| Last month HP South Africa celebrated annual ‘Women’s Day’. Hundreds of HP women – from cleaners to secretaries to managers – came together for a breakfast meeting, to inspire each other, network and recognise each others’ achievements. The guest speaker was celebrity talk-show host Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu. Noeleen, who is also the director of the Women’s Development Consultancy, talked about the role women can play in the political and economic growth of South Africa.
Later Thoko Mokgosi-Mwantembe, who has been CEO of HP South Africa since 2004, hosted a lunch with partners, such as Nokia and Oracle, at which $12,000 was raised in a charity auction for the organisation ‘People Opposing Women Abuse’ (POWA).
|
| Thoko Mokgosi-Mwantembe, CEO of HP South Africa, with her guests from Government, Provincial Government and Public Sector |
| Recognising women Thoko, as one of a few female chief executive officers in South Africa, spoke of the challenges women face to see their work recognised.
“All industries in South Africa are male dominated,” she said. “So as a woman you have to work twice as hard. You also have to find the balance between your different roles: executive, mother and wife.”
Thoko has recently been named Top ICT Business Woman in Africa. We asked her what it felt like to be a role model.
She explained: “It’s a great responsibility, but also an honour. I think we need to celebrate the uniqueness women bring to business. People expect you to behave like a man, but you need to stay true to yourself. I get the job done my way.”
“You don’t have to smoke a cigar, swear or kick down doors to get ahead as a woman. Make sure you don’t sell your soul in the process.”
This year women across South Africa commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the march on Pretoria, when 20,000 women opposed the extension of pass laws to black women. Thoko challenged the audience: “Our mothers and grandmothers fought for our liberation – what are we fighting for?” Thoko also talked about the significance of education, not just at work, but in the home. Economic growth should happen in a safe, secure and conducive environment she explained, where children can be educated to build the skills set needed to take part in the growth of our country. |
 |
| Thoko giving her speech at the Summer Place luncheon |
| Diversity at HP With 36 percent of the staff population being women, HP South Africa is leading the way on diversity. Women are encouraged to work side by side and to support and motivate each other. Programmes are also in place to support other women, through mentoring, coaching and sharing experiences.
HP South Africa has been nominated as one of the finalists for ‘the most gender empowered companies in South Africa’ with regard to black economic empowerment. HP is very proud to have been nominated for this with staff feeling more and more positive. The winner will be announced later this year.
But Thoko doesn’t see diversity as a work stream in itself. “Diversity isn’t a separate exercise, it should be part of the way we do business,” she said.
HP South Africa has also just joined the South Africa Businesswomen’s Association, to increase opportunities to network with other business women, to learn and to mentor each other. Thoko added: “This is a great opportunity to build on the success and inspiration of the Women’s Day.”
|
|
|
Global Citizenship Reports 2006 (*) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Printable version
