Rethinking the Business Environment for Women: A Call to Action for Authentic Empowerment

By Sibusiso Raphekwane, CEO of The Transformation Legacy

As South Africa celebrates Women's Month and reflects on 30 years of democracy, it's crucial to examine the role of women in shaping our nation's socio-economic landscape. From my own journey as a woman entrepreneur, I have been thinking a lot lately about how the business environment was not originally designed for women. Historically, the business world was structured for men to work and for women to manage the household. However, as more women enter the workforce, we must recognize that simply empowering women to participate in this existing structure is not enough. We need to relook, redesign, and challenge the very foundations of this environment to ensure that it truly works for women.

Redesigning the Business Environment for Women

Over the years, women have shown that they can excel in the business environment. But, in many ways, women have had to adapt to a system that wasn't built with their needs in mind. For the longest time, the objective for many women has been to prove that they can achieve success in a male-dominated environment. Now, it's time to shift the focus from proving ourselves to reshaping the environment so that it aligns with the multifaceted roles that women play in society.

We are mothers, daughters, and sisters, created to wear many hats. To thrive, we must work in ways that allow us to fulfil all the roles we hold in our lives. This means implementing flexible work hours, working from home, or even considering four-day work weeks. It means creating spaces where women can take time off to pick up their kids, attend a school event, or simply be present at home when needed. Productivity does not have to come at the expense of our other responsibilities. When we acknowledge and accommodate the various roles that women play, we create a more balanced, humane, and sustainable work environment.

The Unique Contributions of Women

At The Transformation Legacy, one of our guiding principles is to create an environment where women can thrive—an environment designed with women in mind, as a result of this we've had the four day work week for the past four years. The qualities that women bring to the workplace—nurturing, multi-tasking, compassion, thoroughness, attention to detail and thoughtfulness, —are often overlooked but are vital to creating a balanced and healthy business environment. These characteristics help bring back humanity to the business world, reminding us that businesses are run by people, for people.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a lot of women in business having to work from home, looking after their families while still getting their businesses to stay afloat during this difficult period. I myself had a funny encounter during this time, my 3 year old son was hanging on my back while I was frantically trying to complete a report; my husband walked in the room and couldn’t understand how I could continue working unbothered whilst my son was on my back. I turned to him and said ‘’we as women find it very easy to multitask’’.

Embracing these qualities allows women to show up in their most authentic form, contributing their unique perspectives. Too often, emotions are seen as a liability in the boardroom. Yet, emotions are a natural part of being human, and they can play a crucial role in decision-making. By allowing space for empathy and holistic thinking, we can make decisions that cater to everyone impacted by them, ensuring no one is left behind.

The Power of Authentic Connections

This Women's Month, I have been moved by the ripple effect that even small acts of kindness and authenticity can have. Recently, I met a woman who is the chairperson of an association. Our conversation was natural and genuine, and she invited me to join her network. From this single interaction, numerous potential collaborations and opportunities emerged. This experience highlighted the power of showing up as our true selves and the profound impact that kindness, compassion, and connection can have.

These qualities—kindness, compassion, grace—flow naturally through women and have the power to transform not only business but society at large. They create environments where people can thrive, where partnerships are formed, and where innovation can flourish.

Creating a Supportive Ecosystem

As we reflect on Women's Month, let us renew our perspective on what the authentic empowerment of women should look like. We need to reimagine new business environment structures that embrace the fullness of who women are, taking into consideration the many roles that we love to fulfil. And to also reflect on the unique qualities women bring to the business world and how these can be leveraged in workplaces to foster growth and long-term sustainability. When women succeed, communities prosper, and the entire nation benefits.