FREE TO READ | FM Women magazine

Given today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, celebrating female strengths and skills is not just a matter of social justice, but also a strategic imperative that can drive organisational success. Recognising and honouring the value women bring is crucial for creating an inclusive working environment that benefits everyone.

Women come with particular skill sets, and while it’s not wise to generalise, women do, for the most part, excel in areas such as emotional intelligence, collaboration and multitasking, which are increasingly important in modern workplaces. Emotional intelligence enhances communication and conflict resolution, fostering a positive and productive work culture for everybody. Collaborative skills enable women to build strong teams and encourage diverse viewpoints. Moreover, the ability to juggle multiple responsibilities with agility makes women adept at managing complex projects and adapting to changing circumstances.

Despite these strengths, women frequently face barriers that hinder their full participation and advancement in the workplace. Gender biases, unequal pay and limited access to leadership opportunities are persistent issues that need to be addressed. Creating an inclusive working environment that supports women involves more than just policy changes; it requires a cultural shift that values and promotes gender diversity at all levels of the organisation.

To cultivate such an environment, organisations must implement concrete measures. Fortunately, as you will read in these pages below, such measures are taking shape. The conversations that will drive change are being had, and reading through the content of 2024's FM Women, it is clear that corporate SA is making strides towards greater inclusivity.

Celebrating female strengths and skills and fostering inclusive working environments are essential for the sustained success and growth of any organisation. By continuing on the trajectory created by our female leaders interviewed for this edition, SA will be in a good position to lead the continent towards greater inclusivity, reaping all the benefit that a diverse workforce brings.

Lindi Botha, Editor