Mowgli Mentoring 10yr Impact Report

Gaining confidence through mentor
Sboniso Phakathi recalls his experiences as a mentee within the MAVA Leaders for
Nature Academy.
“I work for the Southern African Wildlife College, which specialises in conservation
education, training and skills development across the Southern African Development
Community. I have been at the college for five years and have made my way up, recently
taking over from a professor. Without a higher education degree, that was quite a
daunting transition for me and while I was excited by the opportunity, I lacked confidence
in my new role.
I have gained
confidence and now deal
with difficult situations
more decisively. I am
more comfortable
engaging with senior
managers and our
partner organisations. I
now have the confidence
to approach industry
leaders, market our unit
to them and influence
their practice and the
industry as a whole.
“When my CEO suggested I apply to MAVA’s Leaders for Nature Academy, I felt I wasn’t
senior enough. But I am so glad I did apply as the experience has been transformational.
“The programme helps young people engaged in conservation to lead beyond authority.
The programme is deeply experiential, instilling leadership essentials into us and
increasing our capacity and strength. The mentoring component of the programme has
been one of the most fantastic things I have gotten involved in.
“I had previously had a technical mentor at work who is familiar with my role as the Rural
Initiatives for a Sustainable Environment Unit Projects Leader and helps me to navigate
workplace politics. But the Mowgli mentoring was a totally different experience which
helped me to gain overall confidence in myself and my work.
“I connected with a mentor within the first few hours of the two-day Kickstart workshop
in Amman and really wanted to work with him. Luckily he felt the same and we were
matched together by the facilitators.
Sboniso Phakathi,
Mentee, MAVA Leaders
for Nature Academy,
South Africa
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