04 September 2012

Cultural transformation in spotlight at Cape Town conference

Submitted by: Laura

A new paradigm is needed for the world to survive and prosper in the twenty-first century, one that embraces the global common good rather than individual self-interest. This will have to be based on vision-guided and values-driven leadership that targets the well-being of all stakeholders - employers, employees, citizens, leaders, customers, investors, partners, society, and the environment. It is nothing less than full spectrum sustainability.

This is what an array of international and local experts will be grappling with at the International Barrett Values Conference to be held at the Vineyard Hotel & Conference Centre, Newlands, Cape Town from 19 to 21 September 2012.

The conference is hosted by the Barrett Values Centre, an international human and leadership developmental organisation, in conjunction with USB Executive Development (USB-ED), the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB). It is the first time that the international conference is held in South Africa.

USB-ED CEO, Frik Landman, and Prof Basil Leonard, head of the Centre for Leadership Studies at USB, will be speakers at this conference.

The purpose of this conference is to bring people together from around the world to create a powerful vision for conscious human evolution. The event will be a combination of sharing powerful stories, ideas, successes (and failures too), as well as building new vital relationships.

The work of the Barrett Values Centre is embedded in the following beliefs:

  • shared values connect human beings beyond race, religion, politics and gender
  • human societies grow and evolve when you reduce fear, build trust and increase love
  • values are powerful tools for creating a better life for ourselves and future generations.

The Centre provides a powerful metrics that enable leaders to transform cultures through values. This transformation is done through their global network of 4 000 leaders and change agents, who have been trained in using its Cultural Transformation Tools (CTT).  These have been used with national governments, corporations, NGOs, schools and civic organisations.  Likewise, an assessment on South Africa has been done as well.

Landman said there is a lot of cultural transformation taking place in South Africa and we have seen a significant increase in values assessment activity over the past four years. This growing energy was one of the key reasons behind the choice of South Africa for the 2012 International Conference.

The theme of this year's conference is 'Realising Our Human Potential: Creating the Shift Towards a Sustainable Future'. "We expect it to be a thriving exchange where thought leadership and best practice in the fields of values and cultural transformation around the globe engage in conversation with South African realities as well", Landman said.

For more information contact Anne Engelbrecht at 021 918 4482 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.