Future leaders building sustainable communities in Laos

After the tragic loss of the Group CEO Michael Browne in July 2010, the Board requested a proposal for a Learning and Development programme to honour his leadership and contribution to Datacom.

After the tragic loss of the Group CEO Michael Browne in July 2010, the Board requested a proposal for a Learning and Development programme to honour his leadership and contribution to Datacom. 

The Leadership for Life programme aims to build leadership development beyond the traditional office environment through an immersive and experiential approach. The weeklong project is designed to support positive social and community impact in the Third World and build strong leadership attributes through community and social contribution.

This initiative is hosted by World Volunteer, which is a purpose-based organisation running small-scale development programmes within ethnic areas across South-East Asia. It was formed through the culmination of a year-long leadership development programme covering modules of Leadership, Strategy and Change delivered through Macquarie School of Management (MGSM).

It is an ongoing and sustainable programme, which is now in its fifth year, whereby our people reside with locals in various hill-tribe villages in Laos. The latest project was focused on building income-generating Eco Bungalows in Luang Prabang. The revenue from tourism is allocated to a village fund which is then used to improve the village infrastructure and living conditions. The Bungalow is eco-sustainable and built with local material: clay, rice tusk and water. 

Our vision is to provide our leaders with a new experience that challenges their thinking, their perspectives and allows them to take time to give back to a community in need. This back-to-basics approach provides a humbling and rewarding experience through living and working alongside local villagers and their families, and is an opportunity to bring new insights and attitudes back into their lives as well as the workplace. 

The Leadership for Life programme aims to build leadership development beyond the traditional office environment through an immersive and experiential

approach.