HSBC holds its first ‘Women in Leadership’ symposium in SL
View(s):A first-of-its-kind “Women in Leadership” symposium, organised by HSBC, has highlighted the importance of female mentorship and sponsorship programmes in the workplace, along with other avenues “to create a strong female leadership pipeline in organisatins”, amongst other topics discussed, according to a recent statement.
The event featured a number of high-powered female speakers, including Eunice Chan, Regional Head of Service Delivery, Asia Pacific, HSBC; Shanaaz Preena, Director, Women Go Beyond/Women’s Advocacy, MAS Capital; and Shazia Syed, Chairperson, Unilever Sri Lanka.
Additionally, the statement also quoted another top female business leader who spoke at the event, Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairperson Janaki Kuruppu, as saying: “In Sri Lankan culture, women are told not to aim high. The society demands a lot from women. 40 per cent of women don’t return to work when they have children. We need to change this mindset. Women will have to remove this mental barrier around them”.
At the same time, another featured speaker, Human Resources specialist Sunil Dissanayake, had also commented that there was a “talent shortage in females in senior roles. Individuals in senior positions should think more responsibly in filling those gaps. This has to be competence-based, and if we are looking at a 50:50 leadership mantra, we need to create a strong female leadership pipeline. Mindset change in the organisation is key”.
Continuing, it also offered up the following comment by Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank: “Culture of the company, female leadership programmes, flexible working hours, sabbatical and maternity leave policies also can make a significant difference. Creating great infrastructure for everyone at work irrespective of gender is important”.
Meanwhile, Jackie English, Head of Service Delivery for HSBC in Hyderabad, India, was also quoted in the statement as commenting that “(succession) planning, nine-box matrix, affirmative training and life-skill training could create more female leaders”.
(JH)