By Tryphosa Ramano
What will our country look like in twenty years? That depends on us. That’s right. It depends on how we are nurturing leaders of tomorrow now, creating opportunities and environments for them to develop essential skills and qualities to ultimately take on leadership roles and make a positive impact in the coming years. But how much thought have you put into how we, as older leaders, can and should shape the future by groom future leaders, whether in the economic or political sector.
As we commemorate the 2025 Youth Month under the theme, “Skills for the Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation”, there is no doubt that empowering the next generation of leaders through providing access to mentorship, offering leadership training, will help prepare our youth to handle and take over our responsibilities when we are not there or no longer here.
As role models, either political, business, entrepreneurial or any industry, we can help shape our country’s future by offering professional development. In order to offer intentional leadership development, we have to overcome barriers in our way of thinking whether in the political or business sector.
SINGAPORE CASE STUDY
Here is a case study I observed over the years. I have always admired how Singapore emerged from a poverty-stricken place with few natural resources when it gained independence from Britain in 1965, to a gleaming global hub of trade, finance and transportation and one of Asia successful and stable nations, magnet for economic growth in the global economy and politics.
The answer, according to Singaporeans is simple: a coherent investment in human resources and a comprehensive system for selecting, training, compensating and developing young leaders across all sectors of society.
“A nation is great not by its size alone. It is the will, the cohesion, the stamina, the discipline of its people and the quality of their leaders which ensure it an honourable place in history,” said Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990 who is widely recognised as the founding father of the modern Singapore.
Recognising that innovation would be the key to its future economic success and that a new mind-set and new skills will be needed to encourage innovation, the country developed an education policy framework of grooming creative, innovative leaders in all social, political and economic fields to rise to the challenges of a global future where change is the only norm.
Singaporeans tell me there is a close working relationship between the public and private sector in the professional development and talent is identified and nurtured rather than being left to chance.
Different sectors in Singapore gather to study the country’s needs of the future, and plan how to create a supply of highly qualified workers. Future leaders of every sector are offered study grants at home and or abroad. Those sent abroad sign contracts to return home. We can do the same.
By putting its energy into the front end of recruiting high-quality people and giving them good training and continuing support, the country doesn’t have the problems of massive attrition and persistently ineffective leaders that plague many systems.
That is why convinced that South African youth desire to make a difference, have their voices heard, and shape the nation’s future, I have formed, Seat at the Table (SATT) a non-profit organisation dedicated to civic education and leadership development.
The reason is simple: young people need support to engage effectively and meaningfully to empower them with tools for future leadership.
Through initiatives like SATT, I believe young people can advocate for change effectively through foster valuable connections through networking opportunities, participate in meaningful conversations that have a lasting impact on careers growth.
The truth is young leaders gain insights and wisdom from leaders who have navigated similar journeys. Our aim is to create one million global ambassadors dedicated to making a meaningful impact in society. If we all agree that the youth hold the key to South Africa’s future; we must ensure they must be heard across all platforms and sectors of society.
There are many ways to provide professional development: from summits like the one SATT hosted recently themed “Voices for Change: Shaping Our Future Together” and training offered by companies to those offered by local businesses and service clubs. When we encourage the youth to get involved, they grow and become leaders of the future.
It is a pity that young people tend to be marginalised from planning processes and limited in their development into leaders of tomorrow. Ensuring that youth have opportunities for involvement in all spheres of life and development is a major responsibility of all of us, from business leaders, policy makers and community leaders.
As leaders of tomorrow, our youth need to be given a greater role in the decision-making process if lasting social change is to be realised.
As we anticipate competitive local government elections next year young people can use the knowledge from civic, leadership and entrepreneurial education not only to go out and vote but also to hold their elected officials beyond the ballot.
Tryphosa Ramano, a seasoned business executive specializing in governance and finance, is co-founder and board member of Seat at the Table.
