Centre for Creative Leadership opens in Ethiopia

BUSINESS

The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), ranked among the world's Top 10 leadership education providers by the Financial Times and BusinessWeek, launches its first Africa office on May 10 2012 at the Radisson Blue Hotel, Addis Ababa. This event coincides with the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa, where strengthening Africa's leadership will be a central theme.

Located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, home to both the African Union and the United Nations, CCL's new office enjoys a strategic position for advancing understanding, practice and development of leadership across Africa.

"CCL has been in Africa for many years, allowing us to grasp the region's aspirations," says Rudi Plettinx, Vice President and Managing Director, CCL Africa, Europe and the Middle East (EMEA). "However, this is CCL's first base in Africa, helping us meet the rising demand for African leadership development."

Unprecedented economic progress and the continent's increasing geo-political importance intensify demand for effective leadership. Other challenges, such as youth unemployment and food insecurity add to the need for strong leadership to translate Africa's growth into greater opportunities for future generations.

"CCL is helping to redefine leadership by focusing on a systems approach, beginning with the individual, moving to organization, and ultimately on leading society," says Steadman Harrison III, CCL's Africa Regional Director. "Leadership development can be used to address the most important challenges. It is fitting that we are accessible to those who will impact these issues."

Africa is widely acknowledged as "the continent of the future." The WEF describes it as 'poised for a growth spurt' and predicts that seven out of the ten fastest growing economies over the next five years will be in Sub-Saharan Africa.

"We believe CCL's Addis Ababa office will play a pivotal role in helping Africans hone their leadership skills at every level of society," adds Plettinx. "It will act as a base for CCL's Leadership Beyond Boundaries (LBB) work: an initiative launched in 2006 to democratize leadership development and unlock human potential in an affordable and accessible way."

CCL has been involved in projects in 16 African countries, including Liberia and Ethiopia, working with UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Marrow Foundation, among others.