Women in the boardroom: more than a number

At a time when gender inequality in the workplace persists, women need to be recognised as more than a number, more than a quota,

As a woman in a position of leadership, I am not naive about the kinds of discrimination we face in the corporate world. But I believe that women’s full participation in leadership at all levels of the economy remains an imperative. Today, women account for 47.7% of the global workforce. Yet only 27.1% of women are managers and leaders. This is despite the fact that research shows companies with more women leaders experience increased inclusivity, innovation and a stronger financial performance.

There’s no denying the impact and benefits that substantial representation brings to the organisation. But there’s still considerable work to be done to ensure greater inclusion, acceptance and participation in leadership positions.

This goes beyond hiring the legislatively-determined number of women to fit a quota. It comes down to empowering women in corporate environments to own their role, their voice and their potential to enact change.

I believe that now more than ever, the opportunity to reap the rewards of an inclusive and equal environment is ripe. That's why at MultiChoice Africa we are quite intentional when it comes to creating a more inclusive environment for all to thrive.

#EmbraceEquity

I am determined to not hire women just for the sake of meeting a quota or having greater representation on our books – that is not the progress we want to see. We aspire to be at the forefront of gender equity, attracting women who will contribute to the strategic mandate of our business.

In line with this year’s theme of International Women’s Day, we’re focussed on embracing equity within our own sphere of influence. It’s our mission to challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias and seek out inclusion.

We are pioneering several inclusive initiatives that intentionally work to create a fair and equal world. These programmes have been designed to offer education, upskilling and bursaries that aim to accelerate the advancement and professional growth of women across the Group.

We have launched a compulsory elearning module on diversity, equality and inclusion across all levels of the organisation from interns to Exco.

This course shines a light on blind spots that people typically tend to overlook, like pay gaps and women’s role in the workplace, as well as the greater societal impact of equality.

We also actively track and interrogate hiring, retention and attrition stats across our business to check for any unconscious bias and blind spots that exist and needs eliminating.

All our Exco members have a bonus objective on diversity and inclusion to ensure female representation is realised and specifically at the right levels. This demonstrates just how much value we place in the upliftment of women.

We also aim to foster internal opportunities for women to grow and further their careers.

This is apparent through our bursary allocations, employment and development investments, as well as the MultiChoice Talent Factory opportunities for female film-makers.

I am also passionate about mentorship and sponsorship opportunities for young women looking to unlock their talent and potential, so they too can grow and work to break down gender biases.

Empowered women

But the true impact of greater female representation can only be reaped when women feel empowered to be their authentic selves. It’s not just up to the business to cultivate an environment where women can thrive – women need to have a hand in creating the world they want to see.

As a woman, I believe in our innate power to drive change. I believe we have great traits which come naturally to us as women like ability to nurture, groom and grow.

These skills are increasingly becoming sought after in leaders, and we should leverage them.

I also believe women should never feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness and that they can’t cope. I can’t tell you how beneficial and timesaving it is to put up your hand and ask for help.

While I have no doubt that women can figure out any task on their own, the point is that you don’t always have to. Others have come before you and can support you as you grow.

So, go out there, make your voice and opinions heard – but always remember to show up prepared. That builds credibility and allows you to speak with great conviction. Don’t leave room to second guess yourself.

Another piece of advice I have for women championing equality is to remain accountable. We’re all human: we’re bound to make mistakes, but true integrity comes from owning up to your mistakes.

Doing so will show the people around you that you are worthy of trust, a reliable member of the team and a person that can be depended on during tough times.

Lastly: never doubt your ability to change the narrative. While sometimes you might feel that you must work twice as hard as your male counterparts to achieve the same results or recognition, you have undeniable power to create the culture you would like to see.

While the imperative to drive true gender equality might be a long and difficult road to travel, it must be done for the benefit of all.

Ensuring greater inclusion, acceptance and participation in leadership positions goes beyond hiring the legislatively-determined number of women to fit a quota