Eskom Pension and Provident Fund (EPPF)
Leaders of Tomorrow Graduate Programme
Overview
EPPF is one of South Africa’s largest retirement funds, committed to safeguarding the financial futures of its members while investing in the growth of its people.
Every January, EPPF recruits new graduates and places them across diverse business units. With a strong focus on sustainability, integrity, and empowerment, EPPF invests in developing the leaders of tomorrow through structured graduate programmes.
Challenge
EPPF’s annual intake of graduates brought fresh talent into the organisation, but many struggled with the transition from university to the workplace.
Graduates needed practical skills to navigate organisational culture, manage workload, communicate effectively, and understand financial responsibility in their first year of employment.
EPPF wanted a programme that would not only prepare graduates for success but also identify those ready to be absorbed permanently into the organisation.
Solution
Leverage Leadership partnered with EPPF to design and deliver the Leaders of Tomorrow Graduate Programme, a customised skills programme that addressed both personal and organisational readiness.
Key elements included:
- Core Themes: Emotional intelligence, confidence building, problem solving, workload management, business acumen, and effective communication.
- Financial Intelligence Workbook: Specifically designed for graduates to address overlooked workplace realities; managing a budget with their first income, handling credit responsibly, avoiding overspending, and living within their means.
- 1:1 Coaching: Each graduate received personalised coaching to support self-awareness, workplace effectiveness, and career growth.
- Group Projects: Graduates initiated and implemented projects that contributed to EPPF’s environment, client experience, and broader community. Projects ranged from innovative client engagement tools to internal culture-building initiatives, showcasing creativity and impact.
Outcome
The programme delivered significant results:
- Graduates gained confidence, applied theory to practice, and developed resilience in navigating workplace challenges.
- Financial literacy was embedded early, equipping graduates to manage personal and organisational budgets responsibly.
- Group projects fostered innovation, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement, with graduates presenting impactful ideas at programme completion.
- EPPF successfully absorbed some graduates into permanent roles, strengthening its talent pipeline and organisational culture.
Participant Voices
Graduates highlighted the programme’s impact on their growth and workplace readiness:
- "It was a wonderful experience. I learned the importance of feedback and started applying it immediately in my work." – Ntombifuthi Mzobe
- “The classes were helpful towards our work environment. I learned how to cope with workplace stress and apply theory practically.” – Philasande Mtsatse
- “The highlight was sharing workplace challenges with peers and finding ways to overcome them together.” – Tshepo Malahlela
- “Communication was key. We connected deeply in sessions, which made me participate fully.” – Yanga Mnikina
- “I learned how important emotional intelligence is — controlling how I react regardless of how I feel.” – Zemvelo Sibai
- “The coaching sessions gave me clarity about my strengths and development areas.” – Tshepo Malahlela
- “My manager encouraged me to learn as much as possible and supported me throughout the programme.” – Philasande Mtsatse
- “The support I received from my team was incredible, helping me adapt and work independently.” – Ntombifuthi Mzobe
- “The facilitator was outstanding — she made me tune in and participate fully.” – Yanga Mnikina
- "I learned how to communicate better and improve relationships with my team and peers.” – Zemvelo Sibai
LeverageForward
By embedding leadership, financial intelligence, and workplace readiness into the graduate journey, Leverage ensured EPPF’s programme was not just developmental but transformative. The Leaders of Tomorrow Graduate Programme prepared graduates to thrive, innovate, and embody EPPF’s values, while strengthening the organisation’s future leadership pipeline.
EPPF now has a cadre of young professionals who are not only workplace-ready but future-ready — capable of sustaining growth, driving innovation, and contributing meaningfully to South Africa’s evolving economy.