Experiencing Ubuntu: A Leadership Lesson from South Africa
Success Isn’t An Individual Pursuit, But Something We Create Together
Sawubona! Greetings from South Africa.
What a beautiful country. You can get a little flavor of it in this selfie from the Cape Town waterfront, with Table Mountain in the backdrop.
I’m here on vacation for the first time, and while I expected breathtaking landscapes and rich history, what’s resonating most is a powerful leadership lesson: Ubuntu—“I am what I am because of who we all are.” It’s a philosophy that’s embedded in everyday life here, a deep recognition that success isn’t an individual pursuit, but something we create together.
That idea—how leadership is fundamentally about people—is exactly what I’ve been exploring in my new podcast, Humanity at Scale: Redefining Leadership. Last week, I launched the first episode with Don Norman, a pioneer in human-centered design, where we discussed how leaders can design better experiences not just for customers, but for humanity as a whole. You can see an overview below.
This week, I’m keeping the momentum going with Ryan Hogan, the entrepreneur behind Hunt A Killer. His journey—from military veteran to building a wildly successful immersive gaming company—is packed with lessons on resilience, creativity, and customer obsession. We dive into what it really takes to build something people love—and how great leadership fuels innovation.
And that brings me back to Ubuntu. Too often, leadership is framed as a solo journey, celebrating the myth of the self-made leader. But what if the real key to lasting impact isn’t standing alone—but lifting others up?
That’s exactly what I explore in this week’s article, "Leading with Ubuntu: The Shift from Power to People." It’s about breaking free from outdated leadership models and embracing the power of connection, trust, and shared success.
So as you read this week’s article, I encourage you to reflect: Are you leading from a place of individual success, or are you creating an environment where everyone thrives together?
I hope you find this edition insightful, and if you do, I’d love for you to subscribe and share it with others who might benefit.
Let’s dive in.
Leading with Ubuntu: The Shift from Power to People
I’m here in South Africa, and one idea keeps coming back to me: Leadership isn’t about power. It’s about people.
There’s something deeply different about the way people interact here. Whether I’m walking through a market, talking to a local business owner, or simply observing how strangers greet one another, there’s a palpable sense of connection. Success isn’t viewed as an individual pursuit—it’s seen as a shared experience.
That mindset has a name: Ubuntu.
At its core, Ubuntu is the belief that "I am what I am because of who we all are." It’s the idea that our leadership, our impact, and our growth are deeply intertwined with those around us. That we don’t succeed alone—we succeed because of the people who challenge us, support us, and work alongside us.
The Illusion of the Self-Made Leader
We love the myth of the self-made leader—the visionary who single-handedly builds an empire, who overcomes every challenge through sheer determination, and who carves their own path without help. It’s a compelling story, but it’s fundamentally untrue.
Think about the most successful leaders you know. They didn’t achieve greatness in isolation. They had mentors who guided them, teams who executed on their vision, and communities that provided opportunities, encouragement, and support. The narrative of the self-made leader ignores the reality that every breakthrough happens within a network of people who contribute to that success in ways big and small.
Even in South Africa’s history, some of the most influential figures, like Nelson Mandela, weren’t lone warriors—they were part of movements. They built alliances, inspired people, and understood that real change happens when people work together.
Ubuntu challenges the idea that leadership is a solo pursuit. It reminds us that no one succeeds alone, and that the best leaders aren’t those who try to do it all themselves, but those who build, empower, and uplift the people around them.
From Command to Connection
Many organizations are still built on a command-and-control leadership model—one that values efficiency, compliance, and top-down decision-making. But Ubuntu suggests something radically different: Real leadership is about connection.
The best leaders aren’t just those who dictate direction or enforce rules. They’re the ones who create environments where people feel valued, trusted, and empowered to take ownership of their work.
Studies on psychological safety show that employees perform better when they feel heard and supported. When they trust that their contributions matter, they go beyond just completing tasks—they innovate, collaborate, and push for real progress.
During my time here, I’ve seen this mindset everywhere. Whether it’s in a restaurant, a hotel, or even a community project, people don’t just focus on their own success—they take ownership of the success of the whole. There’s an understanding that when one person thrives, everyone benefits. Imagine if we built our organizations the same way.
Ubuntu in Business: The Advantage of Human Connection
Bringing Ubuntu into leadership isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a strategic advantage. Companies that prioritize human connection—both internally with employees and externally with customers—consistently outperform those that don’t. Organizations with high levels of trust and engagement experience:
Higher productivity – Employees who feel connected to their work and colleagues are more engaged and innovative.
Greater retention – When people feel valued, they stay.
Stronger customer loyalty – Customers don’t just buy products; they invest in brands that align with their values.
Yet, many leaders still focus on extracting more from their teams rather than investing in the environments that help people do their best work. If we truly embraced Ubuntu in leadership, we wouldn’t be asking, “How do I get more out of my employees?” Instead, we’d be asking, “How do I create an environment where people can thrive?”
