Balancing the corporate board with women promotes inclusive growth
The W-Corporate Enlistment Awards were held to recognise the achievements and promote greater female representation in the corporate sector
March 29, 2017
She shined in the spotlight at the Pakistan Stock Exchange “W-Corporate Enlistment Awards,” and rightfully so; Sima Kamil will head one of the largest commercial banks in Pakistan from June 1, 2017.
Kamil will be the first woman to assume the position.
“It is very exciting and also overwhelming. I want to deliver and so I have to work very hard,” she said while talking to Geo News.
The award ceremony was held to recognise the achievements of women and in support of Women on Board (WOB) to further the cause of a greater female representation in Pakistan’s corporate sector. The awards were given on the finding of WOB’s annual research report “Women in Boardrooms”.
The report highlights 21 corporations that have appointed independent/unrelated women professionals on their boards. Although these numbers are not huge, women’s contribution to the corporate sector of the country has been increasing.
“If a woman can serve as the prime minister of this country, then nothing is surprising,” said head of Women on Board Pakistan Rahat Konain.
Women have headed Pakistan’s public sector enterprises in the past. Rahat believes Pakistan needs to have more women serving in similar capacities as it creates an enabling environment.
Increased representation of women promotes gender diversity in the workplace, promoting equality and a healthier work environment for women. “To me this essentially means bringing a balancing factor that not only empowers a company but also the economy, and that is certainly more important,” Rahat said.
The ceremony was attended by numerous high profile female executives of various companies—a small step towards the long journey of women empowerment.
Women on Board Pakistan in an initiative to promote representation of independent women professionals on the leading positions in the companies listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange. It aims to promote gender diversity, inclusiveness, and mainstreaming of able-minded and qualified women professionals at all levels of business and corporate leaderships.
