Bled/Cape Town, March 7 2018: In November 2017 IEDC – Bled School of Management and its Coca-Cola Chair of Sustainable Development (lead by Prof. Mollie Painter Morland); the Leading Women of Africa Association (LWA), led by Ms. Madelein Mkunu and the Graduate School of Business – University of Cape Town organized a conference on 'Women Leaders, Agents of Change in Africa’.
The conference brought together influential women leaders from business, politics and NGOs. It was attended by powerful women from 13 countries: Austria, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, Germany, Ghana, Nigeria, Slovenia, South Africa, UK, USA, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The main goal of the conference ‘Women Leaders, Agents of Change in Africa’ was to create awareness that women leaders are an important factor for the development of Africa. Throughout the conference they inspired each other with great examples of role-modelling, mentorship, community leadership and partnership.
Dr. Danisa E. Baloyi, President of Black Business Council in South Africa shared in her speech: “Remember that nobody will give you power. You have to take it. Once you have power, share it. We can always learn from each other. In our country today, women are 56 percent of the population, yet they are left behind. If that continues across the continent, Africa cannot rise. We must create opportunities for the others.”
Other kyenote speakers included a Dr. Semane Bonolo Molotlegi, Queen Mother of the Royal Bafokeng nation and Prof. Susan Madsen from Utah Valley University Woodbury School of Business.
The conference on Women Leaders, Agents of Change in Africa is a follow up event to the successful international leadership conference, ‘Women Leaders, Agents of Change in Europe.’ This was staged to celebrate IEDC’s 30th anniversary in 2016.
The book Women Leaders, Agents of Change in Africa was launched on the eve of International Women’s Day at the special event Tribute to Love. Printing of the book was sponsored by IEDC-Bled School of management, Cologne Business School and Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town.