IN the 21st the world has witnessed a shift within the society of a rapid rise in women obtaining leadership positions that were conserved for men only in the past. However, women are still battling to have influence in the positions because they still need to prove themselves more than males.
For others, the situation has presented an opportunity for them to recognise what they need; competent mentorship from experienced women leaders.
This is because women understand the struggles they have been subjected to over the years better than men and therefore would be better mentors to young women leaders entering these career fields. Among them is the Non-Executive Director at various entities like the South African Nuclear Energy and Corporation (NECSA), Letlhologonolo Noge-Tungamirai who believes she would be far in her career if she had a female mentor when she started out.
“Most black women are unexposed to such careers. Therefore, we often do not see ourselves taking leadership positions and serving on boards, which results in us not owning ourselves in these spaces because we didn’t prepare for these roles. And that is why I think we need more women in executive positions, serving on boards and enabling young people to tap into their knowledge so they are prepared for the career,” Noge-Tungamirai says.
“Mentoring is leveraging experience. We need to create opportunities where a young Director that has just been appointed to serve on a board is able to connect with a more experienced and knowledgeable woman who is also serving on the board, in that way they will be empowered to become better directors. It is from that interaction that a transfer of skills will take place and further give confidence to more women to take up space, Noge-Tungamirai added.
“For example, there are issues where board members are put under a lot of pressure to sign documents and make decisions that they do not necessarily agree with. The lack of experience and knowledge can lead them to sign into things that go against what they believe in, which may cause catastrophic outcomes for them down the line. Another example worth mentioning is when you are seeing a board member being called to the Zondo Commission to account for decisions they did not apply their minds to nor believed in. and then we know how much work still needs to be done to prepare women for these tough situations that come with sitting on boards,” she says.
A total of 38% of female employees – in companies that have at least 30% women on their board – who have exposure to senior mentors believe they will make it to the board themselves, compared with 21% of women from companies under the 30% target.
According to Karen Blackett, Chair of MediaCom, a mentor assists your development through sharing their experiences and giving you foresight by saying: ‘these are the things I have come across in my life, situations that I have come across in my life and this is how I have dealt with these particular issues regarding my rights’ so having female mentors in an executive position is about helping young females entering the field to manoeuvre this maze of board directorships.
“In the boards we serve, there are board politics and a mentor would assist you to know how you should handle yourself when political topics and discussions are held and how to carry yourself in a situation where you are faced with difficult circumstances.”
“A lot of young black women may not be aware that being a board member comes with a lot of responsibilities and unlimited liability. A lot of us come in cold and we don’t know the risks that come with being a board member but when you have someone who has walked the path before you, they are able to give you a forewarning of some of the risks that come with such a role and you are then better prepared to take on the requirements and risks that come with the job. You then become a more confident Board Member.
“There’s bullying on boards, I have experienced them but because of my personality and confidence, I have been able to penetrate through the board and acquire more boards but also stand for what I believe in. I fought some of the backlashing I sometimes would and still get,” she said.
Noge-Tungamirai says over time she has gained more confidence because of certain courses she took to equip herself in order to know her rights.
