THE URGENT UEST TO TRANSFORM THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LEADERS

The world feels like it s teetering on a precipice. Economic anxieties simmer, geopolitical tensions rise, and trust in institutions crumbles. In this precarious landscape, conscious, ethical leadership is a remote dismissive narrative, yet it is more crucial now than ever before.

In the face of the enormous challenges globally and at home where the benevolent parternalism from some of our mud-racked politicians, who stand on platforms telling themselves that everything they do, they do in the name of greater good, is farcical and mindless. Their paralytic inaction and the inexplicable lack of accountability, should enrage us but most of us are so immune and helpless against the blatant mismanagement and crippling corruption that we have sunken into a pool of indifference, despair and inaction.

We have to do something critical to change the behaviour of some of these thieves, thugs and unethical, Armani-suited leaders who have been allowed to repeatedly erode our national psyche that populate our political system.

The annual Summit has always been a clarion call for change to embed conscious, ethical leadership and place the welfare of human beings first. Perhaps our attempt to shift the way of being for leaders to awaken into the power of consciousness towards a moral code of kindness and societal wellbeing is near impossible. Nevertheless, we should no longer tolerate the nightmares that visit us from the errant behaviour, unconscionable actions and looting from of some of our leaders and their underlings.

However, all is not lost. Our immediate hope for a better world against the silent, shrieking hell of a global economic crisis, devastating war, continuous drudgery and untold suffering is that the human spirit is resilient beyond belief. There is also overwhelming evidence that the promise of hope rests e ually with those conscious leaders who serve selflessly because they have a profound sense of responsibility and find it impossible to remain indifferent to a deep call from within the core of their beings to serve with vision, purpose and compassion.

In the absence of this consciousness, the leadership of a company or a country that is socially irresponsible and environmentally destructive, breeds an unpleasant chaos, where insecurity permeates the very soul of a nation or the culture of a company. We have a choice though operating in consciousness is a choice for leadership and given the ethical and moral agitations of our age and the country, it is a critical time to choose and the upcoming elections is an opportunity to do so. If we need to choose choose not to venerate the crafty moochers and grafters of the world and instead discern that a country can only be saved by honourable men and women. Those who understand that a powerful leader is one who is authentic and responsible, worthy of trust, selfless, impeccable with one’s word and takes accountability.

For business leaders, this translates into a commitment to fair labour practices, environmental sustainability, transparency in financial dealings, governance, ethics, social impact and considering the well-being of their people. Cutting corners to maximise short-term profits might seem appealing, but the conscious ethical leader knows such practices erode trust, damage reputations, and ultimately hinder long-term success.

Similarly, against the backdrop of the elections, political leaders must prioritise the well-being of their citizens over personal gain or partisan agendas. This re uires a commitment to truthfulness, even when it s politically inconvenient. It means fostering open dialogue, respecting diverse viewpoints, and making decisions based on evidence, not manipulation and to lead with compassion, kindness and responsibility. It is then that we have a fighting chance for the soul of the country to be saved.