The event featured a compelling keynote by Dr Nonkululeko Boikhutso, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, whose leadership journey is not only reshaping healthcare but redefining how business and society intersect.
Dr Boikhutso delivered a powerful message: social change is no longer a peripheral act of goodwill—it’s a smart business strategy. She outlined the ways businesses can no longer afford to ignore issues like inequality, health crises, and climate change, which are now deeply intertwined with operational risks and long-term sustainability.
“Partnerships between government, civil society, and the private sector have led to meaningful policy changes and improved lives,” she said. “Employees and consumers care about values and purpose, not just profits. Today’s generation expects companies to prioritise people and the planet.”
Dr Boikhutso emphasised that many under-resourced NGOs in South Africa are reaching vulnerable communities where the government cannot. She invoked the African principle of Ubuntu, stating: “I am because we are, should guide how businesses operate. Doing good is good for business.”
Leadership with purpose and empathy
Dr Boikhutso’s insights were not merely theoretical; they were deeply personal. She spoke candidly about how philanthropy changed the trajectory of her life, providing her access to quality education and shaping her current commitment to child health.
“Personally, I’ve experienced how philanthropic efforts gave me access to quality primary and tertiary education opportunities that shaped who I am today,” she reflected. “Professionally, this fuels my commitment to advancing child health and development through my role at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital and the NGOs I support. Investing in social change is both a personal responsibility and a professional imperative.”
She pointed to compelling data from the 2025 Deloitte Gen Z and Millennial Survey, noting that 75% of Millennials consider community engagement crucial when job hunting. “Companies that demonstrate ethical behaviour and social impact tend to attract and retain talent more effectively,” she said. “Consumers also support brands that align with their values and reject those that remain silent on important social issues.”
On the question of urgency, Dr Boikhutso identified social inequality as the most pressing issue facing South Africa today. “Tackling social inequality is foundational to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” she explained. “Inequality directly affects health outcomes, weakens a country’s ability to respond to global health crises, and reduces community resilience to climate change.”
Dr Boikhutso offered examples of successful collective leadership: “Our national responses to HIV/AIDS in the early 2000s and COVID-19 are strong examples of large-scale coordination across government, civil society, and the private sector. At a local level, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital is a powerful example of how such partnerships can deliver specialised healthcare. It represents a model that could inform future implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).”
At the heart of her leadership style is compassion. “Compassionate leadership means listening deeply and understanding the needs of the communities we serve, including our own teams,” she said. “It requires aligning expectations and clearly defining the problem we’re solving for. Without that alignment, meaningful change is difficult to achieve.”
Dr Boikhutso also reflected on how surviving cancer shaped her leadership values. “My experience as a cancer survivor fundamentally reshaped who I am and what I value,” she said. “When faced with something so life-altering, you learn to show up even when you’re afraid and uncertain. That lesson shaped my leadership: to lead with empathy, remain grounded, and make every action count. Time and energy are not infinite, so the work we do must matter. That’s the responsibility of leadership.”
To organisations looking to begin their journey toward embedding social change, she recommended three immediate actions:
• “Begin internally — ensure fair business practices and support employee well-being.”
• “Foster a culture of giving through year-round employee volunteer programmes.”
• “Build long-term partnerships with NGOs aligned to your values and community impact goals. With nearly 300 000 NGOs in South Africa, the opportunities to make a difference are vast.”
And to women in insurance and financial services, she issued a challenge to use their influence:
• “Champion inclusive products and services that serve underserved groups such as low-income households, informal workers, and women-led businesses.”
• “Influence investment decisions that deliver both financial returns and social impact, especially those supporting vulnerable populations.”
• “Lead internal change and advocate for workplace equity, mentor emerging women leaders, and model purpose-driven leadership.”
Conversations that spark change
Following Dr Boikhutso’s address, participants broke out into smaller facilitated sessions to explore how these insights could be translated into real action in their spheres of influence. We thank the following facilitators for leading these meaningful conversations:
• Kgomotso Sefume (Discovery Insure)
• Fia Samuels (ITOO Special Risks)
• Lizelle van der Merwe (FIA)
• Mbalenhle Faith Johnson (Santam Specialist Solutions)
• Natalie Mpele (Santam)
• Rina Pretorius (Old Mutual Insure)
• Thokozile Mahlangu (IISA)
• Thusang Mahlangu (Allianz)
• Zukisa Makalima (Discovery Insure Distribution)
Thank you to sponsors and attendees
As the session came to a close, attendees left with fresh perspectives on how investing in social change can be a smart business strategy.
We would like to extend our gratitude to our main sponsors, Discovery and Santam Specialist Solutions, and co-sponsor Sasria, as well as our table sponsor, Old Mutual Insure, for their contributions to the success of the event. Their support made this meaningful discussion possible, and we look forward to future sessions where we can continue to explore leadership and personal development.
A big thank you to Global Choices for generously sponsoring the beautiful flower arrangements, adding a lovely touch to the décor.
If you would like to support
A massive thank you to our attendees today who raised R10 000 in their personal capacity that will be donated to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. If you are interested in supporting this amazing course as part of your corporate CSR programs, please contact Dr Boikhutso at Nonkululeko.boikhutso.nmch.org.za
Thank you to all who attended.
