Diversity

Ask organisations to consider gender balance as a challenge to be addressed, and they may not afford it the gravitas it deserves. Point out how diversity affects the bottom line, and they’ll be far quicker to respond. That’s because they’re likely to embrace a cause that directly impacts them.

So says Colleen Larsen, CE of Business Engage, an organisation that partners with the corporate sector to ensure gender issues remain on the agenda. Much as she acknowledges that change is needed, Larsen says that the Business Engage approach focuses on the road ahead, rather than the obstacles that may line it – they hone in on what they can do to create the necessary change. “For example, we don’t lament the lack of female CEOs. Instead, we ask if there are enough executive directors and board members to create a pipeline – and if the answer is no, we take steps to fi x this.”

Business Engage’s initiatives are a prime example of how the organisation is working to address these gaps. Understanding that many women lack the confi dence to discuss the topics debated at board level, it hosts workshops to help women build this confi dence. It also works to develop the connections that, in many instances, create the entry point to those boards.

“Gender is not a women-only issue, and conversations that perpetuate stereotypes only serve to emphasise the divide,” Larsen says.

By removing the stigma that may remain By removing the stigma that may remain around ‘women’s issues’, and drawing around ‘women’s issues’, and drawing attention instead to how gender attention instead to how gender affects business performance, it affects business performance, it becomes possible to choose a becomes possible to choose a direction for the business and then direction for the business and then identify how it can achieve this goal. identify how it can achieve this goal.

Then, the business must Then, the business must adhere to this strategy with adhere to this strategy with unerring consistency. “This unerring consistency. “This transforms the issue of gender transforms the issue of gender balance from a box-ticking balance from a box-ticking exercise to something exercise to something that inspires corporates because corporates because they can see how it they can see how it benefi ts them. benefi ts them.

“We don’t mind “We don’t mind if change doesn’t if change doesn’t happen quickly – in happen quickly – in fact, we prefer that fact, we prefer that because it’s when because it’s when change is slow change is slow that it becomes that it becomes sustainable. It’s sustainable. It’s not a revolution, not a revolution, it’s a Quevolution it’s a Quevolution (quick evolution),” (quick evolution),” Larsen says. Larsen says.

Colleen Larsen Ntombi Mhangwani

THE GENDER AGENDA

Business Engage

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Voices of Change

Is gender equality possible? And how close are we to accomplishing it? LISA WITEPSKI weighs in on the gender balance conversations being held around boardroom tables

POLICIES ARE NOT ENOUGH

Ntombi Mhangwani, director for Integrated

Marketing and Communications, and Marketing and Communications, and Women’s Forum lead at Accenture Women’s Forum lead at Accenture Africa, is less sanguine about the Africa, is less sanguine about the change that has taken place in the change that has taken place in the area of gender balance – but, she area of gender balance – but, she says, it is inevitable that wins are says, it is inevitable that wins are tempered with losses. “This will be tempered with losses. “This will be an ongoing battle,” she concedes, an ongoing battle,” she concedes, pointing to the regression that has pointing to the regression that has taken place during the COVID-19 taken place during the COVID-19 pandemic as proof: research pandemic as proof: research shows that the crisis has shows that the crisis has reversed gender equality by reversed gender equality by 51 years. “We have to be 51 years. “We have to be realistic, there will always realistic, there will always be a new crisis offsetting be a new crisis offsetting the gains we make. With the gains we make. With this acknowledgement this acknowledgement comes another: we are comes another: we are unlikely ever to reach unlikely ever to reach a point where we can a point where we can claim to have reached claim to have reached a perfect state of a perfect state of gender equality.” gender equality.” Mhangwani Mhangwani believes that one of believes that one of the major obstacles the major obstacles hindering progress is hindering progress is the disconnect between discussions and action. In other words, while it is certainly encouraging that policies are in place, it would be far more heartening if they were supported by action. “That’s why I am proud of the initiatives undertaken by my own organisation. Accenture’s approach to gender is holistic, ranging from mentoring, coaching and training to checking communication such as advertising and CVs for signs of gender bias. And, at all times, we ensure that men are included so that this isn’t a one-sided conversation. The thinking is that equality makes for a healthy culture, which in turn encourages greater productivity, innovation and, ultimately, increased profi tability.”

Her answer for greater female advancement? “I get very excited when I see female political leaders. Even more than corporate leaders, they have a platform for setting an agenda and creating change because they appear in the media so often. When women see this, they realise that they, too, can take on positions of power. However, I feel that our female political leaders need to use their power wisely – they need to push for initiatives such as creating shadow jobs for women, for instance. They have the responsibility to lift others as they rise,” Mhangwani concludes.

Helping grow women-led Helping grow women-led businesses in SA businesses in SA

INcelebration of International Women’s Day, we are proud to have received an honourable mention as the ‘best bank for women entrepreneurs’ by the Global SME Finance awards in 2021 for all the work we do in supporting women-led businesses. It is humbling and rewarding knowing that we were able to help grow more women entrepreneurs in South Africa. As of June 2021, FNB Business has a base of over 240 thousand women-led businesses with an asset base of over R33billion in our portfolio.

‘The goal is to help grow more women entrepreneurs and we are doing exactly that.’

Given historical gender inequalities and socio-economic norms, women often do not have the means to start a business. In response to these challenges we created programs that focus on providing women-led businesses the necessary tools and training to help them start, run and grow their businesses. The goal is to grow more women entrepreneurs and we are doing that through help.

Help is business education…

Through our online learning business coach Fundaba, and sponsored entrepreneurial courses, we have empowered women entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to successfully lead and manager their companies. We also created a business talk hub that not only provides relevant information and tools, but also partners with organisations that specifi cally support women-led businesses in order to help educate them on their journey.

Help is access to networks…

We offer networking events and opportunities that open up access to markets and networks specifi cally for women entrepreneurs. We also partner with women-focused organisations through sponsorship and/or non-fi nancial support. We want to raise awareness on the fi nancial opportunities women entrepreneurs have access to with FNB.

Help is innovation…

We are currently embarking on a new partnership with the Cape Institute of Innovation and Technology to support 30 women from rural communities to become tech-enabled. Understanding the power of social media we also launched a podcast series called “She means Business” aimed at inspiring and motivating more women to start businesses, which can be accessed on our FNB social channels, as well as Spotify and the Business Talk hub on the FNB App and website.

Help is support…

The support given to these women has helped many of them pivot their businesses in this pandemic and become more digitally enabled to not only survive but succeed. During this time R295 million was deployed to more than one thousand womenled businesses through the government-backed COVID-19 loan scheme and we helped administer SAFT loans to the value of R35 million for 430 women-led businesses, supporting over 3100 jobs.

For more information on how to get help to grow your women-led business, contact your business manager.

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