The Leadership Development Institute (formerly the Johnson & Johnson Leadership Development Institute) was originally established on the East London Campus of Rhodes University in 1988.

From its inception until 1995, the LDI’s primary focus was centered around a number of social action projects such as: Junior Rugby Development, Academic Support Programmes, Fine and Performing Arts Programmes, Tennis development and a Junior Leadership Development Programme.

In the mid 1990’s the Institute’s focus shifted towards addressing the imbalance of skills in the workplace environment and a series of highly innovative and internationally recognized transformational leadership programmes were designed in order to address the new challenges facing a democratic South Africa.  In addition to this a number of skills development programmes were developed which offer clients a unique learning experience.

The Institute is committed to the development of all sectors of the South African economy.  The action-based methodology adopted by the LDI has proven to be highly successful and the workplace-based projects result in immediate benefits for organizations.  Through this workplace-based learning, the Institute‘s projects attempt to broaden the knowledge bases of participants and to develop their capacity for strategic thinking in a rapidly changing national and global economic context.

The action-based methodology underpinning LDI courses have resulted in numerous and continuing publications in international research journals. The Institute regularly hosts international experts who make a significant contribution to the LDI’s courses as it strives towards being the preferred service provider of Short Courses / Workshops in the Eastern Cape.