Public speaking seminar improves upcoming leaders

Wayne Merris, marketing manager of Chivas Regal in South Africa, says, "Looking ahead we have identified 'Leadership' as a platform to associate with the brand."

Launched late last month, the monthly programme is presented by one of the leading professional public speaking consultancies, The Voice Clinic.

As exclusive corporate partners, Absa, Cell C and FNB, each company sends eight employees, identified by their training departments as future leaders, to these monthly seminars.

"Our people play a critical role in determining the short and long-term sustainable success of our business. Therefore, in our ongoing efforts to keep them relevant in a competitive business environment, we invest in opportunities to develop and advance them. The programme offers a growth and networking opportunity for our people and we are proud to be associated with such an initiative," says Fergus Marupen, Absa chief human resources executive.

Ravika Bandyopadhyay, senior manager learning & development at Cell C comments, "We are excited to be part of the programme to further enhance and empower leadership at the company."

"FNB has a strong commitment to developing leaders, to innovation and to excellent whisky, we already sponsor the annual Whisky Live Festival," says Ingrid Hurwitz, FNB Leadership Development. "So when we heard about the brand relationship-building campaign to take some of our talented up-and-coming leaders and put them on a fully sponsored one-day leadership training programme at The Voice Clinic, we were happy to sign up."

All the seminars conclude with a Chivas tasting for the 24 delegates and a networking dinner at The Grillhouse in Rosebank, affording them an opportunity to relax and reflect on what they have learnt that day and to establish cross-corporate networks and relationships.

"It is our belief that the leadership programme will deliver a mutually-beneficial campaign. The company will benefit, by bringing the brand closer to our primary target market in a focused, professional environment. More importantly, these power-speaking seminars will benefit both the participating companies and their delegates, with their improved public speaking and presentation skills. The company and its corporate partners' faith in the success of this programme has been endorsed by the response of the first delegates and we all look forward to the ongoing success of this programme," concludes Merris.