I remember Madiba (Nelson Mandela) arriving for a Diana Ross concert and the electricity that flew around the venue as he walked in and 5000 people collectively started chanting his name. To this day I recall how the hair on my arms stood up and there was that sudden breathlessness that comes from an adrenalin rush. For the rest of my life Nelson Mandela will personify the need for compassion and forgiveness in leadership – he wasn’t perfect, and I know he regretted not doing more for people with HIV/AIDS while in office, but the world is a better place for having known him and that in the end is the ultimate epitaph.
Is there a link between reputation and sustainable competitive advantage? Does 'brand citizenship' exist? Can reputation be managed in the world of social networking? Sound interesting? Then welcome to a conversation about brands and branding, about leadership and making a sustainable contribution to society. 
The tree and its shadow 