Alan brings the rich and dynamic tradition of African storytelling to his audio/visual presentations. Stories and metaphor with such a deep sense of history and timelessness, they transcend all languages and cultures, from all walks of life.
By using nature and natural leadership as a tapestry, Alan weaves a thread of simplistic traditional wisdom around the talks. He shows how this knowledge can inspire personal growth and transformation, and how it can assist with conflict resolution and management.
With photographs, imagery, music, humour, anecdotes, adventures (and misadventures!) gleaned from years of wilderness experiences, the presentations reflect stirring insights into how we view the world around us. Insights that are inspiring, moving, funny and sad.
Two of Alan’s presentations are:
1. The Wilderness Concept & Corporate Leadership.
Duration of 50 minutes.
Core message: The paradigm of ‘experience’ to ‘knowledge’ to ‘wisdom’
By using stories and experiences from the bush, Alan dramatically uncovers how people are part of nature, and how we in modern society can learn adaptability from natural rhythms. Like a mirror, the stories reflect inward enabling us to appreciate the value of teamwork, co-operation and trust.
Excerpt:
The elephant story perhaps addresses what I’m saying here: there is a split between man and nature. And our authenticity and versatility have been compromised. It affects the balance in our lives between what we need and what we want. In order to find this balance again, I would like to share the story of the buffalo-thorn tree which has a widespread belief among the peoples of southern Africa.
The presentation consists of the following key stories:
Authentic transformation: story of Pathfinder, the Bushman tracker.
Finding balance: the story of the buffalo-thorn tree.
Sustainability: how Bushman trackers survive in the desert.
Everything is connected: elephant anecdotes.
2. The Wilderness Concept & Realising Personal Ideals.
Duration of 50 minutes.
Core message: The more you explore wilderness, the more you explore your own self
By sharing stories and anecdotes from an adventurous dug-out canoe expedition in the Okavango Delta, the presentation is about exploring our potential and understanding our strengths and limitations. Nature is the guide.
Excerpt
What the boy discovered is that his fears, or rather the projections of his fears, blindfolded him from the reality of what they really were. During that long dark night in the Kalahari the young Bushman learned a golden lesson: the only thing to fear is fear itself.
The presentation consists of the following key stories:
Inner leadership: the two wolves.
Facing your insecurities and fears: the Bushman rite of passage.
Confidence in your own ability: attacked by a crocodile.
Humility: don’t judge anyone too soon.
Alan has a profile listed on ASSEMBLEE International Speakers Agency
