Last week, twenty-five women successfully completed the Senior Executive Women in Leadership Program, organized by the Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants (FICA) in collaboration with the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI).
The program, which took place in Suva over the span of two weeks, was designed for women in executive and senior management roles. Its objective was to empower participants by enhancing their confidence, knowledge of business operations, and networking capabilities with fellow senior women in the private sector.
During the graduation ceremony, Minister of Women, Children, and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya emphasized the program’s significance in enabling women to build networks and excel in leadership positions. “This support system is essential in overcoming barriers to career advancement and leadership roles,” Ms. Tabuya stated.
She expressed her enthusiasm for seeing the graduates ascend the leadership ranks, remarking on their potential to inspire others.
FICA President Wiliki Takiveikata underscored the importance of diversity in leadership, pointing out that it contributes significantly to innovation, profitability, and overall business success. “At FICA, we take pride in supporting Fijian women in pursuing leadership positions in business,” he noted.
Takiveikata also reinforced the connection between female leadership and enhanced business performance, advocating for more women in leadership roles across various sectors.
The participants hailed from mid- to senior-executive positions in both the private sector and government, with expertise in diverse fields such as finance, corporate management, risk management, and sales.
Sarah Boxall, an expert in the Economic Empowerment of Women at PSDI, acknowledged the partnership with FICA in launching this initiative. She cited findings from PSDI’s recent Leadership Matters report, which indicated Fiji’s progress in increasing women’s representation in business leadership, though more efforts are needed to meet regional standards.
“We hope that programs like this one can contribute to achieving Fiji’s vision of a more equitable corporate leadership landscape,” Boxall added.