The IIG showed up, broke the mould and now in 2024, it’s linking up insurance professionals globally. To the world, it is another year but, to the IIG Roots and Wings and Roots and Wings International, it’s another incredible privilege to ENGAGE, CONNECT & GROW.
This is the time of the year where there’s roaming anticipation amongst some of the young insurance professionals who embark on a life changing journey, filled with hope. This program has grown in leaps and bounds in almost a decade, hosting the biggest cohort of just over 30 mentees and supporting mentors. The international front which was only launched in 2023 with four mentors and mentees will in this year change the lives of 8 young future leaders outside the borders of South Africa.
Many have asked what our secret to this great success is. We always give them the same answer, i.e., it is impossible for the IIG to solely uptake such a mammoth responsibility without the support of the entire market. It is through common shared goals, allegiance and humility from selfless industry partnerships who join forces with the IIG to grow our own timber. Many industry leaders raise their hands each year and partake in developing skills and expertise which our young future leaders will be required to employ in order to sustain the insurance legacy.
In our second successful year of international presence, the 2024 Roots and Wings International launch and mentorship pairing took place on 20 February through the power of technology. We linked up South African mentors with mentees located in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana, Madagascar, Uganda, Mozambique, and Botswana; just to mention how far we have taken a leap of faith and stretched our footprint. This is how far the IIG’s commitment expands towards creating leaders of great value and impact, all around Africa.
Our popular “Speed-dating” activity which coincidentally blended finely with the celebration of Valentine’s Day kept the room warm and fuzzy; with mentors and mentees trying to linkup with “The One.” And this happened during the 2024 Roots and Wings launch. Fast-forward a week later; almost everyone was back in the same room where; through the art of paring done by our learning partners LCA, everything fitted perfectly like a glove. Both days were graced by our incoming IIG 2024 president Bukhosi Khumalo, who was well supported by his predecessor Simphiwe Magangane, IIG office team and the council. Like an exemplary, Bukhosi shared briefly on how this program influenced where he is today – making it more relatable to the world our mentees are about to get into.
This is only just the beginning; this mentorship journey is a testament to an African proverb that says, “it takes a village to raise a child.” To the mentees, sit up straight, it’s about to get REAL for you!
To our exceptional mentors – SIYABONGA!
#LinkUp!
The Roots and Wings programme will eternally be grateful to our long-standing great partners; Insurance Institute of Gauteng (IIG), Discovery Limited, Sasria SOC Limited, Chubb, Emerald Risk Transfer (Pty) Ltd and Howden Broking (Insurance)
Article written by: Thuso Mafumo
