IT'S ABOUT CELEBRATING THEIR GIFTS, ACHIEVEMENTS

In keeping with Women's Day here in South Africa - Have a happy one!

It's about celebrating their gifts, achievements
Katleho Khoaele

08 August 2007 at 11h00

Thursday is Women's Day, the day that honours the mothers, women, and nurturers of the country. Women play an essential role in the development of our country, in both society and business. They are the solid foundation of families and communities and society as a whole. So, it is only fitting that we celebrate and acknowledge their achievements in the workplace.

For many years, women have struggled to get leadership roles at work. Many have been turned down for promotion because they are not "man enough" to handle a company. Shirley Zinn, president of the Institute of People Management and head of HR at Nedbank, says Women's Day is an important celebration, recognising significant efforts and contributions that women have made. "This day is a reminder to us of the work that still needs to be done in breaking down the barriers and prejudices facing women in our country, especially in places of work and in communities," she says. Yes, there is so much to celebrate, but we also need to address the challenges that woman are still faced with in the workplace, Zinn says. "There are many barriers and prejudices facing the advancement of women in the workplace."Many people don't realise that behind most women who hold leadership positions lies a struggle. People often see the glory and don't realise how much hardship led to that success."

Zinn is a good example of a woman who knows what she wanted out of life. Struggles and hardships did not keep her from dreaming big. She was born and bred in the Cape Flats, surrounded by gang life. Her family was not financially stable, but she had a good support structure. She managed to build a life for herself, despite her background. "There was very little opportunity for anyone, but particularly not for women, to rise above such circumstances," says Zinn. She is living evidence of what is possible under seemingly impossible circumstances. Being the HR director of a big company is a huge responsibility, and it comes with its challenges.

This is a job where one has to deal with different kinds of people: it is certainly a job that requires a strong-minded person who is not afraid of what comes her way. An HR director has a big influence on many people, but Zinn feels that her job is a calling, and that it is a privilege to be able to have an opportunity to truly make a difference. "Many women still find themselves in junior positions, however, that is slowly changing," she says. "With the government's support, we have slowly witnessed changes that give equal leadership opportunities to both men and women," Zinn says. "This is not entirely reflected in the corporate sphere, where women still have a long way to go."One cannot celebrate Women's Day without referring to the notion of women empowerment. This is a relatively new concept, and it has its challenges.

"We have made strides in the empowerment of women with the help of the legislation," says Zinn, "but we still have a long way to go. We live in a country where there is the problem of skills shortages. "It is not a good idea to ignore the talent that sits with women and the contribution they can make towards relieving the skills shortages." It is also important for business to understand that women have huge spending power, Zinn points out. "You cannot ignore half of your market; your customers must reflect demographics."

Another woman who has made strides in the corporate world is Mona Zwambila, managing director of the Communications Firm, a PR agency."For me, Women's Day is about celebrating women, their achievements and what women have contributed to this country, Zwambila says." The day must, however, be seen against the backdrop of the women still being marginalised in this country. It's about acknowledging what women have always been able to do but, because of circumstances, they have been denied the opportunities to do."Fortunately for Zwambila, the kind of industry that she works in is mainly female-orientated, so most of the leadership roles are occupied by women. This, of course, is a good thing simply because women have been denied such opportunities in the workplace and have been oppressed for too long. Hence, the need to celebrate Women's Day! "The challenge in a female-dominated industry like PR is that women struggle with the balance between being a mother and a manager," Zwambila adds.

While the introduction of BEE legislation has certainly brought about positive changes, there are still challenges, Zwambila believes. "Women empowerment is not being equally applied everywhere and women in the rural areas are being left behind." Another woman business leader, Maria Kok, the marketing manager at Primedia Outdoor, believes one of the issues that still needs to be addressed is cultural differences in the workplace. "People do not always understand why one behaves in a particular way, so they might view that as unprofessional. Women, in particular, suffer because of this." Another challenge relates to the age gap. "Women in leadership roles are often put in charge of colleagues who are older than them. Their situation is made more difficult by this, as some people battle to take instructions from someone younger, and more so if she is a woman. "Women have the innate ability to nurture and sometimes that can be used to their advantage in the workplace, says Kok. "The leadership role requires a person to be firm and strong-minded, and often the more aggressive approach has been encouraged. "Women don't have to imitate aggressive men, but need to use their own unique feminine qualities in the workplace."Women also have the ability to multi-task, Kok points out. "We are better at interpersonal communication skills because we have a soft side," concludes Kok.