There are immense challenges for women in development to hit the highest notch of their career dreams. This phenomenon is not restricted to developing countries only. Overall, in both developing and developed countries, the percentage of women in leading positions is not far below their potential. Women have a huge potential given their numbers, endowment and privileges that have more so in the 21st century. Below are tips for career success summed up from a roundtable of panels focusing on the challenges and opportunities for women in development today.
1. To get to the top, don’t be shy to start from the bottom.
You need experience to build a career in development. Sometimes, this means that you must be ready to do something or hold a position that you never thought. Young women for instance should not be afraid to start from the bottom.
2. The problem is not at the top, but at middle level
According to statistics, what we need to increase are the number of women working in middle-management positions.
3. Make sure you are adaptable
As is the case with any field, you need to constantly renew yourself . Due to the dynamic, diverse and constantly changing nature of development, you have to re-brand yourself as there is always room for innovation, learning and sharing.
4. Emotions make a leader authentic
In a world where women are regarded as ‘too emotional’, women should not be afraid to share and showcase their emotions. Embracing one’s emotions does not showcase you as weak but that is what makes you humans. Emotions are part and parcel of an authentic leader.
5. The need for anti-discriminatory laws to be enforced
For women in the labour market and public institutions, there is need to come up with strong anti-discrimination laws and regulations which will protect women and enable them to contribute to the economy and society that they live in. Without such laws, women are left upon the mercies of the goodwill and patronage of men.
6. Develop leadership skills
For women to take up more opportunities globally, there is need to invest in programmes touching on leadership development and provide mentorship opportunities specifically targeting women. This also calls for resources to help women get plugged into power structure.
7. There are separate challenges in the field
There is a social disconnect or neglect when it comes to women working in subservient roles in the field where they are viewed as a ‘separate’ gender. This gender stigma makes it difficult for them to dispel duties and knowledge that they might have.
8. Success is not always about getting to the “top”
There is immense satisfaction from working in roles that allows you to make significant contributions to the society rather than holding top positions which do not allow you to make considerable life changing contributions.
9. Organizational cultures need to tackled head on
To shift the acceptable norms and push for organizations to have an open mind when it comes to the role of women in development and leadership, organizational cultures must be challenged.
10. Mentoring
Mentorship plays a key role in enhancing the capacity of women to manage and take up leadership opportunities. This must be done not only for women in development but also women fro countries in which they are working.
11. The importance of communicating vision in a human way
There is need for female creative thinkers who can be able to tell a compelling narrative and describe a vision is a way that members of the society can identify with. Ability to mobilize people behind an idea and get them to work on the same goal is vital.
12. Find your voice while young
It is only by being vibrant, aggressive and passionate that you can be noticed and remain in focus. As women are mostly under-represented, always speak up,attend meetings and senior social gatherings and give a voice to women.
13. The need for stronger support networks
In countries where most of the power networks are male networks, it is vital to find support from mentors and seniors in your organization. As a woman climbing up the ladder, its obvious that you’ll be more isolated than your male counterparts hence the need for stronger support.
14. Be spontaneous and intuitive
There is no better way for women in development to achieve success than being true to the course, wanting to know more and being ambitious.
