At The DaVinci Institute, we pride ourselves on transforming leaders to think and contribute to the society we live in. Our Master of Management in Technology and Innovation alumna, Anneline Lewies’s career is a remarkable example of how skills from one profession can enrich another. Beginning her professional journey as a social worker, she developed the ability to grasp complex information, assess situations with empathy, and resolve conflicts through both logic and compassion. These qualities laid the foundation for her later success in sports coaching and leadership.
Lewies possesses good interpersonal skills, excellent team work, and is very willing to learn and develop new skills.
“My experience as a social worker contributed to my ability to communicate well with people from all occupations. These attributes became invaluable as I transitioned into sport, where I have thrived as both a coach and a coach developer,” stated Lewies.
Netball at the Core
Sport has always been central to Lewies’s life. Although she participated in many sporting codes, netball captured her heart. A former player and South African umpire, she began coaching in 1984 and went on to coach across all four coaching domains: children, adults, talent, and high performance. Along the way, she also developed her leadership skills within Netball South Africa, where she served as an administrator and district leader.
Her professional growth accelerated when she completed an intensive coach developer training programme through the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). By 2014, she had qualified as a facilitator, assessor, and moderator, becoming part of the South African Coaching Framework. This formal grounding, combined with her passion, cemented her influence in the world of coaching.
Her election as an executive director at Netball South Africa marked a turning point. That role introduced Lewies to the pathways of coaching development, and it struck a chord with her to train and develop coaches.
“I went on to serve as Director of Coaching at Netball South Africa from 2011 to 2021 and now contribute as Vice-Chairperson of the South African Sports Coaching Association (SASCA),” she recalls.
Beyond Netball
Anneline’s impact has extended far beyond netball. She has collaborated with Tennis SA, Lifesaving SA, Cricket SA, Wrestling SA, SAFA, Athletics South Africa, and Swim South Africa, providing expertise in training, strategy, and consultation. Internationally, she has supported coaching development in Namibia and Kenya, even helping Namibia establish a national coaching system.
Her coaching has also produced results at the highest level; with athletes she mentored going on to represent South Africa in global championships. In addition, she serves as an educator at the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, reinforcing her commitment to ethical and values-driven leadership in sport.
Service and Leadership
Anneline’s leadership is not confined to sport. She has been a servant leader on several boards and committees dealing with child protection and welfare. These include coordinating provincial action plans for children in difficult circumstances, serving on child abuse liaison committees, and contributing to Gauteng’s child protection and treatment protocols. Her ability to serve in such diverse spheres reflects her deep sense of responsibility and transdisciplinary influence.
A Scholar at DaVinci
True to her philosophy of lifelong learning, Lewies seized the opportunity to study at The DaVinci Institute. Over five years, she embarked on what she describes as “a journey of finding myself and of living my dreams, but also inspiring others to pursue theirs.”
Through the DaVinci TIPS™ Model, she identified her niche helping other coaches harness their talents and passions to benefit athletes and communities. Her dissertation, Transformation of Elite Women Coaches within the South African Netball Context, underscored her conviction that elite coaching is not accidental.
According to Lewies, to become an elite women’s coach does not happen by default.
“Elite status must be earned through a culture and environment of being truly elite. She highlights the importance of coaching education, experience, continuous learning, and a growth mindset in overcoming barriers and reaching coaching excellence,” she stated.
Leading Through Change
Lewies’s leadership was especially evaluated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than letting challenges derail her work, she embraced the opportunity to adapt. She and her community of coaches, from grassroots to high performance, remained focused on growth and innovation.
“In serving not only the netball community during this time, but I was also able to reach out to other sports codes, helping them to pursue their dreams,” she explains.
Her vision of leadership is grounded in collaboration and innovation. She believes we should co-create meaning and add value to our working environment, involve people in conversations, engage in networks of culture, trust, and knowledge, promote experimentation, and celebrate accomplishments.
Towards a Global Vision
Looking ahead, Lewies envisions leaders as compassionate, ethical, and responsible global citizens who are also digitally adept. For her, the future of leadership lies in the ability to balance present realities with lessons from the past and possibilities for the future.
Her story is not only one of personal achievement but also of collective empowerment. From social work to sports coaching, from grassroots initiatives to international consulting, she exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose, empathy, and vision. Her journey continues to inspire others to find their niche, embrace learning, and turn challenges into opportunities.
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