Leading with Ubuntu
As I continue my journey here in South Africa, I keep reflecting on what this means for leadership. Leading with Ubuntu means shifting from individual success to collective success, from hierarchy to connection, and from power to empowerment.
Here are a few ways leaders can embrace this philosophy in their organizations:
Prioritize collaboration over competition. Build a culture where people see each other as partners in success rather than competitors within the same system.
Foster trust and psychological safety. Create spaces where employees feel comfortable sharing ideas, taking risks, and challenging the status quo.
Recognize interdependence. Acknowledge that every success—whether individual or organizational—is made possible by the contributions of many.
Lead with empathy. Make decisions that consider not just short-term gains, but the long-term impact on employees, customers, and communities.
Sparking New Leadership Thinking
Embracing Ubuntu in leadership isn’t about abstract ideas—it’s about real, tangible actions that change how teams operate and how people experience work. Here are five specific ways leaders can integrate Ubuntu into their leadership approach:
Hold "We Over Me" Decision-Making Meetings. Many leadership discussions focus on what’s best for the business or the bottom line. To embed Ubuntu, start meetings by asking: Who else does this decision affect, and how can we make it a win for them too? For example, before rolling out a new company-wide policy, a leader might host a cross-functional discussion with employees from different levels to gather input and ensure the policy supports both business objectives and employee well-being.
Replace Performance Reviews with Contribution Circles. Instead of traditional one-on-one performance reviews that focus on individual output, create a system where team members reflect on how they’ve helped others succeed. For example, at quarterly check-ins, employees could answer questions like: Who on the team helped you grow the most? How did your work positively impact someone else’s success? This shifts the focus from competition to collaboration and highlights the interconnected nature of success.
Create Peer-Led Problem-Solving Sessions. When challenges arise, instead of expecting employees to escalate issues up the chain of command, encourage horizontal problem-solving. For example, if a customer service issue keeps recurring, a leader can bring together frontline employees, product designers, and operations staff to co-create a solution. This not only leads to better outcomes but reinforces that everyone’s expertise is valued.
Institute "Walk in Their Shoes" Leadership Days. Leaders often lose touch with the daily realities of employees and customers. To build Ubuntu-driven empathy, require senior executives to spend a day working in a frontline role at least once a quarter. A CEO might work the customer support lines, or a department head might spend a shift shadowing warehouse employees. Experiencing challenges firsthand leads to more human-centered decision-making and breaks down hierarchical barriers.
Publicly Recognize Collective Wins, Not Just Individual Successes. Too often, recognition focuses on standout performers, reinforcing the myth of the self-made success. Instead, create rituals that celebrate team efforts and interdependence. For example, a company could introduce a "Ripple Effect Award," where employees nominate colleagues whose behind-the-scenes contributions made a major impact on team success. This reinforces that success isn’t an individual achievement—it’s a shared effort.
The Bottom Line
Great leadership isn’t about individual success—it’s about creating environments where people thrive together. By embracing Ubuntu, leaders can shift from control to connection, from silos to collaboration, and from short-term wins to lasting impact.
Additional Resources
Here’s some relevant content that you may find interesting:
Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, the African Way. This book by Nompumelelo Mungi Ngomane delves into the South African philosophy of Ubuntu, emphasizing our shared humanity and interconnectedness.
Everyday Ubuntu: This podcast by Mungi Ngomaneexplores how the Ubuntu philosophy can be applied in daily life, featuring conversations that highlight our shared humanity.
I Am, Because We Are: Ubuntu and the African Philosophy. This extensive article by Coachability Foundation delves into the ethical principles of Ubuntu, highlighting its emphasis on interconnectedness and empathy.
Humanity At Scale: Redefining Leadership Podcast
Episode #1: From Profit to Purpose: Rethinking Design’s Role in Society with Don Norman
Can design truly make our world better?
In this initial episode of Humanity at Scale, I welcome legendary design thinker Don Norman, co-founder of Nielsen Norman Group, to discuss the shift from human-centered to humanity-centered design. We explore how design must address societal and environmental impacts, rethink AI’s role as a creative tool, and move beyond profit-driven metrics to measure real human impact. Norman challenges traditional problem-solving, advocating for community-driven solutions and ethical, sustainable design. We also discuss the Don Norman Design Award’s mission to empower future designers. This thought-provoking conversation is essential for leaders and creatives striving to design a better world.
Episode #2: Purpose, Perseverance, and People: Ryan Hogan’s Formula for Success (drops on March 6)
In this upcoming episode of Humanity at Scale: Redefining Leadership, I host Ryan Hogan, entrepreneur and Naval officer, to discuss purpose-driven leadership. From selling Creepy Crawlers as a child to growing Hunt A Killer into a $55 million business, Ryan shares how perseverance, empathy, and understanding your team's "why" transform organizational culture. Through personal stories and actionable insights, Ryan highlights how authentic, caring leadership can inspire growth, foster trust, and create meaningful impact in both business and life.
The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Humanity at Scale is a movement to inspire and empower leaders to create humanity-centric organizations