Wisdom in Practice
Living and leading wisely is a lifelong journey expressed in behaviours, decisions, and actions guided by the values that make us flourish.
Photo by Gerrit Rautenbach
“For an effective and ethical organisation, value creation and values integration are indispensably interconnected. The direction provided by the value creation process is complemented by the integrity that emerges from the values integration process.”
— Making Values Real, p. 162
Services
WisePraxis is about helping leaders and organisations to act with greater vision, alignment and courage. Through practical workshops, skilled facilitation, and focused executive coaching, I focus on strengthening purpose, decision‑making, communication, teamwork, and organisational alignment.
My clients include companies, government departments, nonprofit organisations and academic institutions. Because every organisation is unique, I tailor my core services of practical workshops, skilled facilitation, and executive coaching to fit your specific needs.
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A suite of practical, energising workshops helps individuals, teams, and organisations bring their values to life. From personal courage, to values‑driven leadership, to organisation‑wide excellence, these sessions equip people at every level to turn shared values into everyday practice and lasting impact.
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I facilitate processes such as strategy development, the improvement of collaboration and teamwork, and organisational values integration.
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Through coaching, I help leaders make values-driven choices, develop effective behaviours, and take actions that strengthen their leadership.
Photo by Gerrit Rautenbach
Arnold’s Story
My work focuses on supporting learning, dialogue, and problem-solving by implementing processes that are engaging, reflective, and tailored to the specific needs of individuals and their environments.
For over thirty years, I have supported leaders, teams, and organisations aiming to be visionary, responsible, and effective. Together, we tackled challenges, learned from setbacks, and celebrated progress.
Alongside my facilitation practice, I have taught at Stellenbosch Business School in South Africa, IEDC‑Bled School of Management in Slovenia, and the UONGOZI Institute in Tanzania. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the realities managers, executives, and directors face as they lead within complex organisations and diverse communities.
Over the past decade, I have become increasingly convinced of the central role values play in shaping our decisions, relationships, and leadership. When we put our values into practice, we cultivate authenticity, strengthen teams, and build organisations capable of excellence and trust.
Recently, I had the pleasure of publishing Making Values Real: Focus on the Yeast Effect. The book is a practical guide to living, leading and building relationships through values.
I would welcome the opportunity to support your pursuit of values‑driven leadership and organisational effectiveness.
“Making values real is as much about having people who are serious about values, as about an organisation that systemically enhances the capacity and confidence of all its people to live and express those values.”
— Making Values Real (2025, p. 164)
Client Testimonials
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"Arnold connects deeply with each process he facilitates and each client he works with. He has an amazing ability to listen and to connect the dots. Arnold works with the big picture as well as the detail enabling them to get a better clearer view. Arnold leads from a values-based life of authenticity and integrity. I highly endorse him and the work he is doing."
Dr Samuel Njenga, Systems Thinking Africa
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" I have had the privilege of working with Arnold as facilitator across several high-stakes strategic planning sessions involving senior university leadership. His ability to distil complex, multi-stakeholder discussions into focused, actionable outcomes is exceptional. He reads the room with precision, and consistently keeps groups aligned to the purpose of the session without stifling the richness of debate. I recommend him without reservation to any organisation seeking a facilitator who can turn ambitious agendas into clear, shared commitments."
Dr Barbara Pool, Stellenbosch University
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"Dr Arnold Smit has facilitated the annual strategic review of Renaissance Health Medical Aid Fund (RMA) for the last five years. He fosters constructive dialogue, encouraged diverse perspectives and guides us to maintain focus on key priorities. He ensures that the review is both thorough and actionable. His expertise helps the RMA Board of Trustees to clarify vision, align on strategy, and set a clear path forward for sustained success."
Laurika George, Principal Officer, Renaissance Medical Aid Fund, Namibia
