Lead Through Anything: Harness Purpose, Vitality, and Agility to Thrive in the Face of Unrelenting Change

CHAPTER 2

The Power of Purpose

For nearly 100 years, the South African company Telkom played a dominant role in the country’s communications infrastructure. A legally sanctioned government monopoly, Telkom thrived because it controlled all communications.

However, in 2005, that advantage began to erode as the government authorized competition and courts allowed internet service providers to build and operate their own networks. Telkom experienced self-inflicted wounds due to failed acquisitions and a lack of visibility into the expanding mobile phone market.¹ More nimble competition chipped away at Telkom’s markets, leaving the company in a defensive, reactive position.

When Sipho Maseko ascended to the CEO position at Telkom in April 2013, ...