Leading Through Ubuntu

This publication explores how leadership in South Africa is shaped by cultural, historical, and societal influences, with particular attention to the philosophy of Ubuntu. It offers insights into leadership approaches that both challenge and enrich prevailing Western models, contributing to a more holistic, inclusive, and globally relevant understanding of leadership.
Western leaders are invited to reflect on their own leadership identity and to draw practical inspiration from a cultural tradition that emphasises connection, community, and shared humanity.

Positions Ubuntu philosophy as a distinctive and practice-oriented leadership model Demonstrates how inclusivity, resilience, and adaptive problem-solving strengthen leadership effectiveness Equips leaders with capabilities suited to volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous contexts

Autorentext

Stefanie Neumann is a senior lecturer in executive leadership and coaching at the Institute of Applied Psychology at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. With 15 years in the financial sector and over a decade in applied facilitation and consulting, she bridges diverse perspectives to support individual and team development.

Ivo Malzacher is a scientific assistant at the Institute of Applied Psychology at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, where he works in the fields of leadership, coaching, and organizational development. He holds a Master of Science in Applied Psychology with a specialization in work and organizational psychology.

Inhalt

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Leadership Under Conditions of Complexity and Polycrisis.- Chapter 3: African Philosophies as Relational Foundations.- Chapter 4: Leadership Identity Through Lived Experience.- Chapter 5: African Leadership Practices in Organisational Contexts.- Chapter 6: Contributions of African Perspectives to Western Leadership Practice.- Chapter 7: Conclusions and Implications: Ubuntu as Relational Inspiration.- Chapter 8: Leadership Reflection and Practice: Exercises Inspired by Ubuntu.