Accra, Ghana//-The award-winning Group Chief Executive Officer of Hollard Ghana, Mrs Patience Akyianu has challenged women to rise above demotivating perceptions such as gender stereotypes to enable them achieve their full potential.
“Women have so much to bring to the table. Our greatest barrier to leadership is the mind. Let’s push above the unconscious bias and be intentional in dealing with the consequences of it.”
Mrs Akyianu was speaking at a virtual event organised by Vivo Energy Ghana, the marketers and distributors of Shell branded products and services to mark this year’s International Women’s Day.
Touching on the theme- ‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world’, she said conversations on gender equality should focus on how women can flourish under any circumstance.
According to her, gender equality is achievable when individuals change their perceptions and #ChooseToChallenge the status quo.
Achieving an equal future in a covid-19 world would require women to invest and acquire skills that would position them competitively, be tech-savvy, visionary, and ready to sacrifice their comfort zones and be strategic leaders. “When you flawlessly execute, gender does not matter”, Mrs Akyianu, said.
On his part, the Managing Director of Vivo Energy Ghana, Ben Hassan Ouattara re-echoed his call for more women in leadership roles, saying women are transformational leaders who are able to turnaround challenging situations and should be encouraged to aspire to the top.
He acknowledged that there might be challenges hindering the growth of some women into leadership positions. However, women must challenge perceptions that demotivate them from aspiring to the top.
“I encourage them to stay confident and trust in their capabilities”, adding that “failure is part of success; when you fail, you learn and grow”, Mr Ouattara said.
African Eye Report
