SERVICES

Values-driven leadership

We offer values-driven leadership training in both contact and online formats. Our experience stretches over five years in which we have done workshops with directors of boards, executive teams of organisations, departmental units, multi-disciplinary groups and executive education participants. Currently we are involved in a multi-year rollout of a regionally based values-driven leadership development project for public sector healthcare professionals, as well as an institution wide project on values integration in one of South Africa’s leading universities.

Sustainability Strategy

We have more than ten years of experience in the provision of sustainability education for senior managers and executives. Our focus is on the development and integration of a holistic sustainability mindset across the layers and between the functions of organisations.

Process Facilitation

WisePraxis facilitates processes such as values integration, strategy development, problem-solving, team building, and multi-stakeholder dialogue. We have also led and participated in the facilitation of several multi-stakeholder collaboration events, ranging from smaller workshops to large-scale whole-system interventions and conferences. This service includes work with academic, business, social sector and religious organisations.

CLIENT PROFILE

Academic

Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch Business School
IEDC-Bled School of Management
USB Executive Development
University of Addis Ababa
Aalto University
Uongozi Institute
Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Corporate

Spier Wine Estate
Bravura
Lufthansa Global Load Control
Renaissance Health Medical Aid Fund
Channel Life
Power Construction
The Spar Group
Manica Group

NGOs

WWF
Globethics.net
South African National Blood Service
JPS Africa
Christian Aids Bureau of South Africa
Institute of Directors in South Africa
Unicef
Namibian Association of Medical Aid Funds
South African Biodiversity Institute
Tshiamiso Trust

Churches

Dutch Reformed Church
Uniting Reformed Church
Anglican Church
NHKSA

I have had the joy of co-facilitating sessions with Arnold for more than 15 years. This includes the public participation process of the King IV corporate governance code as well as many community-based leadership programmes. 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.

Samuel Njenga Systems Thinking Africa Director

When Arnold agreed to take the role of Chair of the Guardian Group of the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative we knew we were in excellent hands, particularly in terms of his skilled, relational and values-driven leadership, his generosity of spirit combined with a fine intellect and a deep and practised sense of humanity. The GRLI has been very positively influenced and shaped by his involvement, most profoundly in terms of our approach to governance.

Claire Maxwell Chair of the GRLI Board of Trustees

I have had the pleasure of working with Arnold Smit during a number of our international events over the last few years. He is a gifted, experienced and sympathetic facilitator with insightful anecdotes at the ready and the ability to gather, guide, ground and focus groups from across different sectors on what is really important, not only in their work but in their lives.

Lucy Howe Lopez Globethics.net Deputy Executive Director

I have worked with Arnold for more than 20 years and he has deeply influenced my approach to facilitation and leadership. Arnold has a vast array of tools at his disposal and is deeply knowledgeable on a wide range of topics. But it is who he is as a person, and his skills and approach as a facilitator, that enable the tools and knowledge to translate into processes that really work for his clients. Whilst always being very well prepared, he has the experience and confidence to adapt processes to meet the emerging needs of the process and the client. The opportunities that we have had to facilitate together have been amongst the richest of my life.

David Newby SEED Trust

I know Prof. Arnold Smit from international conferences and the Ben Africa network. He is very systematic, methodological and result-oriented in his approach and outstanding as moderator and communicator in team processes for the development of companies and institutions.

Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Christoph Stückelberger Professor of Business Ethics + Globethics.net President

I had the privilege to work with Dr Arnold Smit when drafting the King IV Report on Corporate Governance. The King Committee was planning workshops at the start of the drafting process to understand the direction we should take with King IV. In a typical thoughtful way, Arnold's advice to me at the time was that we should be mindful of the course of inquiry to be undertaken during this exploratory phase as it has the power to either spiral into negativity or towards a positive, open learning experience. This proved to be excellent advice! The result of that by chance discussion was that Arnold was engaged to facilitate the King IV workshops. The aspirational tone of King IV, I attribute to the work that Arnold so ably and professionally assisted the King Committee with.

Ansie Ramalho Chair of the King Committee, Institute of Directors South Africa

RMA engaged Prof Smit since 2019 to assist with our fund's strategy. It was a new relationship and we did not know what to expect. Due to the uniqueness of the medical aid industry, Prof. Smit had to familiarise himself with the applicable and other documentation as quickly as possible. Needless to say, he delivered beyond expectation within a short period. He is currently the preferred facilitator for our strategy review, which is due shortly. We can recommend him for any assignment related to strategy formulation or review.

Esther Mcleod Renaissance Health Medical Aid, Principal Officer