CEO Today - Executive Coaching Awards 2022

CEO Today Execut ive Coaching Award s 2022 - NAMIBIA -

is scrutinised and analysed, from my position to my industry. I have been called “too much” or “difficult” because I may disagree with my male colleagues or insist on being heard. My male counterparts labelled me as too aggressive when I spoke my mind. Sometimes it was genuine unconscious biases against women, but one has to stand their ground and never compromise on their values. “I really want to encourage women to stick to their guns and never compromise on their values and integrity.”

developing new leaders within their teams through training and coaching, which I also help them do by training them to become coaches (which is a significant skill of a leader) who build high-performing teams. You have spoken in the past about the need for women in traditionally male-dominated sectors to “know what their core values are”. Can you tell us a bit more about this? Women must be self-aware and they must have non negotiable values. This is what they should never compromise about in their operations or work or life in general. Like John Maxwell says, it is easy to do the right thing even in difficult situations when you know what your core values are and you do not compromise on them. This can be achieved by ensuring that you do the right thing always and consistently, even if it is not the popular thing to do. Who you are is defined by this! In a male-dominated Industry, as a woman I have found myself needing to work three times as hard to prove myself, or for my opinion or decision to be trusted, or to be recognised for my efforts and performance. Everything

I really want to encourage women to stick to their guns and never compromise on their values and integrity. Let

- 132 -