Henley Centre for Leadership Africa

Recognising, developing, transforming, and sustaining positive and optimistic leadership in Africa

Who we are

Established in 2023, the Henley Centre for Leadership Africa is a sister centre of the Henley Centre for Leadership and is focused on recognising, developing, transforming, and sustaining positive and optimistic leadership in Africa. Both centres honour and advance Henley Business School's strong heritage and reputation as a pioneer in the thinking and practice of leadership and its development.

Henley Centre for Leadership UK

Our sister centre in the UK was founded in 2013 and is a community of scholars and leaders striving to tackle challenging leadership issues, transform leadership and create positive change in organisations, communities and society. It is committed to enhancing the study and practice of leadership by developing leaders, engaging in knowledge exchange and co-creating future-focused strategies.

Call to engage

Please reach out to us if you would like to learn more about our leadership insights, seek bespoke leadership research to support your organisation and activities, or look for assistance in leadership learning.

Contact:
Prof. Bernd Vogel
bernd.vogel@henley.ac.uk

The attributes and energy dynamics of hopeful, healthy, performing senior management teams over time, and their impact on individuals and society in an African leadership context

This collaborative research project focuses on African leadership optimism. The focus is on developing case studies related to African optimism linked to the future of leadership. Through appreciative inquiry, the success stories of African leaders are researched and reported. The partnership could also see the joint supervision of doctoral students.

Research Team

Prof Bernd Vogel, is the project lead who scoped the project and gained ethical clearance.
Mr Brian Mhlanga, an HBS Africa adjunct faculty who holds two master’s degrees in leadership and is well connected with industry, is the team’s researcher and interviewer and will conduct the initial analysis.
Dr Janet Brumme from HBS Africa has joined the team as the lead researcher.
Prof Anneloes Raes, from IESE Business School (Spain) has joined the project as a collaborator.
Ms Vickey de Villiers, a Henley researcher, is assisting the team with compiling the database and setting up interviews.

Exploring the development of organisational leadership capacity on the job: a learning history for a manufacturing plant

This project addresses leadership challenges associated with current dynamic business contexts. The research project, under the auspices of Prof. Vogel and DBA student Mr Hugoh Ndudzo, investigates the evolution of collective leadership approaches as an avenue for extending the development of organisational leadership capacity (OLC).

The study proposes a conceptual model for developing OLC and adopts an action research strategy and learning history methodology. Findings will allow the researchers to develop a framework for developing OLC in this context. In phase one, the study explores and creates some perspective on insights from a five-year development process at a manufacturing plant in South Africa. In phase two, the study takes those findings as a next episode of action research into a similar plant in Zambia

Research team

Prof. Bernd Vogel, DBA supervisor
Mr Hugoh Ndudzo, DBA student

Human centricity in leadership

The study will focus on human-centred leadership. A survey will be fielded amongst senior leaders and early career leaders in the UK, Finland and South Africa.

Research Team

Prof. Bernd Vogel, HBS UK and Director of the Henley Centre for Leadership Africa
Dr Paula Kilpinen and Dr Can Ererdi, HBS Finland
Prof Danie Petzer, HBS Africa

African Leadership Optimism Workshops

The African Leadership Optimism Workshops focus on positively shifting the leadership debates, practices, and insights in South Africa. The 5th annual workshop took place on 25 March 2025 which focused on Africa-rooted positive leadership.

Please see our graphic harvesting sketch notes that illustrate the key insights and takeaways from previous workshops:

2025-03-25 Henley 5th African Leadership Optimism Workshop -- Full Sketchnote

Henley Leadership Workshop -- Full Sketchnote

Leadership stories

The Henley Centre for Leadership Africa is embarking on a project to highlight positive and optimistic leadership stories/journeys of South African business leaders.
Please find the links to our featured leadership stories here:

Victor Sekese

Leadership

The introverted trailblazer

Victor Sekese

Leadership

The introverted trailblazer

A leader, mentor, pioneer, and family man, Victor Sekese’s impact on the accountancy and auditing profession spans generations and borders and extends beyond his role as CEO of SNG Grant Thornton.

The introverted trailblazer

A leader, mentor, pioneer, and family man, Victor Sekese’s impact on the accountancy and auditing profession spans generations and borders and extends beyond his role as CEO of SNG Grant Thornton.

Tebogo Baloyi

Leadership

Poise, presence, and purpose

Tebogo Baloyi

Leadership

Poise, presence, and purpose

Tebogo Baloyi, head of human resources (HR) at Bryte Insurance, is a curious human observer who applauds the grit and resilience of his fellow South Africans.

Poise, presence, and purpose

Tebogo Baloyi, head of human resources (HR) at Bryte Insurance, is a curious human observer who applauds the grit and resilience of his fellow South Africans.

Genine Jacobs

Leadership

A purpose-driven mission

Genine Jacobs

Leadership

A purpose-driven mission

With an innate passion for aligning people and purpose, Genine Jacobs, Standard Bank’s executive head of People and Culture in Personal and Private Banking South Africa, works to empower individuals to enhance every aspect of their lives.

