A Student Leadership Summit, sponsored by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and Softline Pastel, has been hailed as a roaring success.

The aim of the event, which took place in Johannesburg at the end of July, was to furnish students studying towards qualifying as chartered accountants [CAs(SA)] with a platform to network with business leaders holding the CA(SA) designation who have entered various spheres of business life.

The idea was to emphasise the flexibility, potential and status of the qualification, thereby inspiring the students to persevere with their studies and to complete their official training requirement. The summit also created a platform for students to network with each other.

Students gained entry to the summit by submitting an essay on one of the following topics:

1. Sustainability – what does it mean to you?
2. How would you maximise the 2010 Soccer World Cup marketing campaign to attract tourists to return to South Africa as a holiday destination after 2010?
3. How would you, as a business, use your values (maximum 5) to shape your organisation?

The three winners were announced on the day of the summit. First prize was awarded to Likeleli Mphutlane, from the University of the Free State who received a Softline Pastel-sponsored laptop worth R10 000.

The two runners-up were Andries Geldenhuys and Katlego Thobejane both received a gift voucher from Softline Pastel.

Chantyl Mulder, SAICA’s Senior Executive for Transformation and Growth, said: “Attending this leadership summit was like opening many presents. There were surprises around every corner, the greatest of which was the students themselves and the way in which they interacted with everyone. All participants learnt something that evening. No one regretted being there even if it meant missing the rugby match.”

Tristan Pringle, one of the students from the University of Cape Town, said the summit made a big impression on him. “I was delighted to have been able to meet students who are like-minded, think about similar issues and have a common focus. Having the business leaders there was really great as well; the chats I had with them also made a big impression.”

He added that the discussions with and ideas of other students were some of the most encouraging and intellectually stimulating he has ever experienced. “My interactions with fellow students were refreshing. Hearing the winning essay and the ideas from the other essays was like speaking a common language. Interestingly, no-one was really in competition with anyone else; it was a mutually beneficial exchange.”

Jan Labuschagne, CEO of SAPPI Southern Africa and chairman of the SAICA Board, summed up the success of the event thus: “The summit was helpful to both the students and leaders, especially since it will help students to network across the board. The calibre of the students was excellent, as were the extracts from the prize winning essays.

“On one of the coldest nights of the year, the assembled talent, the professionalism with which the event was organised and, especially, the informal format of the evening combined to generate a wonderful experience. Members of SAICA’s leadership and several captains of industry mingled with students, answering questions on a variety of topics – from business to work-life-balance to hobbies – and also shared with them some collective wisdom on how to succeed in today’s business world.”

Labuschagne was reminded of how extremely talented SAICA students are, across all walks of life. “All we need to do is to go find them and steer them towards the profession to ensure the continued pre-eminence of the CA (SA) qualification.”

Steven Cohen, Managing Director of Softline Pastel, said: “Word of mouth can do so much good – and SAICA have made an effort to touch the lives of students who can now use their experience to influence the attitudes and lives of their peers.”

His advice to students following the CA(SA) route was to read extensively in order to flesh out their knowledge of world affairs. “The one deciding factor as to whether you will succeed in your chosen field is your attitude. That attitude, combined with your personal skills, will determine whether you succeed or fail.”

Photo caption: Venessa Oger, (Project Manager, Universities), Likeleli Mphutlane (Winner) and Steven Cohen, (Managing Director of Softline Pastel).