The PPS YLF - preparing young leaders for a bright future

The Young Leadership Forum (YLF) is a mentorship programme designed specifically to cultivate young leaders for the future of PPS itself. Its primary focus is to equip employees between 19 and 35-years old with the skills, insights and tools needed to enhance their strategic leadership performance. Each year a cohort of ten young leaders is selected to participate in this programme. Within this positive environment, they get to improve their leadership performance and stand out in their fields of expertise. The programme allows PPS to solve business problems by tapping into their perspectives.

In 2020 I was nominated to be part of the 2021 Young Leadership Forum (YLF) by my manager Rozelle Grobler. She encouraged me to send my proposal even though I was “new” at PPS and did not think I would qualify for the programme. I felt that I still had a long way to go before I could start venturing outside my job description. That vote of confidence challenged me to start seeing myself as a “not-so-new” PPS employee.

Participating in the Grad-to-Grave programme and the Thabo Mbeki School of Leadership course influenced the conversations I had with my manager. My PPS network increased beyond my default work environment and has fuelled the, “I want to do more outside my nine-to-five element” in me.

Still in the belly of the pandemic in 2021, physically disconnected from all aspects relating to work and life as we knew it, YLF evolved into a safe space for me to share ideas and be vulnerable. As a collective, we battled the pandemic blues virtually and eventually had an opportunity to meet in person.

We had emotional support within and outside the group context, the mentorship element of the programme added another support structure to my journey in the programme. I have gained an ally in someone who is there to provide a different perspective and a sounding board. I have an additional platform to contribute and share ideas. The exposure and experience from participating in the Leading the PPS Way lectures with the 2021 graduates intake was a great opportunity.

I was exposed to seeing and hearing how today’s graduates have a profound level of consciousness about their mental health, challenges impacting their overall wellness and concerns impacting the communities we serve. Their level and method of questioning was just incredible in comparison to what I experienced when I was a graduate a few years ago.

I had the opportunity to also recognise and acknowledge that we (as PPS employees) have the PPS Academy as an engine that incubates a safe space for us to have honest conversations and a platform we must explore to help us establish a foundation for the cross-pollination of ideas.

To the YLF 2022 cohort, you are half way through and it is all worth it. Juggling work, life and YLF will require more from you and you will not regret it for persevering.

The invitation to represent PPS in the ICMIF’s YLF in Rome, Italy, is an incredible honour. I see it as a challenge to figure out how I can capitalise the experience beyond the individual into a group experience.