Women have the potential to excel as chief executive officers in the corporate world just as they do in their households, according to a leadership expert at the Asia Development Bank.
Sarah Boxall conducted a four-day program in Suva for senior executive women aiming for corporate sector roles. The event, organized by the Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants, aimed to help women enhance their confidence, expand their business skills, and network with other senior women in the private sector.
Boxall, an expert in women’s economic empowerment at the Asia Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative, led the training program. Institute President Wiliki Takiveikata noted that the training boosted participants’ capacity to excel in their workplaces.
The training’s inaugural participants now possess practical tools to strategically advance their careers, Takiveikata said. “We hope they draw strength from the network established through the program and find motivation from the stories shared by guest speakers on career transitions, effective board operations, and other topics.”
The four-day program was delivered by Gina Houng-Lee and academic Nacaniela Rika and included 25 women from 15 different organizations. Boxall noted that Fiji is behind neighboring island countries in female leadership roles at the corporate level, hindering its full economic potential.
“This program is designed to prepare women for senior executive roles,” Boxall said. However, she acknowledged challenges such as organizational policies, workplace sexual harassment, and legislative and policy hurdles that prevent women from maintaining their jobs.