Women Evening Talk - After event report
The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (iCPAR) hosted an event, with the theme “Women in leadership” . The target invitees were women CPAs the certified public accounts (CPA) holders.
The event was conducted to ensure sustainable growth and development through dialogue and sharing of experiences to ensure that what a women in Rwanda has achieved so far; is shared among other women as aspiration to achieve even better.
iCPAR leadership has faith in women and believes that, “if you educate a woman, you have educated a nation.”
During her presentation, Mrs. Julian Kayibanda mentioned that Rwanda has a good number of competent women in different sectors in the country that are capable and the time to share their experiences and encourage women empowerment is now. There is a need to identify them bring them together for development of our country. She continued telling inspiring stories where she was telling experienced women in the room to nurture the young generation whenever they get a chance to meet them for example those in the working sectors not to compete them but teach them, mentor them guide them in all angles whether in business, education and cultural related and she added on by saying that “ It’s a journey, and we need to fight for a common cause”.
During her presentation Dr Jolly Rubagiza, Deputy Director General for Rwanda Management Institute talked about how women in our country have senior positions and that there is no organization in Rwanda that cannot give a chance to offer or promote a woman what it requires is having the right education and work hard as well as finding strategies to overcome incompetency, gender discrimination and cultural perception among others. She continued by saying that even though other countries think we are well empowered but we still have a lot to do and strive to another level.
As mentioned by one of the participants while discussing, she always appreciate our country when she compares it with many countries in Africa where women are not given opportunities to hold senior positions or do big things.
CPA Vishnumaya R. Nambiar, commissioner for audit and risk committee of iCPAR highlighted that Women in the country are proud to work from Rwanda and they are being treated very fine. They can feel the difference when they go outside the country for business opportunities and meetings where you can find yourself alone with only men for big business negociation and opportunities.
Given that with women character, they may fear responsibilities or to be accountable, participants agreed to start mentoring and empowering their fellow women to become confident, take decision at their work place, homes, etc..
Note: Rwanda Parliament actually has the highest representation across the globe, with women occupying 64 percent of the seats.
“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair”, Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to the US Congress once said.