On Saturday, 12 August 2023, 16 of our Western Cape-based Alumni, joined by the Fellowship’s Lead Coach, Getti Mercorio, gathered in Cape Town for a day of reconnection, reflection and community building. To open the day, Alumni first shared what they bring to and need from the group, then in smaller groups, discussed what it means to be a leader and innovator in current times, what they have been grappling with, and some of the richest learnings that have surfaced in their journeys thus far.
With the event taking place shortly after the end of the eight-day Cape Town taxi strike, the conversation naturally centred around the conflicting feelings of being a leader in these times, when the disconnect and deep inequalities of South African society surface and are experienced in such a visceral way, inviting questions of power and responsibility,
Building on this, Alumni spoke about the importance of building reflective practices into our day-to-day work, creating spaces for collaboration that are inclusive, accessible and prioritise community development as well as engaging in difficult and uncomfortable conversations not only in response to crises but with the intention of making fertile ground for inviting and sustaining innovation.
Dealing with failure, accepting that we may not see the fruits of our labour for many years, and prioritising boundaries and well-being in service leadership are only a few of the themes that surfaced. In the afternoon, the group was joined by our Cape Town-based coaches for a session on The Basic Moods of Life where we explored our current assessments of the mood in South Africa, in our organisations and our own moods.
Going forward, the Alumni remain connected via a regional WhatsApp group, led by themselves, where they can share opportunities, resources and skills, with the vision of creating a community of practice that extends beyond the Fellowship and serves as a source of collaboration and resilience for their work as leaders in civil society.
Soon, this community, together with Alumni based in other regions, will also begin exploring the idea of peer mentoring framework where they can share their work and life learnings with each other.
Spaces such as this where Alumni can connect (and reconnect) are always incredibly energising and this meetup was no different. Our Alumni are doing amazing work and we are thrilled to witness the flourishing of a community of leaders that are hungry to drive change
