Sharon Paterson, CEO of Infiniti Insurance Limited
Globally women striving to become distinguished leaders, face cultural and systemic obstacles that make it difficult for them to advance, such as unconscious bias. The best way to overcome some of these challenges is to learn from women who have been in the same position and who can share their leadership experience.
Women’s success is influenced by a certain type of professional network they keep. The Harvard Business Review’s research on a network’s gender composition and communication pattern shows that more women benefit from having a network of well-connected peers across different industries. However, to attain executive positions with the highest levels of authority and pay, they had to have a close female connection, despite having similar qualifications to men such as education and work experience.
As women, we have the power to change the world. We just need to work together to unleash our potential. The former USA First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s friendship with the civil and women’s rights activist and educator Mary McLeod Bethune was one of the most extraordinary influential relationships, forged to promote the rights and interests of women from all social classes during the era. Bethune and the daring First Lady advocated and pioneered some important policy shifts and advances in race and gender equality in their time. Eleanor was outspoken, particularly on civil rights and issues affecting women from all backgrounds, so her relationship with Bethune fuelled their desire to fight for justice and equality.
In 1937 Bethune fought to end discrimination and lynching. This is an extraordinary story of two women from diverse backgrounds, equally formidable, enthusiastic, and committed to building an equal society. Their singular friendship helped champion women’s rights when women were expected to be subordinate. Their relationship helped create new expectations about gender equality. We can all learn from these two incredible women about their friendship that changed the world. Their friendship was a powerful force for good, and it helped to create a more just and equitable society.
Successful Partnerships
As the insurance landscape constantly changes, at Infiniti Insurance we remain committed to supporting you to adapt to the changes and meet the insurance needs of our mutual clients.
We are here to help you succeed.
Company registration number: 2005/029823/06
An Insurer licensed to conduct Non-life insurance
business and an Authorised Financial Services Provider
FSP Number 35914
Adopting policies that empower women
Women from across the world have fought for change and have a history of working together and supporting each other in implementing policies that address the social issues affecting society and communities. As we celebrate Women’s Day on August 9, we remember the heroic stance taken by over 20,000 women of all races in South Africa who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act of 1950, also known as the pass laws.
Following the death of the 22-year-old Iranian Mahsa Amini, who was in detention for violating the Islamic dress code for women, the country has been confronted by nationwide women-led protests in solidarity with her struggle. In 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court. She made history by becoming the first Black woman to hold the position in the 232-year history of the Court. In another milestone achievement for gender equality, in 2022 the EU Parliament approved the Women on Boards Directive aimed at improving gender balance on corporate boards through quotas. In this post-democratic South Africa, women are still facing a wide range of issues such as domestic violence, unemployment, gender discrimination or inequality as well as poverty.
Women’s empowerment is not only a social issue but is also an economic opportunity. According to the World Economic Forum, gender inequality costs the global economy approximately $12 trillion in gross domestic product (GDP) annually, or 16% of the current global GDP. If women, who account for half of the world’s workforce, fail to attain their full economic potential, the global economy will decline substantially. Against this background, women have come together to unite women from all social classes to fight for gender equality and social justice.
Our partnership can be a powerful force for good in helping create a more just and equitable society for women. It is high time we start working together to unleash our potential. All women should have the same opportunities as men, and we should all be free from violence and any form of discrimination.