When Professor Marieta du Plessis takes the stage for her inaugural lecture at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) on October 14, 2025, she won’t just be speaking about leadership; she’ll be sharing a personal philosophy shaped by purpose, people, and passion. Her lecture, titled From Self to Service: A Leadership Journey to Enable Flourishing, traces a transformative journey from traditional leadership models to a human-centred approach that prioritises wellbeing, purpose, and organisational success.

“I’ve always believed that leadership isn’t just about results,” said Prof Du Plessis. “It’s about creating conditions where people can thrive. That’s what this lecture is about: showing how effective leadership enables individuals to reach their full potential while contributing meaningfully to their organisation.”

Marieta du Plessis is a Professor in the Department of Industrial Psychology at the University of the Western Cape. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC

The lecture draws on research conducted in South African higher education contexts, highlighting the challenges and opportunities institutions face. Prof Du Plessis explores how positive leadership approaches, including servant, authentic, and transformational leadership, operate through mechanisms such as psychological capital, empowerment, and self-leadership to foster sustainable outcomes. Particular attention is given to toxic leadership behaviours, precarious employment practices, and structural hurdles that can prevent individuals from flourishing, offering a practical framework for both individuals and institutions.

“I was raised to be sensitive to others, to serve rather than to focus on myself. Care has always been an important part of me, and that’s shaped both my life and my work.”

Born in Evander, Mpumalanga, and raised between Secunda and Paarl, Prof Du Plessis initially dreamed of becoming a music therapist. 

“I thought that would be the perfect way to connect with children with autism. It combined my love for music with my love for people.”  

However, she decided on a different career path with meaning: psychology. After completing her undergraduate, honours and Masters degrees at Stellenbosch University, she deliberately spent nearly a decade in the private sector before joining academia. 

“I had more respect for lecturers who had industry experience,” she added with a smile. “I wanted to stand in front of a class and say: this is not just theory, I’ve lived it.”

That decision eventually led her to UWC, where she has been for 15 years. 

“What drew me here was the hunger for learning of the students. “It’s not about race or background; it’s the desire to make something of oneself, to change your life. And I have the energy for that.”

Her office reflects the balance of warmth and purpose that defines her. Visitors immediately feel welcomed, yet there’s a quiet sense that this is a place where things get done with focus and determination. She gestures naturally as she speaks, a habit that conveys engagement and sincerity. It’s clear that when Prof Du Plessis speaks, she is fully present, grounded in her convictions, and focused on the people she mentors. Her research has focused heavily on leadership and positive psychology, with a particular emphasis on higher education. She is quick to challenge narrow definitions of leadership. 

“Too many academics don’t see themselves as leaders, “I believe I lead when I mentor, when I teach, when I supervise. Leadership is about unlocking passion and purpose in others.”

For Prof  Du  Plessis, the personal and professional are inseparable. Married with a 10-year-old daughter, she laughs about how Emma perceives her work. “In her eyes, I work on my computer all the time, while my husband, a tour guide, has the exciting job. But family is my happy place, especially when we spend time at the ocean. It grounds me.”

She holds a PhD in Industrial Psychology and is a National Research Foundation-rated researcher with over 15 years of academic and professional experience, having published numerous peer-reviewed articles in leading international journals and supervised more than 40 Masters students and six PhD students to completion. Her proudest career moments aren’t her own doctorate or professorship. 

“Standing there, reading my first PhD student’s citation, and seeing them called ‘Doctor’, that was the moment I thought: this is why I do what I do.”

At its heart, her inaugural lecture embodies the ethos that has guided her life and career.  “You don’t get here on your own,” she stressed. “Many people have opened doors for me, walked alongside me, and shaped my path. Success is never just yours alone.”

Prof  Du Plessis's lecture challenges higher education to reevaluate its approach to leadership. “Too often, toxic cultures and authoritarian leadership choke growth. Real leadership isn’t about control or authority. It’s about creating the conditions where others can thrive.” And in that, Prof. du Plessis sees her life’s purpose. “I believe people are here with a purpose.  “If that purpose is fulfilled, it creates meaning not only for you but for those around you. That’s what flourishing is about.”