CAREL JANSEN VAN VUUREN

Do research in a field you love, it should excite you all the time. Think, think, think before you write. Stretch your mental capacity to the fullest possible.

Carl recently submitted his Ph.D. thesis for examination, the title being: Contemporary leadership behaviour enabling leadership effectiveness in a public university. The research aimed to develop a model from existing theory, corroborated by empirical research, to complement current leadership theory and furthermore assist practitioners to navigate their decisions under dynamic, volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) conditions.

What were the motivations for carrying out this research?

Having worked in a senior leadership position in corporate, multi-national organisations for more than 25 years, Carl has experienced first-hand the significance of leadership on organisational performance. His desire to understand many of the factors impacting on leader effectiveness has inspired Carl to engage in research.

Research can be a long and tough journey, what kept you going during this process?

My wife and soul mate, Magda Jansen van Vuuren. Her love and care cannot be expressed in words. My best friend who encouraged and supported me 24/7.

Who is your biggest inspiration/What inspires you?

I am fascinated by leadership and the real impact leadership has on organisations.

What is the funniest/scariest/most embarrassing or best thing that has happened to you as a researcher)

The best thing that has happened to me was Prof Jose Frantz’s motivation to change my PhD study from doing research in a private, to a public Higher Education Institution. This materialised at a time when I made a career change which could potentially have derailed my studies.

There are certainly lots of lesson you took from your journey, what can you share with an aspiring researcher/postgrad student?

(i) Do research in a field you love, it should excite you all the time. (ii) Failing to plan is planning to fail. (iii) Be realistic and set achievable goals. (iv) Perpetually revise your work, “sleep on it” and do not compromise quality. (v) Focus on the golden thread, be crisp and clear on what your message is. (vi) Think, think, think before you write. Stretch your mental capacity to the fullest possible.

COVID-19 has been a huge challenge in the society at large, how did you cope with this challenge?

All online: meetings, supervision, write shops, training and webinars.

Regular telephone calls and networking with piers.

How was your supervision experience in one word?

Incredible.

What are you currently doing (work/ academics)?

I am currently conducting research in the UWC’s Leadership Development in Higher Education Research Niche Area. Working with Prof Marieta du Plessis we are working to establish a new Masters degree in Socially Responsive Leadership, aiming to create a Unit for Leadership Studies, create and expand a network of national and international collaborators to advance the leadership niche agenda, maximize research output through publication and presentations at conferences, and also maximizing post graduate student throughput.

What does the future hold for Carl Jansen Van Vuuren?

We wish to advance the agenda and goals of the leadership research niche over the next few years. We beli”eve leadership is fundamental to the UWC’s Institutional Operating Plan and the executive leadership’s efforts to strengthen UWC’s position as a research university, contributing to the transformation of lives through its knowledge production endeavours and recognised for its general research capabilities and research strengths in selected areas.