There is no reason women can’t achieve the same level of success in the corporate world as they do in their households, according to a leadership expert at the Asia Development Bank.
Sarah Boxall recently led a four-day program in Suva aimed at senior executive women aspiring to work in the corporate sector. This program, organized by the Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants, was designed to help women build confidence, expand their skill sets and business knowledge, and establish networks with other senior women in the private sector.
Sarah Boxall, an expert in the economic empowerment of women at the Asia Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative, spearheaded the training. The president of the Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants, Wiliki Takiveikata, stated that the training significantly enhanced the participants’ ability to thrive in the workplace.
The participants, who were the pioneers of this training, now have practical tools to strategically advance their careers, Takiveikata noted. “We hope they draw strength from the network they will establish through the program and be motivated by the stories our guest speakers will share on topics such as career transitions and effective board operations,” he added.
The program included training delivered by Gina Houng-Lee and academic Nacaniela Rika. Participation was limited to 25 women from 15 different organizations.
Ms. Boxall highlighted that Fiji lags behind neighboring island countries in terms of female leadership roles in the corporate sector, which impacts the country’s full economic potential. “This program is designed to help women reach senior executive roles,” she said. However, she pointed out that challenges such as organizational policies, workplace sexual harassment, and issues at the legislative and policy levels hinder women from retaining jobs.
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