INTERNATIONAL leadership speaker and author Dr Derrick Samuels has challenged captains of industry to embrace ethical, accountable and results-driven leadership to accelerate the country’s economic transformation.
Samuels said the country’s peace, stability and relatively low crime rate provided a strong foundation for attracting investment, particularly in the manufacturing sector, but stressed that effective leadership would be crucial to unlocking this potential.
He was speaking during an executive leadership session held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane yesterday, where he delivered a presentation titled ‘The Victor’s Mentality: The Leadership Mindset that Produces Impact’.
The session, sponsored by the Derrick Samuels Leadership Institute (DSLI), LLC, based in New Jersey, United States of America, was attended by chief executive officers of State-owned enterprises (SOEs), directors and senior government officials.
Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, who coordinated the session, had received Samuels for a courtesy call at the Private and Cabinet Office on Monday.
Self-styled as ‘The Voice against Stagnation’, Samuels urged the country’s leaders to move beyond identifying challenges and focus on developing practical solutions that would deliver tangible results. He challenged leaders to adopt what he described as heart leadership rather than belly leadership, emphasising the need to put the interests of the people and the country ahead of personal gain.
According to Samuels, effective leadership should be built on collaboration, shared responsibility, ethical conduct and a willingness to solve problems collectively.
He cautioned that a lack of cooperation and unhealthy competition could undermine progress, drawing from his observations of African communities in the United States.
He emphasised that leaders should create environments in which individuals and institutions worked together towards common objectives rather than compete at the expense of collective success.
Samuels further unpacked the word VICTORS as a framework for effective leadership, with each letter representing a principle that leaders should apply in their daily responsibilities.
The framework comprises Vision with Value; Inspirational Ideas with Intentionality; Connection with Character and Compassion; Transparency with Trust; Organisation with Observation; Results with Resilience; and Self-leadership with Respect.
He explained that leadership required more than occupying positions of authority, noting that leaders needed a clear vision, integrity, the ability to inspire others and the resilience to deliver results despite challenges.
Turning to the country’s development prospects, Samuels said the kingdom possessed important advantages that could be leveraged to stimulate economic growth and attract investors.
He pointed to the country’s peace and stability as assets that could make it attractive for investment, particularly in manufacturing. However, he stressed that these advantages needed to be supported by leadership capable of translating opportunities into measurable development outcomes.
He said the quality of leadership would be central to advancing the country’s development agenda, calling for leaders who were prepared to take responsibility, collaborate across institutions and implement solutions.
Speaking on behalf of the participating leaders, National Executive Director of the National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS (NERCHA), Dr Nondumiso Ncube, thanked Samuels for sharing his leadership insights.
Ncube stressed that accountability and integrity were fundamental to effective leadership, underscoring the importance of ensuring that leaders remained answerable for their decisions and performance.
Samuels, in turn, thanked the prime minister for the warm reception accorded to him in the kingdom, describing Dlamini as “someone who has the eyes of an eagle.”
About Dr Derrick Samuels
Dr Derrick Samuels is a globally recognised leadership and project management expert, trainer, author and mentor.
He equips individuals and organisations to grow their potential, to perform, to lead with purpose, create with excellence and create lasting impact.
A certified project management professional, Dr Samuels holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA in Management and; PhD in Applied Management and Decision Sciences and; has taught for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, American Military University, and Thomas Edison State University among others. He has authored over 45 books.
