Issue No. CCX; July 19, 2013
THIS ISSUE’S HIGHLIGHTS:
I. HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE NEW ECONOMY: ADVICE FROM THE CEO FORUM AT THE 2013 GLOBAL SUMMIT OF WOMEN
II. CWDI OPENS BURSA MALAYSIA; NEXT UP FRANKFURT, GERMANY
III. U.S. IS #1 COUNTRY FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, ACCORDING TO NEW STUDY
IV. PHUMZILE MLAMBO-NGCUKA TO LEAD UN WOMEN
I. HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE NEW ECONOMY: ADVICE FROM THE CEO FORUM AT THE 2013 GLOBAL SUMMIT OF WOMEN
Four women CEOs from four different economies, who were gathered at the 2013 Global Summit of Women in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last month gave useful advice on “Matching Skills for the New Economy”, that will enable women to navigate changing markets and environments and to succeed in doing so. There was surprising agreement among them as to what’s necessary to move ahead.
- Mercedes Erra, the Founder of BETC and Executive President of Havas Worldwide, a leading French marketing and communications firm, stressed the importance of developing technological and scientific skills regardless of the industry in which a woman is working. According to Erra, any woman currently in the workforce should ensure that her skills are current, as navigating the new economy requires one to be tech savvy. Promoting the development of these skills amongst female students and younger colleagues will also ensure robust participation from women in the economies of the future.
- Critically, the new economy is a “connected era,” and women should make full use of these connectivities to thrive professionally, according to Parnsiree Amatayakul, CEO of IBM Thailand. The sharing of information and what others are able to gain from connecting with other individuals’ knowledge and skills are what truly drive the new economy, she stated. She emphasized the importance of collaboration, and noted that social sharing should be central to any pursuit of personal and professional growth. To hear Parnsiree Amatayakul discuss social sharing further, view the video below (or visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3phvN7jnvb8)
- A leader in the healthcare field for many years, Siti Sa’Diah Sheikh Bakir, former CEO of KPJ Healthcare in Malaysia, has seen how changes in technology have enabled wider access to new levels and types of information. Arguing that businesses unresponsive to an information economy are not primed for sustainability, she encouraged women to be reactive and adaptable in their professional pursuits.
- Lau KaShi, CEO and Managing Director of Bank Consortium Trust Ltd. (Hong Kong S.A.R.), also stressed the importance of awareness in the new economy. She urged the Summit audience to pay attention to the demographic characteristics of new markets, and to more broadly develop an understanding of the context in which they are operating. “Take the time to learn about what’s going on,” she said. “Have a vision of the world, not just your little sphere of influence.”
ADVICE FROM INDRA NOOYI, CEO AND CHAIRMAN, PEPSICO
Summit President Irene Natividad sat with CEO and Chairman of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi for a discussion on leadership. Adding to the recommendations made in the CEO Forum, Ms. Nooyi emphasized that as important as skills sets are the packaging and application of those skills. She noted that women need to give extra attention to neatly packaging and presenting themselves and their abilities, or they risk going unnoticed. “Intellectually, all of you are terrific,” she told the delegates. “But add all the frills to the package, because it’s as important as the core.”
For more of Indra Nooyi at the Global Summit of Women, view the video below (or visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0N_Ir18tVM)
II. CWDI OPENS BURSA MALAYSIA, NEXT UP FRANKFURT, GERMANY
Corporate Women Directors International (CWDI), the research arm of the Global Summit of Women, brought together over 80 women business leaders to open the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (Bursa Malaysia) on June 4, prior to the opening of the 2013 Global Summit of Women.Joining the women executives were the wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia Datin Rosmah binti Mansor and the Chairman of the Bursa Malaysia Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah.
CWDI Chair Irene Natividad rings the bell to open the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange as a kick-off to the 2013 Global Summit of Women. Joining her are the wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia Datin Rosmah binti Mansor with Malaysian business leaders and Summit delegates.
“We held the Market Open in Malaysia to mark women’s contribution to this nation’s economy and to celebrate the country’s intent to promote women’s increased presence on corporate boards through a quota requiring listed companies to have at least 30% women directors by 2016, said CWDI Chair Irene Natividad. “Malaysia is the only country in the Asia-Pacific region with a quota for women board directors.”
First Lady Rosmah underscored Malaysian women’s business achievements with the launch of a book featuring women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders who exemplify the tremendous growth of women assuming leadership roles in the country’s economy. The Bursa Malaysia Market Open was the 11th time CWDI brought together women business leaders to open a national stock exchange. Other recent Market Opens took place in Zurich (2013), Hong Kong (2012), and Sao Paolo (2012).
CWDI will hold its 12th Market Open on September 30, 2013 at the Deutsche Boerse in Frankfurt, Germany. More information will follow in the coming weeks.
III. U.S. IS #1 COUNTRY FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, ACCORDING TO NEW STUDY
Global Entrepreneurship and Development Institute’s recent report on entrepreneurship (supported by Dell. Inc.) ranks the United States as the #1 country for female entrepreneurs to thrive and be successful. The report known as the “Gender Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index (GEDI)”, is a 17-country pilot analysis of the conditions that foster high-potential female entrepreneurship. Behind the United States in the ranking, Australia comes in second place followed sequentially by Germany, France, Mexico, the United Kingdom, South Africa, China, Malaysia and Russia, rounding out the top ten.
The Index tracks a range of different factors which determine how supportive a country is for “high potential women” – those with proven potential to succeed and to own a business 42 months old or younger. The study found that economic development and access to education is not enough to create a strong entrepreneurial environment, as cultural and societal factors also play a part. (The Guardian, 2013).
The Index also concluded that in order to “harness the full potential of a country’s human capital, it is critical to eliminate the gendered institutions and gender-based barriers that exclude a large portion of women from entrepreneurial pursuits. Those countries that can change the cultural norms that undermine a woman’s ability to become skilled, educated and confident will benefit most as they see high-potential women pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions to the benefit of the economy, culture, and society as a whole.” For the full GEDI report, please click: http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/corporate~secure~en/documents~gender_gedi_executive_report.pdf
IV. PHUMZILE MLAMBO-NGCUKA TO LEAD UN WOMEN
Former Deputy President of South Africa Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was appointed Executive Director of UN Women by Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon on July 10, replacing former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who was the first to lead the UN unit charged with advancing gender equity. A veteran of several Global Summits of Women and Chair of the 2000 Summit in Johannesburg, her appointment has been hailed as a victory for women on the African continent.
In addition to being the first woman to hold the position of Deputy President of South Africa, Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka served as Minister of Minerals and Energy from 1999-2005 and as Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry from 1996-1999. In recent years, she established the Umlambo Foundation to provide support to schools in impoverished areas in South Africa through mentorship and coaching for teachers and in Malawi through school improvements with local partners.
In each of the posts she has held, she carried with her a passion for women’s empowerment. At the Department of Trade and Industry, she created the South African Women Entrepreneurs Network and the Technology for Women in Business award. At the Ministry of Minerals and Energy, she designed a charter for the mining industry which set a baseline target of 10% women over five years and 26% of ownership of mining industry assets by historically disadvantaged South Africans in ten years and used a score card to ensure its success. As Deputy President, she drove the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative, holding special consultations with women to ensure their inclusion in the national program.
The Global Summit of Women wishes Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka the best in her endeavors as head of UN Women.
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