Bonang Mohale - Lift As You Rise: Speeches and Thoughts on Leadership

W hen I was approached about publishing a book of my speeches, articles and thoughts, I agreed for a few reasons.

One, because I genuinely want to contribute to a culture of reading, especially in the black community where I come from.

Secondly, young people have access to instantaneous everything they Google whatever they want to know and they have answers on tap. But, because Im old fashioned, I think theres still value in reading an old-fashioned newspaper, so that you can build your own vocabulary. And I still believe in reading books, not just Google results, which might be old fashioned too.

You see, Ive always believed in the value of broadening ones understanding of the world. When I was studying, I decided that the books I read at weekends and over holidays should be non-medicine related. The friends I kept should not only be the ones that I had met at medical school. Ive always wanted to be a well-rounded individual and I believe that expanding my knowledge with intention is key to achieving that. I hope others, especially younger people, will do the same.

Having worked since 17 April 1984, even if Im stupid, I now have more than 30 years of work experience, so even if I have learned only two things in that time, I would like to share them. My hope is that I can shorten the learning curves of those who are coming behind me. Thats what lifting as you rise is all about using ones own opportunities and blessings to sow opportunities and blessings for others.

I hope this book will prove valuable to some of the youngsters coming through the ranks, who will be leading us all in business, politics and the social sphere in the years to come.

Theres also a case to be made about the creation of role models. You cannot miss what you do not know. For example, when you are a pupil at high school and you are exposed to a male nurse, all of a sudden it becomes possible for boys to become nurses. But until and unless you see it that possibility that option will never exist for you.

I have been blessed with a successful career in a country where that was previously not a possibility, purely based on the colour of my skin. For the black child growing up in a township today, I and others who have walked a similar journey have proved it is possible, and that child may now look at us and say, Yes, one day I too can be a CEO.

All of us whether at work, in life or growing up are trying to emulate the best amongst us. We talk like them, we gesticulate like them, we repeat what theyve said, and we want to be better than they are.

In my case, this book is about documenting my own lived experiences, because the chances are they are the same lived experiences of 52 million other people who grew up in a township.

Life has taught us that when you think alone the skies cave in on you because of your own personal problems, and tomorrow does not look better than today.

When you talk to other people or you read about other peoples issues, you often say, Thank God I thought I was the only one! Then, all of a sudden, your problems seemed halved, purely and simply because you are not the odd one out.

You see, sharing builds upon an existing body of knowledge, but it also relieves the pain of others. Sharing normalises what some people might have internalised as, But I cant be normal.

Therefore, if we want to create successful human beings, we need to inculcate in ourselves, first and foremost, that its okay to be vulnerable, so that others can be vulnerable too. Leadership is about authenticity, its about showing your true self thats why we speak of a true north, because all of us have an internal compass by which we are guided.

Thats why, for me, its important to share who we are, where we come from, our history, our values, our mores. This is my hope for this book that it will promote and provoke hope and inspire action in you too, dear reader.

Bonang Mohale