Financial Insight Zambia had the privilege of being media partner, for the first time, of the recently ended ACCA Business Leaders Event. With the event being in its 7th year, the event this year had many aspects that continues to reaffirm its significance as a tool for business leaders in knowledge enhancement
The Importance of Key Speaker Selection
Any event that seeks to attract top tier business leadership must have a selection of speakers that offer participants bring something fresh and new. This is because the modern-day business executive seeks out events that not only provide strategic networking, but also enhances on their knowledge base to continue to be effective leaders.
This year’s event, according to participants who attended the event, did not disappoint. With the theme of the event aptly centered around some of the “Trends shaping business strategy and the world of work”, business leaders were exposed to key nuggets of strategic insight that are shaping how professionals, not only in the ACCA ecosystem but also other professions, are handing post covid 2020s business environments.
In addition, many of the key speakers were able to deliver what could only be described as insight into business opportunities that exist in the status quo. If the ACCA Zambia team were attempting to change the narrative in terms how business leaders can see opportunities, this year’s event was able to deliver that.
The continued invitation of international speakers to the event also makes the content at the event internationally accepted. It is clear from the invitation of the likes of Rashidat Adebisi FCCA for example, allowed participants to get a taste of what the Nigerian jurisdiction was professionally grappling whilst also providing a comparable for some of the innovative solutions being implemented that could potentially be imported back home.
There can never a substitute to established and extant business leadership knowledge. Having the likes of Dr.David Kombe (Chairman and CEO – Mulundu Holdings Limited) and Jason Kazilimani (Managing Partner – KPMG Zambia) at this year’s event provided participants into how human capital challenges were being resolved through an evolve experience approach. This was a valuable ingredient for younger business leaders who were in attendance as they could leap frog their own human capital challenges in their own entities through absorption of a seasoned business owner.
In Trend Key Topics Make A Difference
In her opening speech, Janic Matwi set the pace for the event by reminding participants about the times professionals are now experiencing. In her speech, she indicated that professionals are now standing at the intersection of remarkable transformation and unprecedented challenges. With a world evolving so fast, picking topics for events often requires unconventional approaches that can see the invitation of change-makers who may not be of the profession but are able to present topics of a current nature that can provide insights into aspects of business that may be taken for granted or ignored all together.
Mara Michelo (Guest Speaker) who hails from the Jacaranda fame that has been able jump start many startups, challenged professionals for example, and provided a periscope into where they needed to also position themselves in addition to the more visible business opportunities that also make impact.
Another was Owen Malambo (Speaker) who is currently Director of Digital & Change Enablement at Zambia’s 2022 number two bank, provided a perspective on technological trends that was interesting well rounded in the sense that the speaker gave insight into how his bank was approaching the significant on evolving technology but also a practical perspective of how other businesses need to be putting technology as part of the executive management’s strategic pillar.
B2B Playground
Any executive that has the opportunity to take a few days away from the office and be with other business leaders will no doubt take the opportunity to sell their company’s offering. Selecting a great destination is key as business leaders also require some rest and relaxation whilst at the same time being able to soak in the nuances being presented at the conference.
The selection of Livingstone’s Avani Hotel made the perfect setting for executives as they had little distractions and could remain focused. This is what business to business linkages become easier as the modern-day business leader who exists in a fast paced environment can take advantage of an environment such as the one that was created by ACCA to share and network with others of a similar agenda. Without a doubt, the 2023 edition of the business leaders conference will no doubt create value for a number of participants due to the cross-business community participants that attended this years event.