GSB committed to advancing women in business

This Women’s Month, the UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) is focusing on the empowerment and promotion of women in business, and to this end will be hosting several events aimed at supporting women at all levels in the economy – from township entrepreneurs to corporate leaders.

In tough economic times, gender diversity in the workplace could make the difference between success and failure, says Dr Linda Ronnie, associate professor at the GSB.

“Gender diversity has been linked with creativity as well as increases in productivity and the bottom line. It helps organisations maintain a competitive edge,” she said. “It’s puzzling therefore that only 29% of senior roles in South Africa are held by women.”

“Women’s Month provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the success of women but also to hold each other accountable to push for more women in top roles throughout the economy so that we can break through the 29% mark,” said Kumeshnee West, director of executive education at the GSB.

“And while we know that there are many systemic issues to change, there is also much that we can change at a personal and interpersonal level to accelerate this shift.”

Sparking transformative impact

The first event, a “learning lunch” at the GSB Solution Space in Philippi on Wednesday, will host women leaders and entrepreneurs working in the communities of Philippi, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha, along with GSB students and alumni.

Ndileka Zantsi, the Solution Space programme coordinator, said that it is a fitting way to kick-start the GSB’s Women’s Month activities, because it speaks to the school’s ambition to spark transformative impact.

Established two years ago, the GSB Solution Space is the first official university site in a township community. It offers students and stakeholders a place to meet and engage beyond the traditional spaces of the university.

“The vision of the GSB Solution Space in Philippi is to be a catalyst in enabling an ecosystem for inclusive development across sectors ... so it is appropriate that we kick off Women’s Month with this focus on the empowerment of women working on the margins of the economy, who have a great deal to offer in terms of creativity, innovation and unique insights,” said Zantsi.

Scholarships on offer

Dr Judy Dlamini, founder of the Mbekani Group, will be sharing insights from her recent book on female leadership, Equal but Different, and as part of the event two scholarships for the GSB’s Developing Women in Leadership Programme, running at the school this month, will be awarded.

The programme is one of two short courses offered at the GSB which cater exclusively for women at different stages in their careers. The other is the Executive Women in Leadership Programme.

“These courses are transformative, and seek to give women the tools to build confidence, develop a leadership presence, and build relationships to help them better manage their various roles and responsibilities,” said West.

“We are thrilled to offer two women from the community of Philippi and surrounds a chance to join us on this year’s programme,” she added.

“We need to advocate for change, take steps to develop our skills and support each other. We need to be the change we want to see in the workplace.”

Other events

Other GSB events planned for Women’s Month include the Prominent Women’s Speaker Series in Johannesburg on 14 August and a discussion in Cape Town on 22 August headlined “Women’s Perspective: Business Disruption and the 4th Industrial Revolution”, where GSB alumni will share their experiences.

A highlight of the month is the annual, student-led Women in Business Conference on 17 August. All profits from this event are channelled towards a scholarship for a woman to study at the GSB.

The speakers, who include Professor Shirley Zinn, former group head of human resources at Woolworths; Mimi Kalinda, co-founder and MD of Africommunications Group; Makoma Lekalakala, director of Earthlife Africa; and Naadiya Moosajee, co-founder of WomEng, will address the theme: “From Passion to Action: Changing the world we live in”.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng will also be speaking at the conference.

“We believe it is symbolic that UCT’s new Vice-Chancellor – a woman at the top of her game – will be joining us at this special event,” said West.

Be the change

Dr Makgathi Mokwena, a therapist and leadership development expert who co-convenes the Developing Women in Leadership programme at the GSB, believes it is important that women don’t feel they need to wait until the system changes before they can advance.

“We don’t need to settle for being on the receiving end of a system that doesn’t serve us well,” she said.

“We need to advocate for change, take steps to develop our skills and support each other. We need to be the change we want to see in the workplace.”

Read more about the UCT Graduate School of Business’s Women’s Month events...