How Coface Is Building High‑Value People - A Transformational Journey of Personal Mastery & Self‑Leadership

Pretoria January 2026 - In a world where industries shift overnight and leaders are called to navigate increasing complexity; one truth remains constant: an organisation can only rise as high as the people within it. In 2025, Coface South Africa demonstrated what it looks like when a company not only recognises this truth but actively invests in elevating its people.

In September and October 2025, Coface partnered with The Transformation Legacy to deliver a Personal Mastery & Self‑Leadership Training Programme to two groups of employees—38 people in total—reflecting their commitment to a workplace culture built on collaboration, compassion, empathy, self‑leadership, and high productivity. The results were exceptional: both groups rated the experience an overall 4.98 out of 5; a remarkable indicator of impact, relevance, and alignment with Coface’s people‑first philosophy.

This article unpacks the journey, the learnings, and why Coface’s investment in its people is a blueprint for modern leadership.

A Company Culture Rooted in People

Coface has long been recognised for its global standard in risk assessment and credit insurance—but what often goes unseen is the depth of its internal culture. Beyond operational excellence, Coface champions:

• Collaboration — creating spaces where every voice matters.
• Self‑Leadership — empowering people to take ownership of their growth.
• Compassion & Empathy — essential qualities for navigating internal and client relationships.
• High Productivity with Humanity — driving performance without compromising wellbeing.

This culture is not accidental. It is engineered through intentional development experiences like the Personal Mastery & Self‑Leadership workshop—designed to help employees know themselves, lead themselves, and contribute meaningfully to the collective.

Why Personal Mastery Matters for Modern OrganisationsThe programme’s foundation rests on the belief that the most valuable asset in your life is not a product, system, or title—it's you. Everything a leader produces flows from identity, mindset, values, and emotional maturity.

Participants explored:

• Self‑Awareness (strengths, triggers, values, blind spots)
• Purpose, Vision & Personal Value Creation
• Emotional Intelligence
• Discipline, Accountability & Goal Setting
• Continuous Learning & Growth Orientation

With these principles, employees began shifting from operating on autopilot to leading with intention, clarity, and emotional depth.

What Coface Employees Found Most ValuableAcross both groups, clear themes emerged about what participants found most impactful.

1. Emotional Intelligence & Self‑AwarenessParticipants consistently noted that EQ work was transformative—especially naming emotions, understanding triggers, and improving relational engagement. Both groups highlighted this as one of the most valuable components of the experience.

2. Realising Their Own ValueMany employees spoke about the “aha” moment of recognising themselves as high‑value assets—not just operational resources, but people with purpose, potential, and power to influence outcomes.

3. Vision Alignment & SMART Goal SettingEmployees appreciated the clarity of aligning personal purpose with professional goals, using structured tools to translate vision into action.

4. Safe, Compassionate Learning SpaceParticipants described the workshop as:

• “Engaging and relatable”• “A safe space for vulnerability—no judgement”• “Life‑changing”• “A chance to step outside my comfort zone”• “An interactive format that brought us closer as a team”.

This speaks directly to Coface’s culture of empathy, collaboration, and psychological safety.

5. Practical Tools for Everyday LeadershipFrom journaling and mindfulness practices to stress regulation and vision painting, participants found the tools applicable to real work and life scenarios.

What the Programme Revealed About Coface’s PeopleAs the facilitator, I observed qualities in Coface teams that any organisation would be proud of:• Openness and curiosity toward learning• Intentional participation, with many employees joining the 21‑day challenge for habit building• High levels of empathy and support toward one another• Strong team synergy, showing a culture that is already collaborative by design• A sincere hunger for personal growth and self‑improvement

These characteristics amplify the impact of any developmental intervention. When people show up with humility, honesty, and a willingness to grow, transformation becomes inevitable.

The Coface 21‑Day Challenge: Turning Learning Into LifestyleAfter the workshop, participants joined a 21‑day behavioural transformation challenge—where they implemented daily practices related to mindset, emotional regulation, discipline, and self‑leadership.The challenge reinforced concepts such as:

• Accountability• Consistency• Behaviour tracking• Mindfulness• Purposeful action• Time ownership.

These reflections were shared in an accountability group where employees encouraged one another—demonstrating collaboration in action.

The Ripple Effects: What This Investment Signifies

Coface’s decision to invest in personal mastery training isn’t just about professional development—it signals strategic organisational maturity.

1. A Future‑Proof WorkforceEmployees equipped with clarity, emotional intelligence, and self‑leadership navigate uncertainty more effectively.

2. Stronger Internal RelationshipsTeams with shared language—purpose, EQ, vision, accountability—communicate better, solve conflict faster, and collaborate more fluidly.

3. Sustainable ProductivityHigh productivity is best achieved when people are self‑regulated, aligned, and purpose‑driven—not burnt out.

4. Increased Courage and InnovationWhen people feel valued and safe, they take healthy risks, speak up, and propose creative solutions.

5. Strengthened Employer BrandA company that invests this deeply in people becomes a magnet for talent.

A Closing ReflectionTo invest in people is to invest in the future. Coface has shown what is possible when an organisation takes Personal Mastery and Self‑Leadership seriously—not as HR initiatives, but as strategic imperatives. The transformation we witnessed wasn’t simply professional, it was human. And when people evolve, organisations rise. Coface is not just building better employees. It is cultivating high‑value individuals who elevate the entire business.