From Compliance to Co-Creation: Redefining Governance Through Values

What if governance wasn’t just about ticking compliance boxes, but also about deeply aligning institutional behaviour with human values?

This was the core provocation in the recent conversation on values-led governance, hosted by Alex Mathole, the Values 20 (V20) South Africa Sustainability Stream Lead. On this podcast episode, hosted by the Gordan Institute of Business Science (GIBS), the panelists discussed how leadership anchored in Ubuntu can redefine how institutions operate. Governance, after all, is the nervous system of any enterprise, and when values aren’t present, dysfunction follows.

Dr Khoza emphasized that true governance requires not just structure, but substance; a moral compass that guides decisions when the law is silent. His acronym “ICRAFT” (Integrity, Capability, Reliability, Accountability, Fairness, Transparency) presents an actionable model for embedding values into systems.

“Good leadership is not only about knowledge and ability. Without morality, it can still be a dangerous thing.” – Dr Reuel Khoza

It is time to embed Ubuntu and collective wisdom into policy-making and governance systems to rebuild from the eroding societal trust in institutions.

As we think forward, we’d love to explore together:

How might we embed compassion into boardroom decisions?
What does values-led governance mean in a hybrid, digital-first world?
Where are the opportunities for collaborative leadership across sectors?

“If governance is the nervous system of any institution, then values are its moral spine. And when values are missing, even the best-designed systems falter.”

Whether you work in the public, private, or civil sector, your role in decision-making matters, and the quality of those decisions begins with the values behind them. The V20 South Africa welcomes your thoughts, your experiences, and your insights, because shifting systems starts with a shared conversation.

If this reflection sparked something in you, we invite you to explore the full complete conversation with Dr Reuel Khoza, Dr Dumisani Magadlela, Prof Charlene Lew, and moderator Alex Mathole on GIBS’s YouTube channel.