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I’ve noticed that more of our clients are women, and am pleased to report that the General Manager of Carling Black Label – the largest beer brand (by volume) in South Africa – is a woman.
So while it's heartening to see how women in South Africa are climbing up the corporate ladder and taking their rightful place alongside men in business, I can’t help but wonder why – according to a year on year census conducted by the Business Women’s Association for the last 8 years – women are still underrepresented in business.
Scanning the landscape
The latest census shows a mere 0.1% increase in women in top corporate roles. Here are some other key findings from the census:
• Companies with 25% or more director positions and 25% or more executive management positions held by women decreased from 41 in 2010 to 37 in 2011.
• The number of companies that have 0% females in director positions and executive manager positions increased from 26 in 2010 to 27 in 2011.
• The number of Executive Managers has increased steadily over the past three years, from 18.6% in 2009, to 19.3% in 2010, and 21.6% in 2011. The number of Directorships increased in 2010 from 14.6% to 16.6% in 2010, but decreased for the current reporting period to 15.8%.
• The number of female Chairpersons was 5.8% in 2009 and increased to 6.0% in 2010, but decreases to 5.3% in 2011. CEOs/MDs decreased by 0.1% in 2011 from 4.5% in 2010 to 4.4% this year.
Gender comparison
A direct comparison of men versus women in the upper echelons of the workforce portrays a stark reality. Women are clearly in the minority amongst their male counterparts.
• Women hold only 4.4% of CEO/MD positions, 5.3% of Chairperson positions, and 15.8% of all Directorships. There was a significant decrease in the number of women in executive management positions, from 2 827 in 2010 to 1 461 in 2011.
• The number of companies with 25% or more board seats occupied by women directors remained constant at 70 for the 2011 reporting period.
• Women hold a total of 18 Board Chairperson positions, with 11 Chairs being JSE companies, and 7 being SOE’s.
• The number of women CEO’s has remained constant since the last reporting period at 15.
• There is a higher percentage of female executive managers in Alt-X companies (27.5%) than on the Main Board (20.8%).
Do you think gender stereotypes with influence the workplace? Why do you think it's so difficult for females to climb the corporate ladder?
So while it's heartening to see how women in South Africa are climbing up the corporate ladder and taking their rightful place alongside men in business, I can’t help but wonder why – according to a year on year census conducted by the Business Women’s Association for the last 8 years – women are still underrepresented in business.
Scanning the landscape
The latest census shows a mere 0.1% increase in women in top corporate roles. Here are some other key findings from the census:
• Companies with 25% or more director positions and 25% or more executive management positions held by women decreased from 41 in 2010 to 37 in 2011.
• The number of companies that have 0% females in director positions and executive manager positions increased from 26 in 2010 to 27 in 2011.
• The number of Executive Managers has increased steadily over the past three years, from 18.6% in 2009, to 19.3% in 2010, and 21.6% in 2011. The number of Directorships increased in 2010 from 14.6% to 16.6% in 2010, but decreased for the current reporting period to 15.8%.
• The number of female Chairpersons was 5.8% in 2009 and increased to 6.0% in 2010, but decreases to 5.3% in 2011. CEOs/MDs decreased by 0.1% in 2011 from 4.5% in 2010 to 4.4% this year.
Gender comparison
A direct comparison of men versus women in the upper echelons of the workforce portrays a stark reality. Women are clearly in the minority amongst their male counterparts.
• Women hold only 4.4% of CEO/MD positions, 5.3% of Chairperson positions, and 15.8% of all Directorships. There was a significant decrease in the number of women in executive management positions, from 2 827 in 2010 to 1 461 in 2011.
• The number of companies with 25% or more board seats occupied by women directors remained constant at 70 for the 2011 reporting period.
• Women hold a total of 18 Board Chairperson positions, with 11 Chairs being JSE companies, and 7 being SOE’s.
• The number of women CEO’s has remained constant since the last reporting period at 15.
• There is a higher percentage of female executive managers in Alt-X companies (27.5%) than on the Main Board (20.8%).
Do you think gender stereotypes with influence the workplace? Why do you think it's so difficult for females to climb the corporate ladder?
