According to the Africa CEO Forum poll, barely 5% of Africa’s prominent corporate CEOs are women. Even though firms with a majority of women on their boards generate operational profits over 20 percent greater than industry norms, the poll finds that women are underrepresented at the top of African corporations.
The continent’s firms employ 18% of males in senior positions, with just 29% filled by women. There are just three nations where women hold at least 50% of the ownership. Kenya, along with Uganda, Ethiopia, and Rwanda, lies in the 25-50% range. Countries with fewer than 25% female ownership involvement include South Africa, Nigeria, and Mauritius.
When it comes to holding high-level leadership positions, women may be discouraged for a variety of reasons: a lack of male spouse support, the widespread belief that leadership qualities are reserved for men, an absence of additional skills (such as experience, sponsorship, networking, and mentoring), and being forced to choose between work and family, with the overwhelming majority choosing family.
Women may rectify this flaw by being assertive in articulating their goals to become CEOs and acting accordingly, serving as role models for ambitious female managers and grads, participating in gender-based leadership development programs, and carefully selecting a partner.
