In our continuous effort to drive growth and innovation at OCL, we are excited to introduce our new Co-Leadership model. To give you a closer look at the dynamic duo leading our organisation, we sat down with Megan Wadge, our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Richard Gevers, our Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), for a fun and insightful Q&A session. Get to know them better through their personal insights. 

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Q&A with Megan Wadge, CEO

1. What is your favourite thing about OCL?
Megan: I love that OCL has impact and mission at its heart. I love that the team is passionate about doing quality work that matters.

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2. What do you think Rich’s best quality is as a leader?

Megan: Rich’s ability to give people space to grow into the potential he sees in them and his ability to genuinely care for the well-being of his team. He holds the line and enables the team to fail and learn, demonstrating a brave and supportive approach to leadership. This fosters an environment of growth, resilience, and continuous improvement.

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3. When did you and Rich first meet?

Megan: We met very briefly while I lived in London, and then got reacquainted when I moved back to South Africa in 2019 after living in Singapore for a number of years.

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4. What does effective teamwork look like to you?

Megan: Effective teamwork encompasses a blend of strategic leadership, clear communication, empowerment of our team, and fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture.

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5. Do you have a favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?

Megan: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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6. If you could host a dinner party with any three people, living or dead, who would you invite and why?

Megan: John Lennon, Marie Curie, and Banksy.

John Lennon:

As a member of The Beatles and a solo artist, John Lennon used his music to address themes of peace, love, and social issues. His thoughts on the role of music in promoting social change and his experiences in one of the most influential music groups in history would be incredibly engaging.

Marie Curie:

As a pioneering scientist and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, Marie Curie's contributions to science and her groundbreaking research on radioactivity would make for fascinating discussions. Her determination and passion for scientific discovery, despite facing numerous obstacles, offer inspiring lessons on dedication, curiosity, and overcoming adversity.

Banksy:

As an enigmatic street artist known for his provocative and politically charged works, Banksy’s perspectives on art, activism, and anonymity would spark thought-provoking discussions on the role of art in modern society.

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7. What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?

Don't sweat the small stuff.

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Q&A with Richard Gevers, CSO

1. What was the ‘aha’ moment that led to Open Cities Lab?

Richard: To give a bit of background to my journey, I worked as a development economist for 8 years with both public and private clients in the municipal, provincial, and national spheres. During that time I saw many research projects get sidelined or indefinitely delayed by institutional barriers. I grew especially frustrated with the static mechanism by which development is delivered. I really battle to see how long written reports and plans are going to effectively lead to change with the kind of frequency and trajectory needed in our South African context. Read more

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2. What is your favourite thing about OCL?

Richard: Wow, tough question. I like that we never stop refining and working towards impact, and that we destroy our "darlings" all the time. That focus is critical. 

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3. What do you think Megan’s best quality is as a leader?

Richard: I think she is able to focus on what needs to be done and executed while not losing humanity. For so many people when they have to drive a hard line or boundary, they over or under step or battle to keep a level head. Meg is able to see all perspectives and make really good decisions even when they are tough or not always very clear.

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4. What does effective teamwork look like to you?

Richard: Knowing when to step in to help and when to give someone the space to grow into. And trust. It's all about trust.

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5. Do you have a favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?

Richard: As a sort of joke as a person with ADHD and too many things on the go:

“I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.”

― Douglas Adams

For more real, I'd go with another one from him:

“Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable. Let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all.”

― Douglas Adams

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6. If you could host a dinner party with any three people, living or dead, who would you invite and why?

Richard: My three closest people. I don't really care much for famous people living or dead. If I had to choose however, I suppose Douglas Adams, Thom Yorke, Chinua Achebe.

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7. What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?

Richard: I’ve received so much great professional advice over the years.. The one I quote the most, however, is:

"The mark of a mature, psychologically healthy mind is indeed the ability to live with uncertainty and ambiguity, but only as much as there really is." 

― Julian Baggini

As a very mission-driven person with definite ideas about how the world should be, it's hard to realise that almost every space that needs change is about dealing with the grey - there is seldom an action that is completely right or completely wrong. However, once you have clarity, act, even if it terrifies you.

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For a deeper dive into our Co-Leadership model, check out our previous article Strength in Collaborative Leadership: Introducing OCL’s New Leadership Team. Here, we explore how Megan and Richard’s complementary strengths drive OCL’s strategic goals, the key milestones and challenges they've encountered, and their vision for OCL’s long-term growth and impact.