A visionary leader focused on prosperity over profit

In delivering an address in Kliptown, Soweto in July 2008, Nelson Mandela said, “A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.”

It is this concern that drives Dr Pillay. And despite the uphill battle faced in speaking truth to power, his courage and compassion have not gone unnoticed. This year, he added two prestigious awards to his burgeoning trophy cabinet.

Civil society advocacy group, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, popularly known as OUTA, periodically honours South Africans who have risked life, limb and their bottom line to call out corruption. You can read more about the initiative here: MORAL COURAGE | OUTA. In May 2024, OUTA honoured Dr Pillay with a Certificate of Recognition for Moral Courage, saying, “You chose to not look away and instead, you took action and stood up against wrongdoing that was perpetrated. The courage displayed and the actions you took were based on the important principles of morality and active citizenry. In our books you are a hero and a champion in the fight against corruption.”

Later in May 2024, the Future Leader Forum awarded Dr Pillay the Ethical Leadership Award at the Future of Leadership Summit for his stance on unfairness in our industry. As summit attendees noted, Dr Pillay exemplifies ethical leadership no matter the personal cost to him and his brand.

Fighting the good fight isn’t easy but we are constantly in awe of Dr Pillay’s resilience in the face of corruption, unfairness and injustice. If we had more leaders like Dr Pillay, South Africa will be able to rightfully claim her place as a world leader.

13 June 2024