The room was filled with chatter; others eagerly embrace as they spot familiar faces; and of course, there are those already capturing the picture-perfect moments. This is what you get when you mix insurance enthusiasts in one room. They get to mingle! But importantly, they also get to demonstrate the progress made thus far as they review the programme and the impact it has had on them.
This was the atmosphere at the 2024 IIG Roots and Wings Mix and Mingle held on 24 July at the Santam offices. Mentors and mentees alike gathered to reflect on the past half year since the beginning of the programme. Can you believe it? It has been half a year since this group of mentors and mentees embarked on this mentorship journey.
The growth and self-development are evident. The relationships that have been formed, the confidence and courage that have been developed to enable the delivery of bold presentations, are amongst many other ways that the mentorship programme has already made an impact on the mentees and mentors. The day opened up with a welcome address by Thuso Mafumo of the IIG Council. She set the tone by emphasising the importance of the programme and thanking everyone for attending the event.
Linda Coetzee of Linda Coetzee and Associates, the facilitator shared that a couple of mentor and mentees had been nominated to share their journeys on the day. Linda also gave a presentation on “Your Enneagram Type” which gave profound insights into the meaning behind the word and described the 9 personality types and how each of these types relate to one another.
One impact that cannot be overlooked by the programme is how learning goes both ways for both mentors and mentees, as one such mentor spoke so fondly about how his mentee was an inspiration to him and was learning so much from her.
Wayne Moorcroft gave a review of his journey spoke about development opportunities that the mentee had identified for herself, and how he assisted her in securing the opportunity to conduct interviews with people who occupy senior positions, consisting of both local and international representatives.
The mentorship programme is also about providing platforms to those who are passionate about expressing themselves. One such mentee who was granted this opportunity had requested a platform to share her new journey and bravely shared motivational words with the audience as she had recently embarked on a new journey of being a motivational speaker and MC.
Other mentors and mentees also shared their personal experiences as they reflected on how the programme had contributed towards their overall growth and even their careers. They credited each other for making this a valuable journey for all.
How can we forget the launch of the book swap initiative?! Jenna the facilitator, also announced a competition open to the mentees. The mentees are to come up with a creative name for the mobile library and this could see the winner having a coffee date with the IIG President Bukhosi Khumalo.
“The collection included masterclass books, such as Atomic Habits, by James Clear; The power of full engagement, by J. Loehr and T. Schwartz; and Do It! Lets get off our buts, by Peter McWilliams.”
“We are in the business of sharing knowledge, and the IIG roots and wings program is sharing the wisdom that added value and contributed to their own personal development the right way. In a country where 3 out of 5 households in South Africa do not have access to books, initiatives like this are becoming more important. Being able to impart knowledge to others in a great skill all leaders need to learn. There is no value in holding on to knowledge.” Shared by Tash Moodley
Overall, this was a day of engaging conversations, insights and networking, where insurance industry leaders and enthusiasts gathered, transforming the event into a hub of inspiration and wisdom.
“When we read, we are able to travel to many places and meet many different people and understand the world. We can also learn how to deal with problems we are having by learning from the lessons of the past” – Nelson Mandela.
Article Written by Nonduduzo Hadebe | IIG Mentee – Santam
