Reaping the rewards of true gender diversity While gender diversity remains a high priority in South Africa, it seems as though we are moving backwards. According to a research report by Grant Thornton, released earlier this year, less than a quarter of senior management positions in South Africa are held by women. What is even more concerning is that this figure (23%) is down from last year’s 27% and is lower than the average achieved between 2004 and 2015. The report, Women in business: Turning promise into practice, further highlights that among the 200 South African companies surveyed, 39% have no women in leadership positions. What is corporate South Africa doing wrong? According to the World Economic Forum, there is mounting evidence that by reducing gender inequality companies and countries can enhance productivity and economic growth. That said, for many organisations, this is yet to become a priority. “We believe that gender diversity has to be part of an organisation’s DNA in order for women focussed initiatives to succeed,” says Grace Dipale, Chief of Human Resources at Telkom Business Connexion. “Unless you create an environment that is supportive and enables women to thrive, the true impact of your initiatives will be limited.” It is also critical that the entire organisation supports gender diversity initiatives and that this is not limited to women only. “When all employees understand and embrace the value of a diverse workplace made up of both talented men and women who are from different races and age groups, you are able to unlock a far greater contribution by women in workplace,” she says. There is also a strong need for organisations to move beyond the perception that women cannot perform equally or in some instances even better than men in a business environment. I have had situations 4
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