A “Passive” Journey through RLEDA Young Researchers Perspective

Expectations Perception of a business forum Problem identifications and solutions Understanding of different stakeholders Multi stakeholder interrogation “Blame

Game” Gaining a practical understanding of

how LED practitioners understand RLED

The Reality Importance of Social Capital Importance of strong leadership Lack of the understanding of the

definition and the need for RED The lack of a common solid

understanding of what LED is The lack of stakeholder prioritizing and

of LED

What have we learnt? Important of context in understanding the LED challenges The importance of Resource Mapping

Identification of key sectors The importance of a holistic approach to bringing about

multiple successful LED initiative (Monitoring & Evaluation)

The need for LMs to have a strong base of catalytic projects The importance of Leadership in making Economic

Development work Greater Support of infant businesses

Entrepreneurship and SMME’s

What have we learnt Cont.. The importance with regards to already

existing LED strategies The need to tap into institutional

knowledge management to create and develop institutional memory

UKZN Graduate School of Business and Leadership (RLEDi) The need for innovation, investment

promotion and place marketing

Our Challenge to the Program For participants to take back what they have learnt to

their working communities To create mentorship partnerships in and amongst

their working space in this exec program and beyond To champion the need to continue the relationship

between the different stakeholders represented in the program

To create a network of best practices from the stakeholders reps

Informed interactionsDiscourse around best practices

For the floor to get each of the stakeholders to commit to solving the challenges in LED