BCL launches leadership development programme

ONALENNA MODIKWA
Staff Writer | Monday March 4, 2013 00:00

 

Through the strategy, the mine intends to tap into new and emerging opportunities in the region and beyond.  The mine believes that the success of the Polaris 11 strategy requires a leadership team with integrity and a value system that is congruent with the ideals of a robust BCL mining enterprise.

At the ceremony, the mine's general manager Dan Mahupela highlighted that the mine's commitment to building a robust mining, metallurgical and chemical industry will not be possible without a solid leadership team.

For his part, head of the department of industrial psychology and people management at the University of Johannesburg Professor Theo Veldsman said the exercise of leadership is under severe scrutiny because of today's radically changing world.

He added that with the increasing failure rate of organisations, facing the future requires a different and better leadership.

He said by embarking on reinventing BCL through Polaris 11 and using the development of its leadership as the pivotal leverage to make the strategy a reality, BCL is declaring that it has a future.

'Leadership will make the difference in securing a sustainable future for BCL and this needs a better and different leadership. An investment in leadership will unleash the leadership needed by the mine,' he added.

Veldsman noted that the University of Johannesburg is committed to fulfilling its role to assist BCL to build its future leadership capacity with professionalism and diligence.

'We undertake that the leadership development journey we will facilitate for BCL will incorporate the latest thinking regarding leadership in all of its facets,' he added.

He said the university believes that BCL will have a secure and sustainable future with right leaders in the right place and added that in this way, BCL will be able to leave a legacy that makes the world a better place.

University of Johannesburg's industrial psychology and people management department is regarded highly in southern Africa and beyond. Five years ago, the university initiated a Leadership Development Academy to offer in-house leadership development programmes at executive, senior and middle management levels.

The Harmony Gold Mining Company, where the University of Johannesburg has been involved for four years, was the only mining company whose employees did not go on strike last year in South Africa.

Veldsman said the company received wide compliments in the global investment community for the excellence of its leadership and its outstanding financial results in spite of the labour unrests.

Pioneer Foods, who have been involved with the university for two years now, saw improved financial results after a couple of difficult years.