A conversation between global humanitarian Graça Machel and Judy Sikuza is encouraging renewed reflection on the role of purpose-driven leadership in a rapidly changing world.
Hosted by the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, the discussion highlights a growing call for leadership approaches that prioritise service, dignity and human connection over authority and control.
Machel emphasised that leadership should not be defined by position alone, but by responsibility towards people and communities. She noted that leadership discourse has increasingly shifted towards power, markets and control, often moving away from its human-centred roots.
According to Machel, when societies begin to view people primarily as markets rather than communities, leadership risks losing its moral direction.
The conversation aligns with insights from the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Leadership, which recently presented a white paper in Davos examining leadership models needed for a transforming world.
Both perspectives highlight the importance of leadership grounded in justice, empathy and collaboration across generations.
Drawing on the legacy of Nelson Mandela, the discussion reflects on the principle that leadership is often most effective when it enables others to grow and contribute.
Rather than viewing leadership as something passed from one generation to the next, Machel and Sikuza advocate for shared leadership, where experienced leaders and younger generations learn alongside one another.
They suggest that many capable leaders already exist within communities and institutions, but often lack access to platforms, networks and decision-making spaces.
The conversation also emphasises the importance of adapting global ideas to local realities, particularly within African contexts where social and economic conditions vary widely.
Drawing on the philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasises shared humanity and interdependence, the discussion presents leadership as a practice grounded in empathy, listening and collaboration.
As global challenges become increasingly interconnected, the speakers emphasised that leadership should be lived daily through action and accountability, rather than treated as a future aspiration.
The full conversation is available through the Mandela Rhodes Foundation podcast on major platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
