It’s always a special occasion when you have more than 500 executive attendees and 50 award-winning CEOs in one room, but there was an undeniable extra sparkle to this year’s Top 50 CEO awards. Something more than the elegant decor and high-level networking, over and above the dynamic audio-visuals and decadent dessert buffet. The credit goes to two very special guests.

The first was our luncheon keynote speaker: Dr. Siyabulela Mandela, a renowned South African scholar and great-grandson of anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela. Or, as he introduced himself, “I am the descendent of King Ngubengcuka Aa Ndaba! from the House of Mandela of the Thembu Kingdom from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.”

Like his great-grandfather before him, Siyabulela is also a human rights advocate. It was his first visit to Nova Scotia, part of a national relationship-building mission organized by Bernadette Fernandes, CEO of The Varanda Network, through her company’s One World social impact initiative.

Siyabulela’s message of equity, international cooperation and ethical leadership is usually directed to governments and academia. Here, he was deliberately engaging the business community, recognizing their growing role in shaping the future of democratic societies, inclusive economic development and global cooperation.

 

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