Webber Wentzel partner,
Ashford Nyatsumba was the
Professional Services category winner at the 2019 Rising Star Awards. The Rising Star Awards are a platform to unearth and recognise the young (under 40 years of age) and inspirational South African leaders of tomorrow.
It recognises, celebrates and connects young talented individuals who have the capacity to excel in their chosen fields, and who contribute to the betterment of our nation in an inspiring way. The awards were started about 7 years ago, and sponsored this year by Accenture, A Rising Star Network is formed from the top 5 finalists in each of the 12 business sectors – making a network of over 400 (over the last 7 years) of the most talented young people in South Africa.
The winners are chosen by a panel of industry experts, following a rigorous selection process, and assessed on a host of
criteria including their: vision and ability to create; communication and listening skills; ability to motivate and their attitude; their ethics; and their team effectiveness and collaboration. To find out more about The Rising Star Awards, click
here.
Ashford Nyatsumba on the process:
"I found the application and judging process to be rigorous and intense. In many respects it required one to stretch themselves to think about a number of aspects to one's approach to leadership and navigating the workplace that I had probably taken for granted. The process required me to dig deep and truly apply my mind to what sets me apart in the workplace and what my contribution is to a successful future. Both the application and judging processes although time consuming and challenging in many respects, were also rewarding in that rigour of both processes tested me in ways I had not yet been tested in my professional career to date.
The final judging round and my engagement with the panel of judges will stay with me forever, it was a genuinely fantastic experience. The level of discussion and the insights received from each of the panellists all of whom are industry leaders and/or experts at human resource management, are invaluable. In addition, the opportunity to meet other finalists and interact with them has been an eye opener and from that I have broadened my horizons and made useful contacts that I otherwise would not have made."
