Former Springbok Rugby coach Nick Mallett has drawn inspiration from unlikely quarters. The former rugby union player will draw from the philosophy of reggae icon Bob Marley when he addresses business leaders, senior executives and entrepreneurs at the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s first Leadership Inspired Conference at The Boardwalk ICC on 11 September 2014.
Nick Mallett has links with the Eastern Cape through his schooling at St Andrews in Grahamstown.
Discussing leadership through seemingly impossible times, Mallet says that he is, “looking forward to sharing [his] experiences”. The sportsman will be sharing the important lessons learned during his 15 years of coaching professional rugby at the highest level in South Africa, France and Italy. He’ll hone in on the errors he made and the principles applied that helped contribute to the successes of the teams he coached.
Marley’s philosophy states that, “the greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively”.
Mallet hopes that delegates leave with an understanding of:
- The importance of integrity and selecting the right people
- Creating trust through good communication
- The team before the individual and generosity of spirit above selfishness
- Achieving incredible results by setting attainable targets
Businessmen and women will be able to translate this philosophy into becoming a great leader for their organisation – being able to rise to the occasion during difficult times, to have the ability to step up, and to prepare for their future.
September 11, 2014 will see business leaders, senior executives and entrepreneurs benefit from diversity in intellectual capital and share in the vision of a competitive and sustainable South Africa at the first Leadership Inspired Conference, brought to you by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Leadership Inspired Conference will provide an accessible forum for business executives and senior leaders to engage with national leaders of the highest calibre.
The Leadership Inspired Conference promises a full day of inspiration with speakers who will discuss the challenges and opportunities this country has to offer and share the richness of their experience and insight into issues faced by business leaders today.
Other leading national and local speakers who will be featured at the conference are:
- Professor Derrick Swartz (Vice Chancellor, NMMU) – “Lessons learnt from Mandela”
- Advocate Vusi Pikoli (Forensic Auditing and Legal Consultant) – “The will to succeed”
- Judi Nwokedi (COO, Tourvest) – “Success through others, success for others”
- Dr. Bridgette Gasa (Managing Director, The Elilox Group) – “Lessons learnt through entrepreneurism”
- Dimitri Markoulides (Innovation Practice Leader, BMGI) – “Innovative leadership”
Seven year old Nick Mallet arrived in Cape Town, South Africa from then Rhodesia in 1963, when his father Anthony Mallett was appointed Headmaster of Diocesan College. Mallett later attended St. Andrew’s College in Grahamstown. He graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1977. While a student at the university, he was selected to play for the Western Province rugby union team.
In 1979 Mallett moved back to England to attend Oxford University (University College), where he not only gained further qualifications but also won Blues in rugby union and cricket, famously hitting three sixes in one over off Ian Botham. On his return to South Africa, he represented Western Province in four consecutive Currie Cup wins between 1982 and 1985, and played two games for the Springboks in 1984 against the South American Jaguars.
Mallett was appointed to the job of Springbok Coach in 1997.
Between August 1997 and December 1998, under Mallett’s guidance, the Springboks went on a record winning streak of 17 consecutive test wins. As part of the unbeaten run the Springboks won the Tri Nations Series undefeated and beat several teams by record margins, including a 52-10 against France in Paris, a 68-10 win over Scotland in Edinburgh, a 33-0 defeat of Ireland and a 96-13 against Wales. The run ended when the Springbok team was defeated by England at Twickenham at the end of a long tour on the 5 December 1998.
Alan Straton
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