Report by Lelethu Sobekwa

The annual Leadership In Practice (LIP) Award pays tribute to a leading individual who has demonstrated outstanding and visionary qualities in different spheres of society. Established in 1989 by the University of South Africa School of Business Leadership (Unisa - SBL) Alumni Association, the LIP Award has evolved into the school’s most prestigious accolade, celebrating luminaries in leadership with societal impact. Through this initiative, Unisa - SBL honours outstanding leaders who exemplify visionary leadership and transformative impact across society. These are individuals whose contributions inspire excellence in business, governance, and societal advancement.

Professor Pumela Msweli, who is the Executive Dean and CEO of the University of South Africa Graduate School of Business Leadership, gave the welcoming speech at the 2025 Lip Awards. Speaking on the LIP Award’s mandate and introducing the awardee, she said, “This award is awarded to a candidate whose leadership does not bend under any form of pressure, leadership that does not compromise on values, and that does not falter in times of turbulence. That is Dr. Pandor, a voice that has clarity, courage, and conviction. Dr Pandor has always believed that education is a great equaliser in its ability to empower individuals, transform communities, and uplift nations.”

Past recipients of the LIP Award include: His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa; Reverend Dr. Frank Chikane; Trevor Manuel; Advocate Thuli Madonsela; Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng; the late Pravin Gordhan; Dr. Judy Dlamini, Chancellor of Wits University; and Lesetja Kganyago, Governor of the South African Reserve Bank.

Each year, the University of South Africa School of Business Leadership (Unisa - SBL) Alumni Association welcomes nominations for the Leadership In Practice Award. The award recipients are selected by SBL’s alumni and a panel of SBL experts who consider each nominee's business or political achievements, as well as the value that these achievements have added to society. The criteria for nomination include: Vision, Values, Influence, Results, and Contribution to the community. This year, the Lip Award recipient honour goes to former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (2019-2024), who also served as Minister of Education (2004-2009), Dr. Naledi Pandor, for her contribution in reshaping education, diplomacy and society in South Africa. 

Professor Msweli continued, “Dr. Pandor began as a teacher, and her journey demonstrates that when women lead, the entire community prospers. By receiving this honour, she joins a proud lineage of South African women leaders such as Dr. Mamphela Ramphela and Advocate Thuli Madonsela. A scholar of note, she commanded international respect and recognition for her contribution to relentlessly calling for justice in Palestine, and it was her international leadership category that made her stand out among competing leaders to be granted this honour.”

Building on the continued success of the long-standing Leadership in Practice (LIP) Award, the SBL has, since 2018, proudly included two additional award categories: the Woman in Leadership Award and the Emerging Leader Award. These categories were introduced to honour exceptional female leaders and rising young professionals who embody the SBL’s vision, values, and leadership model. That same year, the multifaceted and multidimensional Dr. Judy Dlamini, who is a medical doctor, business leader, and author, received both the Leadership in Practice Award as well as the Woman in Leadership Award.

As with the LIP Award, the Woman in Leadership Award and the Emerging Leader Award honour the tangible business and leadership accomplishments of the recipients, as well as the equally vital intangible qualities that set them apart. These include the ability to inspire others toward a shared vision and to demonstrate integrity, transparency, and accountability across professional and personal spheres. 

Professor Puleng LenkaBula, Principal and Vice Chancellor of Unisa, further introduced Dr. Pandor in the following way, “Tonight we celebrate one of the outstanding daughters of the continent, an excellent woman who has served and led South Africa with distinction for five decades, committing her talents and knowledge to fulfill the duties she would be given to ensure that this democracy we have gained is meaningful, resourceful and aids our citizens to be co-constructors of the future we yearn for. Her illustrious career in education, public service, international relations, and diplomacy is one of awe and envy, but more importantly, one of change and impact. A daughter of the national liberation struggle, she served her movement, the African National Congress, and the people of the world as an educator, linguist, volunteer, and organiser in the global anti-apartheid movement in Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, England, and many others. It is during this period as an exiled activist that she began to appreciate and hone her international leadership skills with a progressive outlook. I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr Pandor on her well-deserved award, the LIP Award. May you continue to inspire and serve with commitment, integrity and humility.”

The 2025 edition of the Leadership In Practice Award marks a return of this annual event after a several-year hiatus following a slowdown of business caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With this return, the University of South Africa’s School of Business Leadership seeks to continue its mandate of celebrating visionary leaders whose values have influenced sustainable growth and economic development. 

Upon accepting the award, Dr. Naledi Pandor said, “I wish to sincerely thank the Unisa School of Business Leadership for awarding me such an incredible honour. It makes my over 40 years of public service worth every effort. The award is particularly special due to the excellent credentials of the School of Business Leadership, credentials acquired over the years of skill and leadership development that it has offered students and corporate leaders. This university has been especially generous to me in its kindness because, in 2018, I was privileged to be awarded the Calabash Award along with distinguished awardees. To close, I’m offering a challenge to the university and all our tertiary institutions: I’m challenging them to assist our policymakers by developing a strong focus on finding solutions rather than identifying the problem. I believe that a well-designed partnership addressing improved public sector performance may secure the missing link in the fundamental transformation of our country.”