Women, as the chief executive officers of their households, have the potential to achieve the same status in the corporate world, according to a leadership expert from the Asia Development Bank.
Sarah Boxall led a four-day program in Suva for senior executive women with aspirations to join the corporate sector. Organized by the Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants, the program aimed to help women build confidence, expand their skill sets and business knowledge, and establish networks with other senior women in the private sector.
Ms. Boxall, an expert in the economic empowerment of women at the Asia Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative, emphasized the importance of such training.
Institute President Wiliki Takiveikata noted that the training had significantly boosted the capacity of participants to excel in their workplaces. “The pioneers of this training now possess practical tools that can be used strategically to advance their careers,” he said. “We hope they will draw strength from the network established through the program and be motivated by the stories shared by our guest speakers on career transitions, operating effectively in a board setting, and other relevant topics.”
The training, delivered by Gina Houng-Lee and academic Nacaniela Rika, was attended by 25 women from 15 different organizations.
Ms. Boxall pointed out that Fiji lags behind neighboring island countries in female leadership roles at the corporate level, which hampers the country from reaching its full economic potential. “This program is designed to guide women to senior executive roles,” she said. However, organizational policies, workplace sexual harassment, and legislative and policy challenges remain obstacles that prevent women from retaining their jobs, she added.