The chief client officer, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, Rashidat Adebisi, has stressed the need for organisations to go beyond token representation and implement policies supporting women’s advancement into leadership roles.
Adebisi, who gave the advice while addressing members of the Society for Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) – the female arm of the Institute of Chartered Account of Nigeria (ICAN), in Lagos, noted that, among other evolving workplace trends of the 21st century, these factors will redefine how organisations operate and perform.
Adebisi noted that, business leaders must pay close attention to these trends, embrace them and create environments where they can enable productivity, adding that, companies that fail to integrate the changes brought about by new workforce trends risk falling behind in today’s increasingly competitive and digital economy.
The importance of a diverse, equitable, included workforce, he stressed, cannot be overstated, noting that, in Nigeria and worldwide, women remain underrepresented in executive roles, with women occupying only 24 percent of directors’ seats on the top 30 capitalised companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, according to a March 2021 report by KPMG.
Additionally, she noted that issues such as ageism, BSc-HND discrimination and accessibility for professionals with disabilities continue to create barriers for talented individuals, urging organisations to develop systems to eliminate these biases, focus on competency-based hiring, and foster inclusive work environments that empower employees of all backgrounds.
On the importance of a multigenerational workforce, Adebisi noted that today’s workforce now spans four generations, from Baby Boomers to Generation Z, making it more diverse than ever before. “Each generation brings unique strengths. Baby Boomers and Generation X offer experience, while Millennials and Gen Z drive digital innovation and agility,” she said.
She explained that businesses must intentionally create structures that allow these generations to collaborate effectively so the organisations can harness the opportunities for higher productivity and better problem-solving outcomes.
“Despite the opportunities, many companies still struggle with the generational divides in communication, belongingness and work styles and expectations,” she added.
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