Fleishman-Hillard South Africa was in the fortunate position to have a staffer in Durban at COP17 for 11 eventful days. Aside from her involvement at client and business events, her availability to attend side-events hosted by stakeholders big business, both institutional and commercial finance bodies, local and global governmental forums and NGOs, including open useful dialogue sessions. For those of you interested in a peek into the lesser reported views brought forward by business leaders at COP17, below is a blog post for your reading pleasure…
News & Opinions
Fleishman-Hillard combines strategic counsel with constant innovation.
Top Twitter News From WEF
The explosion of social media was evident at the World Economic Forum on Africa last week in Cape Town. Never before has so much news been relayed live from the boardroom as its happening.
Below is a snap of the type of information being carried at the Forum compiled by Jodi Kassel, Fleishman-Hillard consultant…
From Vision to Action
From Vision to Action was the tagline of the 2011 World Economic Forum on Africa hosted in Cape Town in the first week of May. Over 1000 political heads, businessmen, activists got together for the meeting where the ‘next steps’ for our continent were discussed.
Having now attended WEF for three years running one can’t help but start questioning just how much ACTION emanates from the meeting. There are so many good ideas, so many great statements made and promises we would love to see kept.
As Africans we need to get better at ACTION, at remembering and then honouring our commitments, if 10% of the promises made during the three days of WEF are ACTIONED with the passion they were made we would all see a tangible difference on our great continent.
Harnessing Young Talent in the ‘Age of Impatience’
There can be no doubt that one of the biggest challenges facing South Africa in the 21st century is the issue of sustained and gainful employment for the youth. Recent statistics reveal that 42 percent of young graduates between the ages of 18 and 29 are currently unemployed. The youth of SA are leaving universities and places of higher learning across the country in droves annually expecting to find gainful employment and begin to build a fulfilling life for themselves.
It is axiomatic that the world has changed and employers need to change with it if they want to provide an attractive work environment for skilled youth who have the drive and dedication to succeed. We live in an impatient or “quick fix” society and this is never truer than when it concerns the youth who are often impatient and ‘fickle,’ expecting quick results whether it is getting a message on Twitter or Mxit or ordering a product online.
In my opinion this impatience rather than being combated or restricted by companies needs to be embraced and channeled.
Where Next for Global PR Companies?
SA managing director of global PR agency Fleishman-Hillard, Kevin Welman, recently presented to PRISA on global trends in public relations. As local MD of one of the few truly global PR companies present in SA he brought some fresh international insights and food for thought into the PR mix for local communication clients and PR companies to consider.
I recently attended a meeting of the global PR heads of Fleishman-Hillard which combined groups of thought from around the world regarding the future market trends and direction of global PR and I would like to share these insights with you.
Fleishman-Hillard Unites Europe, U.K. and Africa Under John Saunders
John Saunders, Fleishman-Hillard regional president for Continental Europe and Ireland, has now taken on additional responsibility for the firm’s operations in the United Kingdom and Africa.
WEF in Tanzania More Than a Talk Shop
The World Economic forum in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania has proven to be more of a beneficial and productive exercise than the talk shop most of us here thought it would be.
The quality of the sessions and the participants clearly showed that the organisers did their homework and are serious about helping African countries and their economies take their rightful place amongst the community of nations.
Elections Signal a New Hope for Sudan
The recent multi party elections in Sudan, although a subject of much contestation, remain a living proof that the much troubled country will at last achieve what has been most elusive for a long period of time, relative peace.
While it would be naive for anyone to expect an election, especially held under the circumstances that the Sudan elections were held, to correct the wrongs of the recent past in that vast country, it can be hoped that a new dialogue will emerge out of the ruins to be led by the newly elected leaders of Sudan.
The people of Darfur, Southern Sudan and other troubled regions of the Sudan deserve a new beginning.
South Africans Still a Polarised Society
The recent public outcry over the singing of the struggle song “Kill the Boer” by ANC Youth League president Julius Malema proves beyond doubt that South Africa is a highly polarised society.
This issue has been further aggravated by the recent killing of AWB leader Eugene Terre’Blanche, who was found bludgeoned to death at his farm in the North West Province.
