Vera’s Rising Leaders Summit brought together 16 emerging leaders for four days of immersive learning, reflection, and growth. The latest Rising Leaders cohort includes senior staff from across all Vera hubs and departments.
Summary:
- Vera hosted 16 Rising Leaders in Langebaan, South Africa, for a four-day immersive leadership development summit from 14–17 November.
- The 2025 summit focused on strategic communication, psychological safety, leadership styles, identity exploration, and energy management.
Sessions were hands-on, using real-life scenarios, co-creation with the Leadership Team, and personal development planning. - Participants reflected deeply on their own leadership styles, team resilience, and impact, with many meaningful insights emerging from informal moments.
- Testimonials from Rakesh Badaje and Lara Guattari-Stafford highlighted personal growth, increased self-awareness, and the value of stepping outside comfort zones.
At Vera, Leadership is one of our core values, and leadership at Vera is shaped by learning, iterating, and responding thoughtfully to evolving challenges. From 14 to 17 November, Vera brought together 16 Rising Leaders in Langebaan, South Africa for four days of reflection, learning, and development. Hosted by Co-founder/CEO Zak Kaufman and Success Director Caroline Nathan, the programme challenged Vera’s emerging leaders to think bigger, act bolder, and lead with impact.
The Rising Leaders Program is Vera’s incubator for the next generation of leaders. Over the past eight years, 80+ Verites have participated, with each program shaped around the skills most needed for the moment and the group. This year, workshops tackled strategic communication, fostering psychological safety, leadership styles, identity exploration, and energy management.
Sessions were hands-on and immersive. Participants explored real-life scenarios, workshopped new ideas and initiatives with the Vera Leadership Team, practiced coaching and feedback, and mapped out personal leadership development plans for the year ahead. Beyond skills, the programme created space for participants to reflect on their own leadership: how they approach challenges, foster resilient teams, and shape impact within and beyond Vera.
For many, the real impact happened in the small moments: a breakout discussion that sparked a new solution, a peer challenge that shifted perspective, or a quiet reflection by the beach on how to lead with purpose. These four days were not about titles or TED Talks, they were about empowering Verites to drive change, within their teams and across the social sector.
Numerous Rising Leaders echoed this impact. As Rakesh Badaje, Solutions Architect, shared, “I realized that everyone, regardless of role or experience, is navigating their own challenges. There’s a wealth of insight, wisdom, and support within the team that I can tap into, and leadership often means creating space for those voices to surface.” He added, “The program gave me a structured way to reflect on my leadership journey… It helped me understand the kind of leader I want to become and the behaviours I want to strengthen.”
Lara Guattari-Stafford, Senior Project Manager, reflected on how the experience pushed her to stretch her comfort zone: “The Rising Leaders program highlighted the value of stepping outside my comfort zone and encouraging others to do the same. For me, that means seeking and offering constructive feedback, engaging in deeper self-reflection, and supporting my team rather than shielding them.” She also noted the importance of energy management, sharing that leadership sometimes means knowing when to challenge herself and when to set boundaries that sustain long-term effectiveness.
“This year’s group brought a wealth of diverse perspectives and experiences,” noted Kaufman. “It was inspiring to work with them and see how they support and push each other. This program always gives me great optimism for what the global Vera team is capable of.”
The Rising Leaders Program reminds us that leadership is a journey, not a destination. And for Vera, the journey continues one bold decision, one collaborative workshop, and one inspired Verite at a time.
What is the Rising Leaders Program at Vera?
The Rising Leaders Program is Vera’s leadership incubator for emerging leaders across the organization. It focuses on developing skills, self-awareness, and strategic leadership capacity through workshops, reflection, and hands-on learning.
Who is eligible to participate in Rising Leaders?
Rising Leaders are typically nominated or selected based on their tenure, leadership potential, performance, and demonstrated commitment to Vera’s values. Over 80 Verites have participated in the program over the past eight years.
What kinds of skills or topics does the program cover?
Each year’s program is tailored to the moment’s and group’s needs. This year’s sessions included strategic communication, fostering psychological safety, leadership styles, identity exploration, energy management, coaching practice, and personal leadership planning.
