Empowering women key to growth, says Stanbic chief
STANBIC Bank says it continues to recognise that empowering women is crucial to driving Zambia’s economic growth and development, as the firm leverages on its Anakazi Banking proposition to support women entrepreneurs.
According to the Stanbic Bank Chief Executive, Mwindwa Siakalima, the Anakazi Banking proposition had been playing a significant role in empowering women entrepreneurs since its introduction in 2017.
This, Mr Siakalima pointed out, had been done by providing them with increased access to finance and capacity-building activities, such as training, mentorship and networking events.
He noted that these were meant to build knowledge in business management and increase access to markets.
He said this during the 2024 Anakazi Networking Gala Dinner in Lusaka recently, as the bank celebrated the International Women’s Month.
“We continue to recognise that empowering women is crucial to driving economic growth and the development of our country. Designed by women for women, our Anakazi Banking proposition was created specifically to address gender inequality,” Mr Siakalima said.
He noted that Stanbic had made significant strides in narrowing the gender gap that existed within its workforce to empower women and ensure its financial services were more responsive to the market.
Mr Siakalima said the bank’s workplace policies had begun to bear fruit in addressing gender bias and promoting equal opportunities for women to lead.
“The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day resonates deeply with Stanbic Bank. For years, we have championed this cause and we remain steadfast in our commitment to it. I will give you an example on what we are doing, as Stanbic Bank, in terms of equality and ensuring that this bias is not there at Stanbic.
“In our strides for equality, we are sitting, as an Executive Committee, at 58 percent women. At senior management-level, we have got 41 percent, so out of every 10 people in that category, four are women and we are on a journey,” Mr Siakalima said.