From left, Mrs Lungi Makgoba, Phil Goduka. Dr Wendy Luhabe, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, and Dr Bridget de Villiers
That was at the core of social entrepreneur and thought leader, Dr Wendy Luhabe, in her keynote address at Nelson Mandela University’s 2025 Archbishop Thabo Makgoba public lecture on Value-Based Leadership.
Held at the University’s North Campus Conference Centre, the annual lecture saw the venue bursting at the seams with scholars, students, professionals and community members who were part of the robust discussion on what it means to lead with values in today’s complex world.
In her keynote address, titled “A Blueprint for a Thriving Nation”, Dr Luhabe offered a powerful reflection on South Africa’s current challenges and what kind of leadership is needed to build a better future.
“The standards in our society have dropped. We have become numb to the things that should worry us,” she warned. Her talk, which was also a call to action, was clear: South Africa is at a crossroads and needs courageous, ethical leaders to guide it forward.
She said value-based leadership puts service above self-interest.
“We should be at the place where we are serving first and think about meeting the needs of the people that we are in office to serve.”
Drawing from international thought leaders like philosopher Antonio Gramsci and economist Jeffrey Sachs, Dr Luhabe emphasised that the world is experiencing a profound shift. She spoke of the widespread failure of leadership – both in governments and in businesses – driven by greed, corruption and a lack of ethics.
“Leadership around the world is going through big changes,” she said. “The world is changing in ways we’ve never seen before, and leaders must change with it.”
To illustrate, Dr Luhabe used the metaphor of a tree: “The roots are the values and attributes of leadership. The trunk is the principles. And the branches and leaves are the results of our decisions, actions and leadership.”
“Leaders who lead with values build stronger economies, more equal societies and systems that benefit everyone,” she said.
She stressed how values such as honesty, fairness and responsibility must be at the heart of leadership today, especially in a world facing climate change, rising inequality, technological disruption and deep mistrust in institutions.
Her appeal for ethical leadership resonated with the audience hooked on her every word, prompting a standing ovation. She concluded by urging South Africans to reflect on their role in shaping leadership.
The people in power do not elect themselves,” she said, in response to a pointed question from an audience member. “Nations get the leaders they deserve.”
Respondents Dr Bridget de Villiers and Phil Goduka offered further insight to the discussion.
Dr De Villiers, a senior lecturer in Industrial Psychology and Human Resources at Mandela University, believes the real gap in leadership lies in weak accountability systems and deep-rooted cultural and political networks within organisations, which often create environments where people are afraid to speak out and thus protects unethical conduct and encourages a culture of silence.
“We need strong systems in place to support ethical behaviour,” she said, highlighting the importance of frameworks like the King IV Report, while cautioning that structural reform is needed to make ethical leadership the norm and not the exception.
Goduka, Executive Director at Izingwe Properties, focused on the role of higher education.
“At Nelson Mandela University, students are taught the importance of personal ethics, business ethics, and self-leadership skills that prepare them to enter the workplace with integrity and a drive to transform society,” he said.
He warned, however, that South Africa continues to struggle with corruption and unethical behaviour in both the public and private sectors, raising the concern that the values students are taught may not always survive the pressures of the real world.
Earlier in the day, Dr Luhabe led a masterclass on “Women’s Economic Empowerment,” alongside PhD candidate at the University of Western Cape, Simran Juglal, and economic and social commentator, Khaya Sithole.
The session focused on her journey founding WIPHOLD (Women Investment Portfolio Holdings) in response to barriers she and other women faced in the economy.
WIPHOLD became the first women-led company to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and has played a vital role in empowering women through financial literacy and investment, particularly in rural communities.
Respondents hailed it as a model of “conscious capitalism”, which is essentially business that serves the greater good.
During the interactive session, Dr Luhabe challenged students to grapple with real-world issues: “What does economic justice mean in a society still shaped by racial inequality and gender discrimination?”
Introducing the lecture, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Learning and Teaching, Dr Muki Moeng, underscored the University’s commitment to values-based education.
“Dr Luhabe’s focus on leadership aligns perfectly with our goal of producing graduates who lead with integrity,” she said.