Company Announcement - As part of its commemoration of Women’s Month, Barloworld Equipment launched its Women in Leadership Programme this week in Sandton. Barloworld Equipment is the sole accredited dealer for Cat earthmoving machines, power systems and related mining and construction equipment across 10 Southern African territories (including South Africa). It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Barloworld Limited, a multinational brand distribution company that is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

The programme takes women leaders through three modules over a seven month period, covering personal leadership, practical leadership and proactive leadership. The programme is an integrated, coaching-based system of development that challenges participants to enhance their existing leadership skills as well as experiment with new behaviours. The launch emphasises that Barloworld Equipment realises the critical importance of bringing more women into positions of leadership in the organisation. 
In his opening remarks at the launch ceremony in Johannesburg on 24 August, the CEO of Barloworld Equipment Southern Africa, Dominic Sewela, stated that diversity and inclusion is the right way to do business in a globally competitive environment. He noted that the launch displays the company’s unwavering dedication to ensuring that it becomes a fully diversified and inclusive organisation.

“Historically, there have been deep-rooted cultural norms that have prevented women’s equitable participation at all levels in our company,” says Executive Director: Human Resources Francis Graham. “In response to this challenging reality, we have developed the Women in Leadership programme to prepare our women for various leadership opportunities and positions that will ensure that we continue to maintain our competitive edge in the future. “

Champion for the Women’s Programme and Executive Director: Finance at Barloworld Equipment Anushuya Gounden echoed his sentiments: “The easy road in any undertaking is to set comfortable, realistic goals. But if we're truly going to be fearless, and find breakthrough opportunities to change the world, we must set audacious goals.”