Leading the future of work: South Africa's path to innovation - Dr Nik Eberl

SOUTH Africa stood at two remarkable crossroads last month. A continent-first G20 summit in Johannesburg put our nation - its people, institutions and hospitality - in the global spotlight. At almost the same time, I was in Barcelona at Workday Rising, where enterprise leaders explored the near-term reality of AI-driven, people-centred workplaces. The two experiences together crystallised a single, urgent point: South Africa can not only adapt to the future of work - it can lead it.

- DR NIK EBERL

First, the context. Global leaders arriving on our soil exposed us to the highest expectations in security, logistics, digital capability and service delivery. Coverage from international and local outlets praised South Africa's delivery - our media centre, our event management and the warmth shown to delegates were singled out repeatedly. That goodwill is a strategic asset: hospitality isn't just a soft power nicety, it is a credibility deposit we can spend when pitching investment, partnerships and talent to the world.

Meanwhile in Barcelona, Workday and its customers framed the future of work as "AI-powered, human-centric, future-ready" The product and strategy conversations weren't about replacing people; they were about augmenting teams with AI agents that automate administrative friction, surface learning opportunities and allow leaders to focus on strategy, culture and creativity. Those same tools - when implemented with a firm ethical and skills framework - can accelerate productivity across South African firms, from large corporates to fast-growing SMMEs.

Putting these two trajectories together suggests a practical playbook for South Africa to become a global leader rather than a passive adopter.