Absa Group proudly partnered with the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) to sponsor the first-ever Absa-SACCI Women-in-Business Directors Training Programme, which ran from July 5 to August 2, 2024, and successfully saw ten women complete the course.
Conducted by the Institute of Directors South Africa, the board training programme was designed to identify and cultivate women with the potential to excel in board positions, equipping them with essential knowledge and skills to thrive as successful business leaders and board members. The curriculum covered key areas such as governance, strategic planning, ethics, compliance, and risk management.
This training comes at a critical time as South Africa continues to face challenges in achieving gender parity in business, particularly at the board level. The 2023 Status of Gender on JSE-listed Boards report revealed an increase in female board representation to 32% from 23% in 2017. The representation on unlisted company boards is likely even lower, though data is not available.
Absa’s Lead Independent Director, Nonhlanhla Mjoli-Mncube, highlighted that supporting the Women-in-Business Directors Training Programme aligns with the Group’s commitment to positively impacting every aspect of its work. “This programme has allowed us to support not only the empowerment of women but also to enhance governance within our institutions and communities,” Mjoli-Mncube stated.
She emphasized the urgent need for focused efforts to increase the number of women decision-makers and female board leaders.
For this reason, Absa Group and SACCI are thrilled with the programme’s success and celebrated the first cohort of board trainees during Women’s Month. The event provided the candidates an opportunity to reflect on their experiences and share insights from the training, followed by a panel discussion on advancing gender equity and diversity in corporate boards.
