Women can seamlessly transition from being the CEOs of their households to leading in the corporate world, according to a leadership expert from the Asia Development Bank. Sarah Boxall recently conducted a four-day program in Suva aimed at senior executive women aspiring to corporate leadership positions.
Organized by the Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants, the program focused on helping women build confidence, enhance their skill sets and business knowledge, and establish professional networks. Ms. Boxall, who specializes in women’s economic empowerment through the Asia Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative, led the training sessions.
Wiliki Takiveikata, president of the Institute, highlighted that the training has substantially increased participants’ capacity to excel in their workplaces. He noted that the women who completed the program now possess practical tools that can strategically advance their careers. “We hope they draw strength from the network established through the program and are inspired by the stories shared by our guest speakers on career transitions and boardroom effectiveness,” he added.
The training was conducted by Gina Houng-Lee and academic Nacaniela Rika, with participation limited to 25 women from 15 different organizations.
Ms. Boxall pointed out that Fiji trails behind neighboring island nations in terms of female leadership roles at the corporate level. She emphasized that this shortfall hinders Fiji’s economic potential. “This program is designed to prepare women for senior executive roles,” she said. However, challenges remain in the form of organizational policies, workplace sexual harassment, and legislative hurdles, which can prevent women from retaining jobs.
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