The first keynote address at the Women in Business: Beyond 2010 Conference at GIBS is Louise van Rhyn. Always enjoy her facilitation and engagement with the group. Her topic for her 45 minutes is Attitudes and Societies that Succeed Versus those that Fail. I will be jotting down key points that stand out from her presentation.

a) We are a privileged nation. Ordinary citizens have the opportunity to change the country. South African's seem to have a great commitment to making a difference.

b) Also only place where we wonder how we can harness our diversity. In years to come she is as envisioning global leaders reaching out to South African's for the lessons we have learnt.

c) The question is, are we ready to take this opportunity and run with it. Do we choose to take this opportunity.

d) She will be sharing the lessons they are learning at the coal face with South African leaders on day to day basis.

e) In terms of the subject, we need to understand what we mean about success. Is success the fulfillment of our dreams? For Louise it is a SA that works for all - men and women, young and old, poor and rich. People bring their creativity to work everyday, where they know that their ideas matter - that they matter.

f) Some scary stats about education in our country - we definitely need to explore this a little further with her. 20% of learners can read, etc.

g) Engagement - shew - this subject resonates with me. I too am fired up by this subject.

h) How do we move from where we are to an envisioned future?

i) Key to this change - what choices are we making? We change the world, one room and one conversation at a time - which room? The one we are in right now.

j) What conversations do you participate in?

k) What is your contribution?

l) The first choice we need to make - are we going to be a citizen or a consumer?

m) We have to invite all people to be part of the answer to the challenges we face.

n) Transactional Analysis shows up again - Louise reiterated the way that Parent Child dynamics disempower people as they take on leadership responsibilities.

o) Interesting point about "Servant Leadership" and how many people struggle to differentiate between leadership and service.

p) Louise shared her story (that I have heard many times - but value immensely) - of a colleague who challenged her on her 'certainty' - and how she realised she needed to hold certainty a little more lightly - because someone who is SO certain makes no room for anyone else to express their voice.

q) True leaders provide opportunities for all voices to be heard.

r) Women have the edge, we know how to include voices, but somehow in Corporate SA we lose our voice and lose the direction we have. We need to retell our stories and share the story of our leadership.

s) Interesting reflection from a colleague of Louise's - "I am never going to create magic an delight through my competence but my willingness to be changed by who you are not by my competence/certainty."

t) The wonder of Community in bringing Success. Communities are were citizens come together and adult to adult relate to one another for impact.

u) Interesting exercise around the words of - YES & NO. Interesting scientific/physiological stuff about the "no-state" and "yes-state". What kind of leader do I reflect - are people's eyes shining around me? What am I invoking as a leader?

v) Do I focus my attention on what is working or what is not working?

w) A final question of why we were successful in running the World Cup 2010? Possibly to things: all over we had messages around us saying that we could DO IT. In believing it each day I could step out in confidence. We also got a message that says YOU MATTER. Two very important principles.

The End. Thanks Louise.

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