Women leaders on rise in corporate world

Pauline Dikuelo | Thursday March 9, 2017 15:28

According to an annual study conducted by Grant Thornton, it has emerged that in Botswana about 31% of senior roles in businesses are held by women this year, which is an increase from 23% that was recorded last year and the 16% in 2015. The global survey was conducted in 5,500 businesses across 36 economies.

Similarly the percentage of businesses with no women in senior management in the country has fallen from 33% in 2016 to 27% this year. This is almost half from the 45% measured in 2015.

According to the director corporate services, Grant Thornton Botswana Apama Vijay, companies in Botswana need to be more productive, more innovative in many ways if they are to grow.

“It is fantastic to see the participation of women in Africa particularly Botswana continuing to improve and grow and we hope that the bigger economies can learn from our example,” he said.

Further Vijay said the reason for lack of progress in developed regions are many and varied but their research uncovered a sense that the issue plateaued as companies perhaps assume the diversity challenge has been dealt with.

“Companies in Botswana today need to be more productive, more innovative and in many ways more open if they are to grow. Diversity, by getting more women in higher positions, will be key to their success. Those that remain closed are putting themselves at risk of not tapping into their full potential, and losing access to diversity of thinking,” he said.

The survey further stated that Africa is significantly ahead of the global average of 25% of senior roles held by women and 34% of business with no women in senior management. Globally Grant Thornton’s data shows the poorest performing individual countries are Australia and Ireland with just three percent senior roles held by women.

Thailand is at the top of the list of individual countries with 40% of senior roles held by women, where only 25% of businesses have no women in senior management. This is a significant contrast to the major economies of the G7, which have remained static at 22% of senior roles held by women and 39% of businesses with no women in senior management.

Results of the survey were released yesterday as the world celebrated international Women’s Day.