it has also been an instrument for othering and division. In these polarizing times, religion has to make a stance either for division or unity. Today’s bold leader believes that religion can be used as a catalyst for harmonious coexistence and cooperation across deno...

The Gen Z are no longer kids. As we speak, they are now set to determine the course of American and world history, especially now that democracy hangs on the balance. Is Gen Z our secret weapon in the fight to save America? Our guest,  John Della Volpe , deeply believes this to be the case. John is a pollster, an advisor to President Joe Biden’s administration, and the author of the best-sell...

Nelson Mandela once famously said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” Prof. Shirley Zinn not only conquered her fear, but she managed to get back up repeatedly with rugged resilience as she swims upstream on her path to success, impact, and significance. In this conversation, she shares more about her personal and professional story, a fatal car crash and losing her onl...

If you live in a country where peaceful elections are the norm, count yourself lucky. Such is not the case in much of the world. Globally, the challenge of protecting our democracies from powers that seek to undermine them is a huge undertaking.  Patricia Luhanga  did a lot more than her share in making sure that the electoral process goes smoothly in her home turf, Zambia. In this conve...

There is no denying how many mountains money can move, but it doesn’t have to be all self-serving. Otherwise, you’ll fall as fast as you rise. For  Ben Kodisang , capital returns and social returns are not mutually exclusive: you can make good money while also doing good. In this episode, he joins Anne Pratt to talk about how, in this world of money, power, and investments, future leaders wil...

Our world is at a tipping point. We face unprecedented and life-threatening challenges for humanity, from artificial intelligence to quantum computing, climate change, and the looming specter of nuclear war. How do we, as individuals and as a global community, confront this uncertain, perilous future? Luis Gallegos, a former Foreign Affairs Minister of Ecuador and a diplomat with a successful and...

The United States of America was once the global gold standard for democracy. Why would the America of today not respond well to a message of unity? As perplexing as it sounds, it is what we are seeing today, not only in America but on global scale. Is there any way to fix this? What role will leadership play to bring unity back to the mainstream? This question keeps Governor Deval Patrick  a...