LISTEN NOW
LWANDO XASO
EP.22
Other places to listen: APPLE PODCASTS | GOOGLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | STITCHER | POCKET CASTS | OVERCAST
Lwando Xaso
A Purpose-driven blueprint: The Constitutional Court
Constitutional lawyer, writer, and historian Lwando Xaso joins Ross for Episode #22 of One More Question. Lwando is the founder and owner of Including Society, a company dedicated to helping create authentically inclusive and diverse private spaces.
Lwando and Ross discuss the importance of understanding historical and cultural context in the workplace, what inspired her to start Including Society, her journey as a part of the Constitutional Court, and how the Constitutional Court offers a perfect blueprint of a Purpose-led organisation.
Highlights
Sometimes, I think people forget that what happens to us in the workplace really has far-reaching consequences
I don't believe in safe spaces. I believe in brave spaces where people can be brave and say what it is that they've been through.
[On the Constitutional Court] I worked in an environment where there was a concerted effort to live up to South Africa's highest ideals. It wasn't perfect, but just the striving of it made me have the highest standards.
Arriving to the office and seeing the culture where the judges know everyone by name, you know, not just the law clerks, but the cleaning ladies, the security guards, and all the support staff. You know, a culture where the judges themselves refer to each other as brother and sister, which is very much an African culture.
The court has the constitution, this document or this clearly articulated purpose, a dent that they're trying to make in the world, that they have to go after. And I think by having that so clear, everybody who joins be it a clerk, or a cleaner, or a judge has something that they know that this institution, or this company, or this organisation is trying to achieve.
Transparency is key for a purpose-driven organisation. Show us how you make your decisions, tell us why you've made a certain decision. Show us who's on your board, in your management, in your structures and all of that stuff.
More about Lwando
Lwando Xaso is a constitutional lawyer, writer, and historian. She has discovered how change happens by studying South African history, especially the history of the Constitutional Court.
Her career highlights include clerking for Justice Edwin Cameron at the Constitutional Court and being appointed as a senior researcher for former Chief Justice Ngcobo.
Lwando is the founder and owner of Including Society, a company dedicated to helping create authentically inclusive and diverse private spaces. She is also part of the team developing a museum dedicated to telling the story of the South African Constitution, which will be located at Constitution at Hill.
She is a trustee of the Constitutional Court and is currently writing her first book, "Made in South Africa — a Black Woman's Stories of Rage, Resistance and Progress".
Show notes
Ways you can help
01
Share this as far and wide as you can - tell your friends, family and colleagues about us
02
Rate or review the podcast and leave a comment
03
Tell us how we can create a better podcast - tell us what you liked, didn’t like, or what you’d like to hear more (or less) of
04
Tell us who you’d like to hear on the podcast. Suggest someone that you think we should interview
One More Question is a podcast by Nicework. One of the things we do best is asking our clients the right questions. This podcast came about because we want to share some of the best answers we have heard over the last 13 years. We talk to significant creators, experts and communicators who we have encountered. To share the useful insights, inspirations and facts that made us stop and take notes as we go about our work. Hosted by our founder Ross Drakes.
Subscribe iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts Music by: @dcuttermusic / http://www.davidcuttermusic.com