As women’s month is celebrated this August we feature 14 inspirational women on our front cover. Every one in her own way paves the way for transformation in our country. They desire equality and education for everyone and strive to make the world a better place.
While roles are indeed changing and more women are promoted to leadership roles, a lot of work still needs to be done. According to statistics, there were only 19 female elected presidents and prime ministers in the world in 2013. Only 4,6% of the Fortune 500 companies have a female as CEO. But while women continue to expand their roles in the business arena, they still need to be appreciated for the unique qualities and abilities they bring to the workplace.
Many successful people have something in common – strong-willed, hardworking and purpose-driven women surround them. It is through the influence and leadership of these women that values (and traditions) are maintained. Think of the strong women in your family – they probably all have natural leadership skills and seem to effortlessly manage, run and support everyone in the family.
They teach you that a woman’s instinct and emotional intelligence are often unparalleled – they effortlessly manage crises and change. And these are only some of the reasons that women often make great leaders – they have their finger on the pulse of what’s happening and because they have to negotiate an uphill road towards recognition in the workplace, women leaders see the world through a lens of opportunity.
The CA(SA) designation created opportunities for many of the women on our cover to take the first steps on their leadership journey. In turn, strong women inspired many of the 14 women to become the leaders they are today.
To quote Natalie Arendse: “Perseverance and self-belief can get you anywhere you want to go. The path is not easy, but then again, nothing worthwhile ever is. The end goal is definitely worth it.”
View behind-the-scenes videos of the cover photo shoot and individual interviews with each woman on your smartphone:
Step 1: Download the free Layar app for your iPhone or Android device.
Step 2: Look for pages with the Layar logo.
Step 3: Open the Layar app, hold the phone above the page, and “Tap to view”.
Step 4: Hold your phone above the page to view the interactive content.
Author: Gerinda Jooste
