Tag: boardroom

On 15 April 1912, the 'unsinkable' RMS Titanic sank after colliding with an iceberg. It took the RMS Titanic a mere 160 minutes to sink. Originally it was thought that the iceberg had only caused a single long gash in the hull. However, after examining the wreck, it was found that the collision had produced a series of thin gashes, as well as brittle fracturing and separation of seams in the adjacent hull plates, which had allowed water to flood five of the 16 compartments. Interestingly, the ship had received six ice warnings before the collision. Similarly, Government and corporate reputations can be sunk when warnings over minor acts of maleficence and misdemeanours are treated as a cost of doing business.

In recognition to International Women’s Day today, I share my thoughts on the impact of COVID-19 on women; and how we are learning and evolving as a result. The McKinsey Women in Work 2020 Report indicated that 1 in 4 American women consider downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce. As the report states – the 'double-shift' that women have already been working has become even more intense.

Are you looking for the ultimate last-minute Christmas gift? Well, look no further than the newly launched Boardroom to the Kitchen with Nomfundo Mcoyi: From Boss Meals to Supermom dishes. The first cookbook from the inspirational and pioneering businesswoman behind Icebolethu Funeral Services.

With only a few weeks till the Brexit transition and having initiated discussions years ago, UK ministers are considering formally doing away with non-compete clauses sooner rather than later. Essentially, removing non-compete clauses allows employees to start their own businesses without having to sit out a waiting period.

Although South African women are making great strides within the workplace, corporate South Africa has more work to do to effectively transform boardrooms. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed deep-rooted inequalities in social, political and economic systems, and has demonstrated the importance of the unique skills that women bring to societies.

We have released a research report investigating the processes for recruiting, selecting and appointing non-executive directors in South Africa. The report is structured to offer practical assistance to prospective non-executives who want to understand what organisations are looking for, and what the processes leading up an appointment are. It also offers guidance for nominations committees.

Looking after your health and becoming fit, is very closely linked to looking after your reputation. You need good health to get you through life, and you need a good reputation to support you through your company’s journey. Building your reputation can be learnt from physical fitness.

8th March is International Women’s Day 2020 and this year’s theme, #EachForEqual, focuses on the need to take collective action to create a world that’s fair and unbiased. It’s a time when women and men everywhere should strike the distinctive #EachForEqual pose to motivate others to stand up for what’s right. 

It is not a lack of talent that resulted in 30 JSE listed companies being without female representation on their boards, and a further 67 that may fall into this category. Rather, it is that female talent lacks deep experience in comparison to their male counterparts.

Corporate South Africa has made strides in recent history to be more inclusive of formerly marginalised groups in an effort to rectify the disparity of the past and be more diverse, including in the executive decision-making tiers. But the retirement of Maria Ramos, the last remaining woman CEO in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange top 40 listed companies earlier this year, illustrated that we are not making the progress we thought we were on gender parity.