TEG’s first Appreciative Inquiry Practitioners graduate
By Staff Reporter
The Talent Exchange Group (TEG) has marked a historic milestone with the graduation of its first-ever cohort of Appreciative Inquiry Certified Practitioners, launching a transformative leadership movement aligned with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 agenda.
Held in an atmosphere of celebration and reflection, the graduation ceremony honoured six pioneering professionals who successfully completed the Inaugural Appreciative Inquiry Certification Program, a people-centred leadership and organisational development initiative designed to strengthen institutions, communities, and public service delivery.
The certification journey began in June 2025 with a bold vision: to localise and contextualise Appreciative Inquiry as a practical tool for strengthening leadership, accountability, and service excellence in Zimbabwe.
With no precedent to follow, the inaugural cohort became co-creators of the programme. Over several months, the six graduates consistently committed their time to weekly Zoom learning sessions, while also making a personal financial investment in internet data costs—a demonstration of discipline, sacrifice, and belief in the programme.
*Supporting Vision 2030*
TEG confirmed that the Appreciative Inquiry Certification Program directly supports Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, which seeks to build a prosperous, empowered upper-middle-income society through improved governance, productivity, innovation, and citizen-centred service delivery.
By strengthening leadership capacity, ethical practice, teamwork, and participatory decision-making, the programme contributes to building capable institutions and responsive public systems.
*Call to Support Public Sector Leadership*
In his keynote address, TEG Executive President Paul Nyausaru issued a strong call for the certification programme to be adopted as a strategic leadership development pathway for Government, public sector institutions, and local authorities.
“This programme is not just about certification,” he said. “It is a leadership development and transformation tool that can support Government initiatives aimed at improving public service delivery, strengthening local governance, and building ethical, people-centred leadership across ministries, departments, and local authorities.”
He added that the graduates are now well positioned to support leadership transformation initiatives in municipalities, parastatals, councils, and community development programmes.
*Learning to Lead Through Strengths*
Appreciative Inquiry equips leaders to drive change by focusing on strengths rather than deficits. Through the 5D Cycle — Define, Discover, Dream, Design and Destiny — participants were trained to facilitate conversations that unlock innovation, trust, and shared ownership of development agendas.
*Looking Ahead*
With the successful graduation of Cohort One, Talent Exchange Group has opened enrolment for Cohort Two, inviting professionals in leadership, governance, human resources, community development, and organisational transformation to join the next intake.
As Zimbabwe advances towards Vision 2030, initiatives such as the Appreciative Inquiry Certification Program are emerging as strategic platforms for building capable, ethical and citizen-centred leadership.
The six graduates now stand not only as certified practitioners, but as pioneers of a new leadership philosophy — one that builds sustainable development by appreciating what gives life.
