October 16 marked the celebration of a journey and the impact of learning, to act and become for participants of the innovative Citizen Leader Lab programme.

Through this programme, business leaders and school principals are paired in partnerships that span a full year, engaging in world-class leadership workshops, professional coaching, and peer learning – changing the world one conversation at a time.

Aimed at strengthening public education and revitalising communities with business leaders partnering with local school principals in a high-impact leadership development programme, it equips school principals with leadership and management skills, while offering business leaders an opportunity to develop their own leadership through collaboration, reflection and real-world problem-solving.

The prestigious celebration evening held at Hidden Grace, was a testimony to the significant impact made, backed by more than a decade of measurable success across South Africa.
In his keynote address, Selwyn Page, Citizen Leader Lab’s Regional Manager for the Free State, said challenges in the school system today require tenacity.

“By connecting school principals with business leaders, this hands-on programme aims not only to uplift schools but also to inspire community-wide resilience and progress,” Page said. “This programme is about more than skills development. It’s about active citizenship. It’s about South Africans showing up for each other, using their leadership experience to strengthen our education system and contribute to society,” he added.

“We’ve seen participating business leaders discover renewed purpose, sharpen their leadership skills, and gain fresh perspective as they navigate the realities of South African public schools. Many describe the experience as eye-opening and life-changing. School principals, in turn, receive support, access to social capital, and a network of allies they might not otherwise have, enabling them to lead with greater confidence.”

Page mentioned over 91% of principals reporting that their confidence has grown through their participation, while 84% reported that teams are working better together with renewed motivation. “The skills mastered has a ripple effect from leaders to the rest of the school.

Together, these partnerships contribute to better managed schools and more conducive learning environments for our youth,” Page added.

Businesses were thanked for sharing their expertise and for being adaptable in the process of learning, while school principals were praised for their willingness to learn. “You are now joining the movement of change,” Page concluded.