A purpose-driven mission

Lolly Gwabavu

Leadership

A quietly gutsy and reflective leader

Lolly Gwabavu

Leadership

A quietly gutsy and reflective leader

Henley Business School Africa alumna Lolly Gwabavu, the group head of Leadership Development at Nedbank, lives the values she advocates around lifelong learning, personal mastery, and ongoing human development.

A quietly gutsy and reflective leader

Dr Melani Prinsloo

Leadership

Forget the pyramid, connect with the people

Dr Melani Prinsloo

Leadership

Forget the pyramid, connect with the people

Driven by a strong sense of social justice, Dr Mélani Prinsloo uses her research company, Infusion Knowledge Hub, to provide valuable insights into marginalised communities.

Forget the pyramid, connect with the people

Driven by a strong sense of social justice, Dr Mélani Prinsloo uses her research company, Infusion Knowledge Hub, to provide valuable insights into marginalised communities.

Katherine Gibson

Leadership

Drawing clear lines in the sand

Katherine Gibson

Leadership

Drawing clear lines in the sand

As one of the deputy commissioners at the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Katherine Gibson fulfils a vitally important oversight role in society – one that impacts financial markets and consumers.

Drawing clear lines in the sand

Anusha Padiachy

Leadership

Living the dream

Anusha Padiachy

Leadership

Living the dream

As head of Human Capital for Standard Bank’s Personal and Private Banking: Africa Regions and Offshore, Padiachy is not content to roll out leadership and specialist education programmes for the sake of it.

Living the dream

Jabulane Hlalethoa

Leadership

Lights, camera, action, and empowerment

Jabulane Hlalethoa

Leadership

Lights, camera, action, and empowerment

Jabulane Hlalethoa, the divisional executive of Corporate Services at the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), is dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders.

Lights, camera, action, and empowerment

Jabulane Hlalethoa, the divisional executive of Corporate Services at the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), is dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders.

Nadia Ten Cate

Leadership

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Nadia Ten Cate

Leadership

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Nadia ten Cate, Group Leadership Lead within the People Development Community of Expertise (COE) at the Absa Group, believes leadership is a “powerful tool through which we can change the world”.

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Nadia ten Cate, Group Leadership Lead within the People Development Community of Expertise (COE) at the Absa Group, believes leadership is a “powerful tool through which we can change the world”.

Professor Dr Bernd Vogel

Leadership

Director of the Henley Centre for Leadership Africa

Professor Dr Bernd Vogel

Leadership

Director of the Henley Centre for Leadership Africa

Professor Dr Bernd Vogel. Professor in Leadership, Founding Director of Henley Centre for Leadership UK & Henley Centre for Leadership Africa, and Research Division Lead at Henley Business School, University of Reading.

Director of the Henley Centre for Leadership Africa

Barry van Zyl

Leadership

Associate Members to the Henley Centre for Leadership Africa

Barry van Zyl

Leadership

Associate Members to the Henley Centre for Leadership Africa

Barry van Zyl is a world-renowned musician with over 30 years’ experience in the creative sector – from performance and production to education, strategy, and business development.

Associate Members to the Henley Centre for Leadership Africa

Barry van Zyl is a world-renowned musician with over 30 years’ experience in the creative sector – from performance and production to education, strategy, and business development.

Dr Janet Brumme

Leadership

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Dr Janet Brumme

Leadership

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Dr Janet Brumme is an adult education specialist with more than 25 years’ experience in large and small organisations, with skills and competence in learning design, development, and implementation of work-based learning linked to the achievement of organisational strategy.

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Tshidi Pila Machaba

Leadership

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Tshidi Pila Machaba

Leadership

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Tshidi Pila Machaba serves as head of Sales for the Inland Region at Altron Nexus, a subsidiary of Altron, which is a Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed entity.

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Tshidi Pila Machaba serves as head of Sales for the Inland Region at Altron Nexus, a subsidiary of Altron, which is a Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed entity.

Malcolm Ferguson

Leadership

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Malcolm Ferguson

Leadership

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Malcolm Ferguson is an executive fellow of Henley Business School Africa. As programme director for Executive Education, he takes cohorts of corporate managers on development journeys towards courageous leadership.

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Dora Maribe-Moremi

Leadership

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Dora Maribe-Moremi

Leadership

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Dora Maribe-Moremi is a pan-Africanist born to teachers in Mochudi, Botswana. Her quest for learning and enthusiasm about humanistic values in leadership, organisations, and behaviour is garnered from an extensive and illustrious career in business.

Leadership - a powerful agent of change

Research Output

See our published white papers

Tshepo Glen Mphogo

White Paper

Employee retention part 1

Tshepo Glen Mphogo

White Paper

Employee retention part 1

Earned wage access: is it the best initiative to prevent low-income earners from quitting?

Employee retention part 1

Earned wage access: is it the best initiative to prevent low-income earners from quitting?

