‘Women must leverage their strengths to lead in business and beyond’

SAMANTHA MADE

Women have been urged to recognise and capitalise on their inherent strengths to assert themselves in leadership, business, and economic spaces.

This was the key message at the Women in Business breakfast meeting, hosted by ZiFM Stereo in the capital Harare on Friday.

Gloria Zvaravanhu, Managing Director of Old Mutual Insurance, emphasised that women bring unique qualities to leadership that can drive business success.

“We need to understand our inherent strengths and qualities to become better leaders,” she said.

Zvaravanhu highlighted emotional intelligence as a critical advantage, allowing women to navigate complex environments with empathy, resilience, and strategic vision.

She also underscored the importance of active listening, calling it an essential leadership trait.

Zvaravanhu said women are natural listeners. However, she emphasised that this is a strength that must extend beyond family life and into the workplace.

The most effective leaders, Zvaravanhu said truly listen and engage.

However, she cautioned women about challenges in business and urged them to push past traditional barriers.

Zvaravanhu declared that leadership is not reserved for men. Women must step forward, take ownership of their roles, and drive change.

Paidamoyo Gurupira, speaking on behalf of Dr. Chipo Ndudzo, Managing Director at Providence Human Capital, stressed that leadership begins with self-recognition.

“Women are all leaders in their own space.Nobody will come and tell you that you are a leader. It’s you who make that intentional decision,” she said.

Rachel Chibaya, vice president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe, raised concerns about the lack of legal literacy among women in business. She emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance and understanding corporate governance.

“We cannot talk about women’s empowerment if we do not comply with the laws which regulate businesses,” she stated.

Speaking at the same event, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Commissioner Walter Mufuka called on women to be unapologetic in demanding gender equality, describing it as a “constitutional imperative” .

He also highlighted the role of male allies in advancing gender equity.

“I want to call upon male allies in our community, our fathers, community leaders and church leaders to ensure that the girl child realises their dream of going through school and university without hindrances from early child marriage,” he said.

Henrica Makulu Kadira, Zimbabwe’s first female data scientist and the event’s guest speaker, emphasised that communication is a powerful leadership tool.

“Be that person whom, when you speak, what you say makes sense. A truly empowered woman speaks with confidence, clarity, and substance. Make sure your words carry weight,” she advised.

 

Related