STANBIC BANK TANZANIA ENABLES WOMEN TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL

Stanbic Bank Ignite program graduates celebrating their achievement after a 6 months program aimed at developing female leaders within the bank.

An old adage goes, “if you educate a man, you educate one person. If you educate a woman, you educate a nation” – a frequently utilized quote in the development circles. We know that equal opportunities have to be afforded to both men and women, especially when it comes to education.

However, the education of girls and women, in particular, is a magical multiplier in the development equation as the benefits are felt throughout the whole community.

For the last quarter century, the gender agenda has been championed across various platforms: from the workplace to awareness campaigns, strengthening anti-discrimination policies, and encouraging more women to enter the corporate world.

According to a Ministry of Community Development Gender and Children (MCDGC) publication, 50.6% of Tanzania’s labour force is occupied by women and the overall labour force participation rate, (including the informal sector) of women is 80.7%- slightly higher than men who hold 79.6%.

Getting more women in the workplace is only half the battle, equipping them with the skills and tools to develop as leaders in top positions is an area that is often overlooked by employers.

Many companies worldwide have established initiatives to build leadership skills in their female employees- especially senior members of the management team. In Tanzania, Stanbic Bank Tanzania, in partnership with Breakthrough Consulting Solutions launched the IGNITE initiative earlier in the year in March to develop female leaders within the bank. The first intake included 25 women who hold senior positions at the bank.

The IGNITE curriculum takes a holistic approach seeking to enrich the personal lives, mindset and professional career of the participants. The transformation is evident in the testimonies shared by the women; Head of Marketing and Communication Desideria Mwegelo remarks that the insights from the program have enabled her to recalibrate to be a more balanced and relatable person and incorporate the point of view of others, she says, ‘my thinking is more inclusive, my team is now enjoying this upgraded version of me.’

The program has infused others to be more courageous and collaborative leaders, Agnes Thadei a Senior Manager in the Internal Audit department, says she was challenged to think like a leader and not just as an employee knowing that the impact of her ideas and actions cascade throughout the entire organization. She also notes the importance of incorporating a discipline of reading, recognizing that “I can’t lead if I don’t read”.

Stanbic endeavours to enhance and enable the talent and potential of women at the bank, so as to empower their success in all spheres of their lives.

“My mindset has been stretched as I have been able to be more strategic in my thinking says Hellen Makanza,” the bank’s Company Secretary. “I have many skills which I have been under-utilizing and yet these are beneficial to myself and the organization,” she adds.

Women juggling career and family often find it challenging to find an equilibrium that works, according to Hellen, the program has helped her prioritize her family and generally be more organized.

Having benefited from the program, the sustainability of the initiative is incumbent on the 25 graduates to utilize their learnings to mentor and uplift junior staff – ensuring that their careers are always moving forward.