Banking on change, by Helena Dolny

On 15 July 1999 South Africa was shocked by the dramatic headlines: Slovo widow accused of corruption, mismanagement and trying to more than double her salary.

The idea that Helena Dolny, widow of liberation struggle hero Joe Slovo, could have gone so badly wrong captured the attention of the public. Gagged by her opponents, she endured a 'trial by media' for months before the drama reached a climax in the Pretoria High Court. Then the billboards blazed: Judge trashes Doiny accusers.

Banking on Change reveals the full story. In 1997 Dolny was appointed managing director of the Land Bank. She was tasked with charting the turbulent waters of the transformation of an institution regarded as a bastion of the apartheid state.

The workplace ethos exuded patriarchy, racism and authoritarianism. She logs a journey in which staff members and managers get to grips with change and have to reconsider their values. Dolny explores the business dynamic of change

- new clients, new products, new prices, workplace redesign and the challenge of leadership. In a time when business restructuring has become a permanent feature of our working lives, the lessons learnt are widely applicable. Her experience confirms that to secure business success, a clear strategy must go hand in hand with investment in people.

Written in an engaging style, Banking on Change is a window on the real world of boardroom dancing. It is a valuable business tool. It provides an insightful contribution to the renewed debate on corporate governance. On a personal level, it is also a story of betrayal and intrigue, which ultimately led to Dolny's departure from the Bank. Above all, it is South African contemporary history at its most fascinating.

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