During a chat with CHRO South Africa, Lorna Phipps, head of sales enablement at GIBS, reflected on the significance of sponsoring the Transformation & Empowerment Award at the 2025 CHRO Awards.
According to her, transformation and empowerment have been at the heart of GIBS’ purpose since its founding, reflected in its commitment to developing leaders who navigate complexity, champion innovation and create cultures of excellence across sectors.
Q: What inspired GIBS to sponsor the Transformation & Empowerment Award at the 2025 CHRO Awards?
As GIBS celebrates 25 years of impact, we are proud to sponsor the Transformation & Empowerment Award to honour the changemakers who are reshaping the future of work. This award reflects our enduring commitment to inclusive leadership, systemic transformation and the empowerment of people and organisations. It is a tribute to the leaders who, like GIBS, believe that meaningful change begins with courageous action and strategic intent.
Sponsoring the Transformation & Empowerment Award is a fitting tribute to this journey, and a celebration of the leaders who are shaping the next 25 years of impact.
Q: What makes this award category especially meaningful or relevant to your organisation and how does this sponsorship align with your organisation’s purpose and commitment to advancing HR excellence?
Transformation and empowerment are at the heart of GIBS’ purpose. For 25 years, we’ve equipped leaders to navigate complexity, drive inclusive growth and build cultures of excellence. This award aligns with our belief that HR is a strategic force – one that enables innovation, resilience and human potential. By sponsoring this category, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing HR as a catalyst for organisational and societal progress.
Q: How does GIBS embody or promote the principles celebrated by this award?
GIBS promotes transformation and empowerment through every facet of our work, from leadership development and executive education to thought leadership and community engagement. We champion diversity, foster cross-sector collaboration and embed purpose-driven strategy into our programmes. Our partnerships with business, government and civil society reflect our belief that empowered leaders build empowered organisations and empowered organisations transform the world.
Q: What’s one quality you think every future CHRO should embody to live up to the spirit of this award?
Strategic courage. The future CHRO must be bold enough to challenge legacy systems, advocate for equity, and lead transformation with conviction. At GIBS, we believe that courageous HR leadership is essential to shaping workplaces that are not only high-performing but deeply human. This award celebrates those who lead with vision, integrity and the courage to empower others.
