I'm constantly amazed that we still see so many article and newspaper heading affirming the role of woman in business. For many years now woman have been playing a major role nor only in business but also as entrepreneur and small business owners. Most traditional gender barriers have been made taboo by woman simply not allowing themselves to be held back by the traditional limitations set for them. Perhaps now its time to focus column inches on celebrating the successes achieved.

My comments follows this article in the The Herald On line:

Women do have a place in business

DESPITE women constituting more than 50% of the world‘s population, in no country do they represent half of the managers or the owners of businesses.

In most countries, management is still seen as masculine and there are obstacles stopping women from getting into the recruitment pool.

An option that appears to be attracting an increasing number of women in industrialised countries is entrepreneurship.

In the small and medium business arena, women often take responsibility for running the administration of a business, while the husband meets its technical needs.

Both play a role, yet you often find that women are not co-owners.

It has become imperative for women to play a vital role in entrepreneurship in South Africa.

The entrepreneurial spirit must be awakened and SMEs must be seen as part of a strategy to take our economy to a higher level; an economy where productivity is enhanced and investment is stimulated.

Statistics show a low number of women attaining true, influential management positions, indicating that South Africa is behind in changing the way it operates.

In response, strong, determined women are starting their own companies and changing the way business is done.

They bring with them a new, innovative management style that defies all of the old-school thinking and proving their success without doubt.

Women are different from men. Women have different priorities and perspectives, but it is not to say that they‘re wrong or inferior.

In fact, in many cases women are coming out on top and showing their worth in spite of the glass ceilings they have to face in the business world.

Our experience has shown that women are generally very good at setting and pursuing goals. And they demonstrate a marked ability to find innovative ways of doing so.

“I salute all women, and especially women who have taken on the business world and made their mark, supporting their families . . . families who are the generations of this country‘s future.â€