Buppies – coming to terms with young black staff
Buppies - Black yuppies. Black young upwardly mobile professionals. Research shows that this is one of the fastest growing demographic groups in South Africa, but many companies and leaders have no idea how to manage them. Aloysias Maimane, a new member of the...
Travel Tips: Power, Phones and Tipping
For those who travel regularly to different cultures, you know the nightmare of arriving in a new country and realising that you don't know some important local customs. I'm not talking about the customs officials at the airport, but rather issues like do you tip the...
Sawubona (Zulu greeting: “I see you are not my enemy”)
I have been black for as long as I can remember, yet it would seem of late with the introduction of technology, education and westernised worldview, that reality is consistently being challenged. I grew up in Soweto with the values of the struggle being continually...
A is for Apple, BEE is for Business. Part 3: The Solution
In the past two e-zines, John Maxwell has outlined the BEE question and the BEE problem. Now, in this final contribution, he focuses on one of the possible solutions to BEE. He is involved with an innovative Trust that is changing how BEE is done, and taking it to...
Manager, offshore thyself
A great article in the latest Economist magazine looks at the issue of corporate locations, and where you place your key executives. The subtitle asks: "Does the location of a company's headquarters matter any more?" Read the article, from the 8 March 2007 editiion,...
A is for Apple, BEE is for Business (part 2)
John Maxwell, co-founder and administrator of the Nkomazi Community Trust, examines Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and points out some flaws within the current implementation. Telling the story of a BEE deal gone wrong John shows that BBBEE is much...
The War for Black Talent
One of TomorrowToday's bright young stars, Aloysias Maimane helps us to understand some of the unique drivers and motivators of young, black talent. His insights will assist those who are battling to attract and retain these "black diamonds". There is an overwhelming...
A is for Apple, BEE is for Business (part 1)
In the first of a three part series, John Maxwell, co-founder and administrator of an exciting new venture, the Nkomazi Community Trust, looks at various responses to Black Economic Empowerment strategies in South Africa. He offers a broad introduction to the current...
New study shows how marketers can better connect with SA's black middle class
Issued by: UCT Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing Fascinating new research shows that an alarming percentage of Black Diamonds - South Africa's fast-growing and affluent black middle class - feel that marketing communication often misses the mark when it comes...
New study shows how marketers can better connect with SA’s black middle class
Issued by: UCT Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing Fascinating new research shows that an alarming percentage of Black Diamonds - South Africa's fast-growing and affluent black middle class - feel that marketing communication often misses the mark when it comes...
Pseudo tolerance
While watching the first episode of Survivor South Africa last night, Sam and I wondered how the series would differ from the US version and whether we'd see a distinctly South African flavour come out of the tried and tested Survivor script and screenplay. At first...
The merits and demerits of being a black woman
The joke goes that the easiest person for a personnel agency to place in South Africa these days is a disabled, lesbian black woman with tertiary qualifications. Not a very good joke, I'll grant you, but indicative of the struggle to rectify the imbalances of the past...
Dean Jones sacked after ‘terrorist’ remark
Pardon me for a parochial comment (about cricket and about South Africa), but this caught my eye... Dean Jones, the former Australia Test batsman turned TV commentator, has been sacked by his employers, Ten Sports, after calling Hashim Amla a 'terrorist' on live...
Diversity poll
Diversity interventions in the workplace – is it relevant? Yes, it’s so hot right now. What is diversity? No need for it - South Africans understand diversity.
Complaining about discrimination
Last week, the USA Supreme Court ruled on the matter of Burlington Northern v. White, a sexual discrimination case. Basically, the woman involved had been verbally harassed by a male supervisor in front of her all male colleagues. When she ultimately complained, he...
Men and women in the office
A small little filler in the BusinessWeek magazine, 29 May 2006 edition, caught my eye. It is about what different people want in the physical layout of their offices. Interesting read: What Do Men Want? A Thermostat By Elizabeth Woyke To build a better work space,...
Men and women in the office
A small little filler in the BusinessWeek magazine, 29 May 2006 edition, caught my eye. It is about what different people want in the physical layout of their offices. Interesting read: What Do Men Want? A Thermostat By Elizabeth Woyke To build a better work space,...
Diversity lessons in Canada
All around the world, it is becoming clear that a diverse work environment is a helpful environment for fostering innovation, global awareness, emotionally healthy workplaces, creativity, resilience and tolerance. Its becoming clear that diversity is an essential...
How to Lose Friends and Inflame People
When the Secretary-General of the United Nations makes official mention of your newspaper, its either very good or very bad. For the Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, its very, VERY bad. The paper is being protected by security guards and several of its cartoonists...
'My mom will sort you out!' Boomer's Kids @ Work
"How do you deal with a generation that has had their parents take care of all their problems when they face disappointment in the workplace?" This is a question most HR Managers are asking themselves in the US and soon in SA as they increasingly have to deal with...