Women in Business Forum elects steering committee

The core women in business pioneers serving in the Ilembe Chamber Women In Business forum held a meeting at the Chamber office last Wednesday to elect its steering committee.

Executive Committee representative Jane Wiltshire addressed the ladies with an empowering motivational speech.

Wiltshire brought back memories for many of how it felt to be a woman in the work place, which was once the man's domain where women were seen as second-class citizens and never considered to be powerful drivers in the business machine.

“As a married female teacher, I was paid 25% less than the men, not allowed on the medical aid, not allowed on the pension fund and not allowed to get a housing loan. I was also on 24 hours' notice and could be fired within a day. Even when I was the most senior woman executive in the Tongaat-Hulett Group, I was not allowed to belong to the medical aid because I was married. Maternity leave was an almost unheard of benefit,” said Wiltshire.

Even with the advancements in the South African legislature and with SA liberal constitution having improved women's income and influence in business, Wiltshire and the members of the Women in Business forum believe there is still a need to support women in business. Not to gain special treatment or to be compensated for their previous disadvantages, but to help women realise their potential and see the abundant opportunities now on offer to them.

They aim to help women break down their own 'glass ceiling' they have constructed for themselves and motivate them to fight for what they deserve – just like men do.

“We have come a very long way but we still have far to go. We now have the responsibility and role to support and help other women to self-actualise. Women stifle their own opportunities and limit themselves. We have to liberate our own mindsets,” said steering committee member Nirasha Dhaniram.

“Men seek mentorship and give it too. We should find a mentor or mentors for ourselves and we should be mentors to other women who are less experienced than we are,” said Wiltshire.

Natalie Wocke, Glenda Thompson, Sue Boulle, Nirasha Dhaniram and Veronica O ' Dweyer were elected to the steering committee.