WINNING IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE, BUT VITAL

Riverbed was the most lauded agency at this year’s Prism Award ceremony, with 12 wins including the highly coveted South African Campaign of the Year Award. The applause and fanfare at the virtual red-carpet event reminded me of what I have always known for sure… that winning in the face of uncertainty and adversity is not only possible, but vital.

Without the will or the spirit to win, few of us will survive the devastating impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Without the belief that winning is possible, too many of us are likely to give up too soon and become a statistic of that ever-rising number of the unemployed and failed businesses. In challenging times, all too often our winning mindset is replaced with our instinct to survive, taking us back to the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and stopping us from making any significant progress when it matters most. 

Whilst the instinct to survive is innately within all of us, the desire to win is far more powerful! Winning after all, is the result of preparation, hard work, courage and resilience, fundamental attributes for any leader in these unprecedented times.

And so, as Riverbed makes its’ way into the history books as the first black female owned agency to win big at the Prisms, we will be focusing on the what it took to get us here. 

Winning after all is fleeting, and it is the continued pursuit of it that builds greatness.