The Women’s Report 2025, sponsored by the Stellenbosch Business School and published in association with the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP), takes a hard look at the realities of women’s representation on boards.
In a thought-provoking interview, Prof. Nadia Mans-Kemp and Prof. Suzette Viviers unpack why gender disparities persist at leadership level, what the “ideal” gender representation target could look like, and the moral and social imperatives behind board diversity.
While progress has been made, South Africa’s corporate landscape still faces deep-rooted challenges. Among them:
- Quotas and targets: Quotas have been widely debated, but their effectiveness in creating meaningful, sustainable change remains questionable. Targets, while less rigid, may also be viewed as tick-box exercises unless backed by genuine commitment.Â
- Over-boarding: A recurring problem where the same small pool of women are appointed to multiple boards. This inflates representation statistics without broadening access to leadership opportunities.Â
- Femwashing: Companies often showcase women on boards as a branding or compliance strategy rather than as part of authentic transformation.Â
The conversation goes beyond numbers – it touches on legitimacy, governance, and sustainable value creation. As Prof. Mans-Kemp and Prof. Viviers highlight, genuine inclusion requires more than policy compliance. It’s about dismantling systemic barriers and creating space for diverse voices to influence decision-making.
For South Africa, the Gordian knot lies in balancing regulation with authenticity. Simply appointing women to tick boxes does not solve the issue. True progress means building pipelines of talent, nurturing future leaders, and ensuring that representation translates into real influence.
👉 Read more insights and access the full Women’s Report 2025 at www.womensreport.africa