The inaugural Blueprint Graduation ceremony by the Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) saw 90 students, mostly women, graduating from one of three specialised leadership courses.

The courses, Nine Conversations, Women’s Management Development Programme, and Mentor and Mentees, are being used to bolster ATNS’ current and future leadership throughout the ranks and promote transformation with a focus on gender.

Sindisiwe Chikunga, MP and deputy minister of transport speaking at the graduation said, “Organisational leaders face increasingly complex challenges that involve organisational changes, volatile market dynamics, talent and skills shortages.  In order to overcome these complex challenges leaders must create a culture that is agile enough to address these difficulties. In addition, this agility must manifest in a leader’s ability to optimally manage the talent and development pipeline.”

Aviation has been a typically male dominated industry and these programmes aim to provide a platform for women employees, who exhibit special talents and who show clear growth potential in their areas of work, to improve their skills, knowledge and competencies.

Nine Conversations is a nine-month leadership development programme that develops leadership competency through conversation between students and between students and coaches. Ninety of ATNS’ employees completed the programme.

Women’s Management Development Programme offered development opportunities by empowering women who work at ATNS to function as supervisors, managers and executives.

The Mentor and Mentees programme teaches and instils an ethos of coaching and mentoring in the organisation for optimal knowledge and skills transfer.

Mpho Mamashela, ATNS chairman, says: “My board and I see the opportunities available in this country but we need capable leaders to take the yoke and capitalise on the potential. With enough South Africans to take leadership roles our whole country can benefit, not just individuals or individual organisations. Women represent an enormous resource pool that, if nurtured correctly, can take the lead. One of my directors, Thandeka Mgodoso, is a very accomplished leader and she balances being a mother, a director, and studying, which is exemplary. It is an astounding feat.”

The transport ministry has been actively supporting the South African aviation industry, particularly ATNS, through active participation in product and services launches, corporate social investment (CSI) and industry conferences.