Deloitte drives sustainable developmental change in Botswana
Pauline Dikuelo | Wednesday March 23, 2016 14:03
This was the message shared at the recently held Deloitte stakeholder session, which saw members of the Deloitte Africa team and local industry leaders convene for an evening of dialogue around celebrating the Deloitte Botswana heritage and driving a call to champion leadership of continuous change.
“At Deloitte Botswana, we are committed to the power of engagement and the power of change to transform. To transform people, communities, and our economy. For us, the storm on the horizon is not a flurry of turbulence to be feared,” said Deloitte Country Managing Partner, Max Marinelli. “It is the promise of rain, of blessings, and of hope for renewed life, renewed vigour, and opportunity for growth that we as a country yearn for. Since its early days of operations in Botswana, Deloitte was determined to wield some kind of impact in the country, to help her thrive, and to play a truly active role in the story of her growth. This resolute determination is only stronger, and it is our hope that platforms such as these keep that dialogue going.”
The celebratory engagement saw renowned Futurist and Chief Technology Advisor to the FutureWorld Global Think Tank, Doug Vining, deliver an insightful keynote address on thriving in the perfect storm in a truly connected world. “As ordinary products become connected, the business models change. Suddenly, manufacturers find themselves in information businesses.” Understanding the proverbial waves of change is therefore imperative, Vining shared. This is against the perfect storm of trust crisis, security and regulatory reform, a technological tsunami, the explosion of new and different competitors, and pressure from customers, citizens, business, media and indeed all stakeholders.
Society is changing, and businesses need to remain relevant to journey through the storm. “It’s all about the societal, geo-political, technological and business context for tomorrow’s world,” noted Vining. With up to three billion new minds joining the global economy in the next ten years, tens of trillions in emerging buying power, and a new internet-empowered entrepreneurial class, today’s businesses find themselves in a brave new world. It is a world in which everyone and everything is connected.
The evening was yet another testament to Deloitte Botswana’s unwavering commitment to drive sustainable impact in Botswana. “We have invested and continue to invest in our Botswana and celebrate her prosperity and potential. In the 2016/17 Budget Speech, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Honourable Kenneth Matambo, called upon private sector institutions to step forward and work with the Government of Botswana. The Honourable Minister’s words could not be clearer. It is the duty and the passion of Deloitte to heed this call, a passion which was born many, many years ago,” said Marinelli.
Deloitte pledged its aspiration to embrace the changing business landscape. It is committed to being a leader in its field and to playing an active role as catalysts of change, ushering Batswana into the next chapter of a truly proactive and connected economy.