Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) successfully held the Women in Leadership Forum on December 1, 2023. The warm participation received from UNESCO and support from Development Reimagined, and 140,000 viewers across 8 media platforms and over 440 Zoom global participants were welcomed and joined the insights of the forum. The forum was focused on the African region, with distinguished ambassadors, academics and entrepreneurs to lead and explore the solutions for the issues regarding gender equality in China and Africa across agriculture, energy, education and tourism sectors.
Mr. Li Haitao, CKGSB’s Dean’s Distinguished Chair Professor of Finance and Associate Dean, delivered the prelude on emphasizing CKGSB’s commitment to empower more women business leaders through programs and scholarships since the foundation of CKGSB.
Mohamed Elfarnawany, the Director for Priority Africa Coordination Division at PAX of UNESCO thereafter expressed UNESCO’s commitment to collaborate with CKGSB in African women advancement across education, culture, social sciences, and technology to achieve gender equality.
Maria Gustava, Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique to China, delivered precious words explaining how, “gender equality is not just an abstract concept, it is the cornerstone of building a prosperous and inclusive society.”
The Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to China, Oliver Wonekha,and Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe to China, Isabel Domingos, resonated this idea in their words chaired by the CEO of Development Reimagined, Hannah Ryder.
The event highlighted the recent studies with its findings by CKGSB’s Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior, and Associate Dean for Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity, Zhang Xiaomeng, who represented the barriers on holding women back from leadership roles as well as female leaders’ resilience and convergence.
The final panel included the member of the Founder of Education for Ethiopia and CKGSB alumna, Lina Ayenew, Product Owner of Safari Wallet, Irene Maria, the Co-founder of FarmWorks, Li Yi, and the President of Shenzhen Yinghe Technology Co.,Ltd. and CKGSB alumna, Xu Xiaoju and CKGSB’s Professor of Strategy and Economics and Associate Dean, Dr Tao Zhigang. The four Chinese and African female founders who were part of the event, shared their ideas and best practices on applying innovative technologies to boost businesses.
CKGSB has been hosting the Women in Leadership Forum as a platform to celebrate and acknowledge women success stories with aspiring women leaders, and promoting gender equality in the workplace by creating and offering an opportunity to bring positive change.
