By Michelle Strydom
This year has already seen the former CEO of the VWV group Koo Govender appointed as the new CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network South Africa. In an
article written by Thandi Skade, Govender mentions how she didn’t want to be a stereotypical Indian woman who worked in her father’s business and just got married off. She wanted her own career and independence. Govender is one of many examples of how women can succeed in a male-dominated industry.
Work hard, but make it a journey
Like with any profession, nothing great can be accomplished without hard work and taking risks. Whether you are working in a male-dominated industry or are a female leader, no one can succeed without starting at the bottom and working their way up. Josie Dougall, brand and strategy guru at CN&CO knows the struggle to getting to a leadership role, as she says her journey started out at the very bottom.
“We need to understand it is a journey. You start out with the boring work. When I started out I was phoning promotion girls and I was doing that for a while. You need to do the hard yards for a few years, go the extra mile, be a team player,” says Dougall.
In some cases, you might not even know where you will be going. Dougall’s journey was an unconventional one. She started off studying psychology, and left before graduating to manage a jazz and blues restaurant in Cape Town. This led her to working with big brands like Bacardi, Amstel, Lipton ice tea, and Hollard, to now owning her own business. There is opportunity everywhere; you just have to work for it.
Be the change
In an industry that changes every day, there is more growth and opportunity for women to succeed. Women still face the issue of working in a male-dominated society, but have the opportunity to change it, says Joanna Oosthuizen, national managing director of Ogilvy Public Relations.
“I believe the marketing industry is still male-dominated, particularly the agency world, but I think we’re going to see things changing. I think women are going to start to rise within the corporate world. I hope there will be a shift. I want women, and specifically younger women, to seize the opportunities that there are in marketing and communication,” she says.
In fact, if women want it to change, they’ll have to be the change.
“Women have as much opportunity as they allow themselves. I believe if you are in an environment where you know you’re not being given equal rights then either change it or leave. If you are a talented woman who wants to be successful and get ahead, there are no excuses. You can’t hide behind the excuses of being a woman,” says Dougall.
Staying true to being a woman
Succeeding in this industry doesn’t mean that you have to take on certain roles. It could simply mean using your characteristics to your advantage, like communicating, because many women love to talk, Oosthuizen adds.
Women often shy away from the corporate world because of their duties as a mother, but in this day and age, being a mother and a successful business woman is possible.
“We are in an industry where we can make it possible for women to be a mom and be successful in your business. It’s possible to do both and it’s about making sure you’re surrounded by the right infrastructures at work and support from senior management,” Oosthuizen says.
Do you think women are changing the male-dominated corporate landscape? Let us know in the comments below.