PURPOSE year ’ s International Women ’ s Day , and an issue she describes as being “ pervasive and often unnoticed ”.
It ’ s an issue she herself has faced , in the US and in Africa , when , as a young , African woman in America she was promoted to CFO age 24 , and was subsequently treated by some with insubordination and condescension . In Africa , where patriarchal norms persist and gender equality lags , the challenges are greater still , challenges Awamary addresses as part of The Woman Boss , with strategies focused on helping women overcome obstacles to advancement .
“ We mentor women on how to communicate their desires , goals , and to ask for what they deserve ,” says Awamary . “ We teach them how to advocate for other women too , for things such as benefits for mothers , paid vacations , and on influencing other policies within an organisation .
“ We are intentional about nurturing and building the next generation of women leaders in Africa ,” says Awamary . “ We intentionally focus on innovative ways to make entrepreneurship flourish , giving women access to the technology needed to grow their business ”
But some of the challenges cannot be overcome by mentoring of women alone , including the lack of support and resources available for women .
“ African women lack resources . Most women in The Gambia do not have collateral to access loans for their business because the majority of assets are owned by men . We need more assistance from corporations .”
It ’ s these challenges , along with having two daughters herself , and a son , that are Awamary ’ s driving force in the empowerment of women – because when women are empowered , they thrive .
“ When more women are given a position of power , they shine , but there just aren ’ t enough women making it to senior leadership roles ”
Awamary Lowe-Khan The Woman Boss
“ When more women are given a position of power , they shine , but there just aren ’ t enough women making it to senior leadership roles . We need to ensure that women are around the tables where decisions are being made .”
She ’ s not wrong . African women are barely present in leadership circles , where 95 % of CEOs in the continent are men , according to McKinsey , and women hold just 12.7 % of the board seats in Africa ’ s top-listed companies , according to data from the African Development Bank .
And yet the argument for women in leadership roles in Africa is compelling . Research from the IMF shows that countries ranked in the bottom 50 % for gender equality globally , among them large African economies like Ethiopia and Nigeria , could add a whopping 35 % to their economies by bringing more women into the workplace .
Considering that Africa is already home to six of the world ’ s 10 fastest-growing economies , and that by 2050 , one in eight people globally will be an African woman ,
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