Company Announcement - BASF hosts Women’s Day event recognizing the roles that women play in society
Delegates ranged from staff and scientists through to university students

As part of its 150 Anniversary celebrations, BASF hosted a special Women’s Day event themed ‘Smart Woman + Insights = Positive Change’. Around 60 delegates who attended the event were customers, representatives of BASF employees in various roles and levels in the organisation, women working in science and technology, high school learners, women apprentices in the automotive coatings sector and university students.

Guest speaker at the event was Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, Professor and Vice Principal of Research and Innovation at UNISA. She holds a PhD in Mathematics Education, is a B2 NRF-rated scientist and has been a speaker and visiting professor at international conferences and universities around the world. Professor Phakeng’s inspirational talk focused on how each person was responsible for their own growth and development in their chosen fields of work and study.  She also highlighted the importance of mentoring and how having the right mentor can shape and help one have a successful and sustainable career. “You have to be the CEO of your job; you have to manage and understand your role and be both responsible and accountable for your job because, as the CEO, the buck must stop with you,” she said. 

She cautioned against becoming a victim of circumstance, and not owning up to the responsibilities that come with the challenges of work or study. She discouraged list keeping and focusing on only what is on your job description and encouraged the audience to accept work challenges outside and beyond the scope of what is expected of you. “In this way you have the opportunity to learn and grow, and be seen as someone willing to contribute”, she said.
Another highlight of the event was an exercise called ‘writing a letter to my younger self’ and, in the case of the younger participants, it was to their older self. The letters were then shared which brought out unique revelations about each delegate’s journey and growth as a woman.

Joan-Maria Garcia-Girona, Vice President and Head of BASF Business Center South Africa and Sub-Sahara highlights: “BASF is celebrating its 150th anniversary throughout 2015 and is using the opportunity to implement a variety of internal and external initiatives.  These range from celebratory launch events through to innovative brain storming ‘jamming’ sessions with employees and stakeholders.  At BASF, Diversity + Inclusion are essential keys to business success and the well-being of our teams. Embracing and cherishing the unique strengths of Diversity + Inclusion means creating an environment that gets the best out of every employee. This Women’s Day event was aimed at recognising both the individual and collective roles that all women play across the broad ranging sectors of society”.