Dr Dora Maribe-Moremi

White Paper

Dr Dora Maribe-Moremi

White Paper

Adopting a Botho-ubuntubehavioural approach in pursuit of leadership excellence

Jon Foster-Pedley

White Paper

Jon Foster-Pedley

White Paper

A three-layer HAIR-STYLE-VOICE perspective on 21stcentury leadership

Jon Foster-Pedley

White Paper

Employee retention part 1

Jon Foster-Pedley

White Paper

Employee retention part 1

Earned wage access: is it the best initiative to prevent low-income earners from quitting?

Employee retention part 1

Earned wage access: is it the best initiative to prevent low-income earners from quitting?

Deven Reddy

White Paper

Deven Reddy

White Paper

Leadership’s role in the digital transformation of banks’ treasuries

Catherine Francis, Elaine Govender and Mpho Ludalo

White Paper

A cross-sectoral perspective of gender disparity in the workplace

Catherine Francis, Elaine Govender and Mpho Ludalo

White Paper

A cross-sectoral perspective of gender disparity in the workplace

Perhaps the issue is less complicated than it seem

A cross-sectoral perspective of gender disparity in the workplace

Perhaps the issue is less complicated than it seem

Charles M. Henderson Jr

White Paper

Charles M. Henderson Jr

White Paper

Epistemic leadership – aunifying model of leadership: philosophy and application

Candace Ristić

White Paper

Candace Ristić

White Paper

Building quality relationshipsand resilient teams: organisations’ secret weapon for weathering disruption?

Mahlatse Ramoriting

White Paper

Work overload

Mahlatse Ramoriting

White Paper

Work overload

Middle managers’ fate in project-based businesses?

Work overload

Middle managers’ fate in project-based businesses?

Dr Ray Haeng Soo Seol & Barry van Zyl

White Paper

Timing matters

Dr Ray Haeng Soo Seol & Barry van Zyl

White Paper

Timing matters

Applying musicians' insights to business

Timing matters

Applying musicians' insights to business

Despina Senatore & Dr Kelly Alexander

White Paper

Women in leadership

Despina Senatore & Dr Kelly Alexander

White Paper

Women in leadership

The more things change, the more they stay the same

Women in leadership

The more things change, the more they stay the same

See all white papers

See our published case studies

Our case studies are available from The Case Centre

Read Case Studies

Part of a global research network

We operate as one global institute with campuses in Helsinki, Johannesburg and Reading. By linking our African research directly with UK sister centres, we bridge the gap between global theory and local practice, sharing data, faculty, and impact across continents.

United Kingdom

The John Madejski Centre for Reputation

The John Madejski Centre for Reputation is a research centre that sees itself as a catalyst for positive change: working with and inspiring business, government and not-for-profit organisations to deeply explore the value of reputation, drive sustainable behaviours and business models and communicate for positive impact.

More info

United Kingdom

Dunning Africa Centre for International Business

Research in this UK centre straddles the fields of international business, strategic management, innovation, development, and human resource management, and balances the necessity of a deep theoretical grounding with the added value of a strong applied focus. With its network of partners, it addresses both management- and policy-related real-world challenges, working with firms, NGOs, and international organisations. The centre was renamed in honour of the late Professor John H Dunning.

More info

United Kingdom

Henley Centre for Leadership

The Henley Centre for Leadership is a globally recognised voice and catalyst of leadership and leadership development. Together, we empower people in organisations, academia and society to lead with purpose, adaptability and integrity in a rapidly evolving world. Grounded in rigorous academic excellence, practical relevance and real-world insights, our values-driven research, education and community initiatives foster inclusive, ethical, sustainable and impactful leadership repertoires.

More info

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Meet the research centre team

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Global qualifications

Rise without leaving your family behind

80 years of global impact

A movement to build Africa

An accredited ladder of learning to the top

An accredited ladder of learning to the top

An accredited ladder of learning to the top

An accredited ladder of learning to the top

Take a short course not a short cut

Take a short course not a short cut

Take a short course not a short cut

Take a short course not a short cut

Take a short course not a short cut

Henley Centre for Leadership Africa

Who we are

Active research

We work in collaboration with researchers from around the globe to advance African knowledge and practice on leadership and leadership development and impact significant personal, business and societal issues and opportunities.

The attributes and energy dynamics of hopeful, healthy, performing senior management teams over time, and their impact on individuals and society in an African leadership context

Exploring the development of organisational leadership capacity on the job: a learning history for a manufacturing plant

Human centricity in leadership

Centre activities

The Henley Centre for Leadership Africa is the sister centre of Henley Centre for Leadership at Henley Business School in the UK and is part of Henley Business School Africa’s strategy to increase its research footprint in Africa to create original and impactful insights.

African Leadership Optimism Workshops

The African Leadership Optimism Workshops focus on positively shifting the leadership debates, practices, and insights in South Africa. The 5th annual workshop took place on 25 March 2025 which focused on Africa-rooted positive leadership.

Please see our graphic harvesting sketch notes that illustrate the key insights and takeaways from previous workshops:

Leadership stories

Research Output

See our published case studies

We are proud to be Africa's first quadruple-accredited business school

Part of a global research network

The John Madejski Centre for Reputation

Dunning Africa Centre for International Business

Henley Centre for Leadership

Meet the research centre team

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