The Failure That Taught Me to Pause | Saki Macozoma on Leadership, Politics and Perspective скачать в хорошем качестве

The Failure That Taught Me to Pause | Saki Macozoma on Leadership, Politics and Perspective

We talk about failure as a moment to rise. But what if it is the pause that defines your leadership? In this episode, Saki Macozoma reflects on his extraordinary journey from political prisoner to one of South Africa’s most influential business leaders. Known for his roles at Standard Bank, Liberty, and Vodacom, Saki shares lessons from decades at the intersection of power, politics, and principle. He opens up about early setbacks, learning to navigate corporate politics, and why failure — like leadership — is rarely final. He reveals: ◽ Why the most important skill in leadership is knowing when to pause. ◽ What prison taught him about perspective and purpose. ◽ How to build consensus without losing conviction. ◽ The real difference between corporate politics and manipulation. ◽ Why vulnerability matters in the boardroom. ◽ How to make peace with uncertainty and lead through the grey. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:28 Defining failure and the science of setbacks 02:20 Arrested before law school and redirected by fate 05:00 Lessons from politics on preparation and foresight 07:00 Learning to build consensus instead of control 09:00 What corporate politics really is 16:00 The paradox of vulnerable leadership 20:10 Leading through uncertainty and the grey 26:00 The value of disagreement without conflict 27:00 Failure in judgment of people 29:00 Gut instinct and decision-making 30:40 Lessons from the boardroom 34:50 Advice for the next generation of leaders 36:10 Outro