A decade of GWII! I can hardly believe it has been 10 years; it seems like just the other day the founding members met and collectively decided we wanted to do more for the women in our industry. Our simple vision at the time was to create a platform where women could connect and come together across all tiers, from the most junior employee to the CEO of the company. I clearly remember our first event, held at the Emerald offices. We thought we’d have around 50 people, and if I remember correctly, we had about 150 responses! It was a simple event, with just wine and snacks, but it was the beginning of something truly amazing. After that event, we realized that this was not only something our industry really needed, but also a chance to create something special.
I believe the formation of the GWII came at a pivotal point in our country and industry. Companies were looking to further transform and diversify from an employment perspective, and we had a unique opportunity to bring people together and promote the growth and development of women in our industry. For some junior people, this was their first opportunity to network and interact with their industry peers. Many attendees had never met in person the people they dealt with daily. Additionally, it gave people the chance to meet industry leaders—women who had walked their path and could relate to the many differences between men and women when it comes to career paths and the various obstacles, we, as women, face.
The last ten years have seen much evolution in the workplace, yet globally, statistics around gender bias have revealed no real improvement. The latest Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) report launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) shows that more than 40% of people worldwide still believe that men are better business executives than women, with women still occupying less than a third of managerial positions. Although women are more skilled and educated than ever before—and more educated than men in nearly 60 countries—the gender income gap is still close to 40% in favour of men. (If you’d like to read the full UNDP report, please find it online here).
There is certainly a lot more focus on the matters that affect women, not only in our industry and country but globally. However, there is still a long way to go to close the gap on gender bias and create truly diverse and respectful cultures where all people feel empowered and given equal opportunities.
I have faith that the GWII will continue to evolve and grow as the workplace environment continues to change. By giving women the opportunities to grow and develop through mentorship and networking, the initiative to further their studies and skills, the courage to take advantage of leadership opportunities, and the voice to encourage others to pursue their dreams, we can make a difference.
The GWII has evolved so much since that first event, and I am so proud to have been part of the journey. Although I may be further away now in terms of geography, my heart will always remain with South Africa and the GWII.
Carla Jordan
CEO: Santam Specialist Business Limited UK
Head: International Business Development