Energy Bank CEO challenges female executives

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Energy Bank Ghana, Christiana Olaoye is urging women executives to mentor and inspire young females for greater heights in life and help shape society for the better.

According to the astute banker, women need good support and continuous training programmes at the work place, as well as personal networking to move into executive positions in the corporate hierarchy.

Speaking as one of the panelists at the just-ended CEO Summit on ‘Growth, Inclusion and Women Empowerment’, Mrs. Olaoye said women executives must visit schools – university, secondary and primary to mentor and repose confidence in female students to have the believe that they can do what men could do. “We need to educate young women as to what is feasible for them and if they take that particular route, then they grow up wanting more for themselves.”

Continually, she said in my over 30 years career, I have strived to take up positions which people traditionally will consider as difficult and do not like and deliver with precision. Right from childhood, the girl-child must be developed and encouraged to go the extra mile in life to become a better person.”

She added that female talents within organisations must be identified, taken through skills training such as decision-making in a bid to retain higher number of executive women within the organisation.

She also advised young female students to always believe in their dreams, adding: “If you want the board room to change, the company to change, you must change your attitude and be a determined girl and woman.”

CEO of Airtel Ghana, Lucy Quist who was also on the panel called for the creation of an environment where women would be valued and considered for bigger roles in society.

The CEO Network brought together smart and high profile Chief Executive Officers from the banking, telecommunications, ICT, consultancy and public sector.

Mrs Olaoye recently won an award for her contributions to the welfare of females in Africa.