In a world where bias is part of human nature and compounded by the words, beliefs and actions our society upholds, it is increasingly difficult to reshape perceptions around matters that are so deeply ingrained in our psyches. These matters manifest in the physical world and dictate how we measure each other’s worth.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day: ‘Break The Bias’ demands that we all look at how we collectively contribute to the internal and external biases that shape our society’s view of women. For Strathmore University Business School’s International Women’s Day Conference, the theme demanded we organise an event well worth the recognition and attention it deserves.
To observe this year’s theme, keynote speakers during the panel discussions were tasked to deconstruct certain instances they faced partisanship and how they overcame it. Women leaders endure a lot of bias in the workplace – whether from their colleagues attempting to undermine their attempts to advance their careers and take up leadership roles, to their own internal beliefs that they have battled with due to misguided socialization that defines girls and women as the “fairer gender” a term that connotes weakness and supports the theory that men are inherently stronger.
The problem with such terms is that they pigeonhole women as a group of weak, soft and delicate creatures unworthy of positions of power. We have seen how laws and value systems in place stemming from this belief have been enforced and are part of what we collectively call the patriarchy.
A woman leader requires resilience and grit to go through the motions of the workplace and the world at large. We have proved time and again that we are capable, we are committed, and we are just as good as our male counterparts, but sometimes this goes unnoticed. Our value is still so inextricably tied to associations of a nurturer, that the world forgets our multitudes.
These associations are rooted in early childhood socialization and contribute to the formation of bias. Dr. Anastasia Nyalita, CEO of the Kenya Healthcare Federation, credits her success to her parents – through their affirmation that antiquated traditional gender roles had no place in their household; this gave her the confidence to pursue a degree previously predominantly pursued by men – Pharmacy. Dr. Nyalita has excelled in the pharmaceutical industry because she has remained true to her values – refusing to fit in the prescribed mould that many women are foisted into. She has served in several leadership roles throughout her 20-year career; from Africa to Southeast Asia, sitting on various boards in both public and private sectors.
Annette Kimitei’s father – who she affectionately refers to as “Chairman”, founded Senaca East Africa in 2002 & it is now 20 years down the line, in its 2nd generation of management, with Annette at the helm as Managing Director. It was through her father’s encouragement that Annette joined the family business and rose through the ranks from administration, human resources, and now management.
Annette and her team have undergone international and local training (Annette and the Senaca management team are Strathmore University Business School alumni having completed several Executive Education programmes) to streamline operations, develop the board charter and family constitution, and establish the family counsel to assign clear demarcations for business operations.
Indeed, resilience and grit are cultivated during primary socialization. However, it takes more than positive affirmations to instil these characteristics; perhaps the biggest catalyst for this is failure. Failure and loss are two prevailing forces in everyone’s journey.
Sarah Karingi, CEO and Director of Sarma Holdings Limited has had her fair share of ups and downs, which have contributed to her overall success. The self-proclaimed “Queen of Networking” has held various leadership positions in both private and public sectors, received prestigious awards alongside women leaders, the likes of H.E. Margaret Kenyatta and C.S. Ambassador for Peace, Amina Mohammed. She is also a published writer with three titles to her name.
Sarah’s experiences battling bias from her male peers as well as taking up space as an outspoken leader has led her to where she is today.
According to her, the recipe for success is equal parts achievement and equal parts failure. After losing her husband, actively helping her son recover from alcoholism and watching her business go up in flames, financially setting her back significantly: she withstood it all and built it back stronger despite enduring challenges tough enough to break the strongest of us.
As women, we are more likely to experience gender-based discrimination by simply existing. As the tides are turning, we must reinforce the narrative of resilience and grit, and do away with tired associations framing us as the opposite. Fighting the bias requires a cultural reset, and for everyone to recognize, reward and acknowledge women’s accomplishments – beyond the surface level affirmative action campaigns currently attempting to level the playing field in our interpersonal and professional lives.
At SBS, we offer two women-themed Programmes; the Women in Leadership Programme and the Women Directors Leadership Programme.
About the Women Directors Leadership Programme
The Women Directors Leadership Programme (WDLP) is an incisive programme that aims at moving the focus from why women should be on boards and C-Suite positions to how they should perform for both board and leadership excellence. Learn more about this Programme here
About the Women in Leadership Programme
The Women in Leadership Programme is designed to address the needs of women in leadership to enable them to succeed as individuals, team leaders, and organizational visionaries. Learn more about this Programme here
Article by Katherine Keango
Would you like to share an article? Write to us at sbscommunication@strathmore.edu
Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!
Your journey to business excellence starts here. Subscribe today and be at the forefront of innovation and leadership.
