The Future is Values-Driven: Building Leadership for a New Era

In a world shaped by globalisation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cross-cultural complexity, the demand for grounded, human-centric leadership is more urgent than ever.

But what makes a leader truly future-fit?

Dr Dumisani Magadlela shared how Ubuntu allows us to harness the genius within others, while Prof Charlene Lew emphasized that values are not abstract, they must guide everyday interactions, from boardrooms to grocery store checkouts. This reframing moves us from managing people to connecting with people.

Leadership isn’t only technical. It’s deeply relational.

And yet, we see disillusionment with leadership across sectors. Are we preparing future leaders to feel as well as think? To navigate complexity not just with logic, but with empathy, self-awareness, and a shared sense of purpose?

“Technology must serve humanity, not replace it.” – Dr Reuel Khoza

As the Values 20 (V20) South Africa, we believe that values-led leadership must be co-created. So we ask:

What leadership values are needed in your industry or community today?
How are you nurturing the next generation of ethical leaders?
What does Ubuntu mean for your organisation’s development journey?

Leadership isn’t inherited, it’s co-created. And in a world changing faster than ever, we must be intentional about what kind of leaders we’re cultivating, and how we equip them to lead with integrity, empathy, and vision. If you’re mentoring, hiring, studying, or leading, you’re part of this generational shift. Let’s work with the new generation of value-led changemakers together.

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.