Launched at the end of June 2021, the global mentorship programme aims to strengthen leadership capacity in schools, small businesses and civil society, beginning with the beneficiaries of Discovery’s corporate sustainability initiatives under the Discovery Fund.

Gore says, “We have a real opportunity to make a difference at a deeper level. In building an organisation, building a business, building a community, there is no greater way to help than to be a mentor. Mentorship is a fundamental way to transfer skills and to help entities grow and succeed.”

In line with Discovery’s core purpose of making people healthier and enhancing and protecting their lives, the vision of the Discovery Fund is to improve individuals’ quality of life by providing primary healthcare services in communities that do not have access to adequate healthcare.

Beneficiaries include non-profit organisations and grassroots-level community initiatives making a difference in South Africa, aligned to the Fund’s strategic focus areas – maternal and child health, community health and human capital and skills development.

Swartzberg says: “Through our own corporate sustainability initiatives, such as the Discovery Fund and our employee volunteer programme, we have seen the tremendous resilience of the people and organisations that have been a frontline support in the provision of primary healthcare and education. In the changing environment brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic; however, many of these beneficiaries have requested additional support in the form of knowledge sharing, specifically on how to lead in a crisis and, importantly, how to innovate through crisis.”

Leaders make time commitments to growth

Discovery executives and global thought leaders provided insight on a range of topics. At the recent launch event, about 1 500 attendees received masterclasses on topics ranging from having a growth mindset to fundraising, marketing and business development, mental wellbeing and resilience, from people such as Riaan van Reenen, CEO of Discovery Life, Anton Ossip, CEO of Discovery Insure and Dr Ryan Noach, CEO of Discovery Health.

External speakers included Busisiwe Mavuso, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa; Professor Glenda Gray, President and Chief Executive Officer of the South African Medical Research Council and Dr Dulcy Rakumakoe, Chief Executive Officer of Quadcare.

Dr Rakumakoe, a recipient of a Discovery Fund business acceleration programme grant that saw her develop nine medical practices around the country, said: “The intervention was eye-opening. I especially loved hearing the thoughts of others around mentorship. For [South Africa’s] problems to be solved, you need different minds coming together to find solutions. And I think the ideas raised are definitely implementable.”

In addition, Discovery has challenged mentors from all sectors of business in the public and private sectors to pledge their time toward mentorship in South Africa and beyond.

A Guinness World Record for the highest number of pledges received for mentoring in 24 hours was set with 1 560 individual commitments to offer mentorship. These mentors will engage with appointed mentees in the year ahead.

Mentorship can make the difference South Africa needs today

Tarryn Evenwel, a representatives of Mould Empower Serve (MES), a social development organisation that works in the country’s inner cities, says the launch event has set a “positive tone” for the year-long mentorship programme. “I connected with all the presenters and I’m looking forward to attending other sessions which will allow MES to benefit from the wealth of knowledge from Discovery, their staff and partners.”

An eco-entrepreneur supported by the Discovery Fund, Phumudzo Muthanyi adds: “My business partners and I are entrepreneurs from the Orange Farm Business Hub and would really like to thank the team for believing in us and investing in our business in this way.”

Their small business, MicGalaw Pty Ltd, creates fashion items from recycled waste in the Johannesburg township. “We’ve already grown from idea stage, to a growing micro business that’s now developing into a small business, which is about to hire five young people from Orange Farm on a permanent basis,” she adds.

Discovery’s Head of Sustainability Ruth Lewin, who is also the Board Chair of global employee volunteerism body, the International Association of Volunteer Effort (IAVE), says mentorship is an essential part of business operation in the world today. “I am so pleased that we have close to 1 600 esteemed mentors from varied industries in South Africa who have pledged their intention to provide mentorship to equally worthy mentees. This type of volunteerism will benefit the communities in which our beneficiaries operate exponentially. “

Gore adds: “Research tells us that mentorship is a fundamental way to transfer skills and it has a massive network effect. Mentorship is not linear – it actually allows organisations to grow and succeed. This transfer of skills is how economic growth happens. We have the skills, at scale, to make mentorship work in South Africa.” DM