Towards Ubuntu 2.0? A Wide-Ranging Leadership Conversation with Martin Kalungu-Banda
Summary
What does the concept of Ubuntu teach us about leadership, community, and the well-being of people in organizations?
How can African leadership models inform and enhance global approaches to management and organizational development?
How do we navigate the challenges of avoiding romanticizing Ubuntu while honoring its depth and practical value?
In this NGO Soul + Strategy podcast episode, I interview Martin, a Research Associate at MIT and long-time faculty member at the Presencing Institute, about redefining leadership through African paradigms and systems thinking.
Martin's Bio
Martin Kalungu-Banda is an expert in Leadership and Organizational Development, with senior-level experience in business, government, and civil society.
He is co-faculty of the Leadership Academy at the Presencing Institute and the MIT Global Alliance for Banking on Values.
Martin served as Special Consultant to the President of Zambia (2005-2008), helping to re-establish the position of Chief of Staff.
As an adviser to the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, he has supported leaders across Africa, including governance reforms in Rwanda, healthcare transformation in Namibia, and - Tanzania’s National Skills Development Strategy.
He has co-designed and facilitated flagship leadership programs for Rand Merchant Bank and HSBC, as well as teaching at Cambridge, Oxford, and London Business School.
Martin is the author of Leading Like Madiba: Leadership Lessons from Nelson Mandela and other influential books on leadership and transformation.
We Discuss
Martin shares how leadership at the Presencing Institute involves “presencing”—combining being present in the moment with sensing future opportunities and needs.
Ubuntu, often defined as “I am because you are,” is expanded to include interdependence across generations, global connections, and non-human beings like animals and nature.
How Ubuntu aligns with systems thinking by emphasizing the interconnectedness of individuals, communities, and the environment.
The challenges of avoiding romanticizing Ubuntu while appreciating its practical applications in leadership and organizational well-being.
Coaching leaders to embrace open-mindedness, emotional intelligence, and an openness of heart and will in decision-making.
How African leadership models provide valuable insights into collective well-being and interconnectedness that global North frameworks often overlook.
Martin’s reflections on the limits of knowledge as we age and the importance of humility in leadership.
Here you can find all the podcasts: https://5oaksconsulting.org/podcast/
Click the link below to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces. https://5oaksconsulting.org/email/
Or email Tosca at [email protected] if you want to talk about your social sector organizational needs, challenges, and opportunities.
You can find Tosca's content by following her on her social media channels: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/toscabrunovanvijfeijken/ Facebook: / tosca5oaks Teachable: https://5oaks.teachable.com/