In a series of interviews, I explore the approaches of different business leaders (all chartered accountants) to strategy. This month I was in conversation with Akash Singh, CEO of Sigma International, a global management consultancy busines. Tapping into his extensive experience in business strategy and strategic plan development, Akash shared some valuable insights on strategy…
DetailsWere Pink Floyd time travellers that provided us with a guide to the future of education? Explore the findings of an audit report prepared on the alignment of the future of education to rock music lyrics If you remember trying to master the skill of hitting the record button on the radio with the timing precision…
DetailsMy favourite online platforms for learning are Masterclass (paid), Udemy (free and paid) and YouTube (free and unstructured). Long live the MOOCs … The pandemic was great for some things. We redefined what it meant to be remote, we learnt how to trust staff more, and we moved a lot faster to digitisation. Education was…
Details‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,’ said Nelson Mandela. Education can certainly contribute to solving some challenges we face in South Africa. Education is not limited to providing knowledge and skills, but it also develops value systems and leadership attributes I promised myself, I am never going…
DetailsNobody can dispute that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives. At work, at home, at schools, in communities, in social life, in business, in government, in economies … every facet has changed. And fear and uncertainty whiplashed the investment markets The first wave Last year this time, I was writing about collars and caps’,…
DetailsSAICA’s Gugu Makhanya admits that the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to wreak havoc on South Africa’s attempts to achieve quality education; an ideal encapsulated by UN Sustainable Development Goal 4. This is especially true for students at HDIs, which serve South Africa’s poorer areas. While universities did their utmost to ensure equitable access to…
DetailsRecruiting newly qualified chartered accountants is an important and challenging process. More than merely looking for skills, you also have to assess candidates’ potential for development and cultural fit in your organisation When recruiting new CAs(SA), you have to get to know each individual’s personality, likes and dislikes, talents and skills. It’s an important decision…
DetailsUnderstanding the dynamics of training offices is important to ensure the spread of incorrect information regarding training opportunities are addressed and to ensure prospective trainees are informed about the industry they are about to enter. I often hear prospective trainees saying, ‘I just want a training contract’, and yes, I was there too. Knowing what…
DetailsWhat is this ‘learning environment’ everybody is talking about? This can be quite confusing: in most cases you walk into a training office as a young, impressionable trainee who is excited to be earning your first salary. You know you are about to embark on a journey to become a CA(SA), but you don’t really…
DetailsSo, who are the role-players? In my first article, ‘The onus to change the narrative’, the critical role-players who bear the onus to change the narrative were identified as government, professional service firms (consultants or service providers), and oversight and monitoring structures. In this scenario the individual in the body of water serves to represent…
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