Top Executive Encourages Corporate Ladies to ‘Go the Extra Mile’ and Secure Sponsorship ——A top corporate executive from one of the leading financial institutions is urging ladies in the corporate world to take proactive steps to excel in their careers. In an interview with Brand Focus Africa, Asabea Kissi Boateng, the executive, emphasized the need for women to stay ahead of their male counterparts and find a “sponsor” to support their career growth.
The Importance of a Sponsor
Asabea defined a sponsor as a senior professional who takes a personal interest in one’s career and has the influence to advocate on their behalf. This sponsor must be aware of the individual’s achievements and efforts to ensure their progress in the organization. However, she clarified that this process should not be mistaken for bootlicking. “Find someone genuinely interested in your growth beyond your immediate supervisor. Let them know about your extra efforts,” she advised, explaining that alignment with such sponsors can lead to significant career advancement.
Women Must Stay Four Steps Ahead
Asabea also highlighted the natural challenges women face in the workplace due to hormonal changes and the menstrual cycle. She emphasized that these realities require women to work harder during their best moments to compensate for times when they may not be at their peak. “Hormonal changes are real, and sometimes it takes consciousness to even realise them,” she said, acknowledging that while women excel in multitasking, these demands can lead to quicker burnout than their male counterparts.
Balancing Career and Family: Work-Life Balance is a myth
Discussing the challenges of managing both career and family, Asabea shared her belief that achieving true work-life balance is a myth. She argued that different stages of family life demand different priorities, tilting the scale between work and family. “When your children are young, the focus is on them. But as they grow, the scale shifts towards your career,” she explained, urging career women to communicate their priorities to their children without feeling guilty.
Institutional Support for Career Women
Asabea emphasized the need for more institutional support for women in the workforce. She advocated for gender support networks in organizations to help women navigate challenges unique to their gender. “We need deliberate efforts to support women, not just during orientation but throughout their careers,” she said, highlighting the existing support network in her own organization as an example.
The Glass Ceiling Has Already Been Broken
Asabea concluded by affirming that the glass ceiling for women at the top of the career ladder has already been shattered, with many women occupying executive positions. What is now required, she said, is the creation of support systems that enable capable women to rise to their full potential. She also encouraged young women to seek sponsors, noting that many senior women are willing to help those coming up the ladder. “Let your sponsor know your efforts and achievements. You cannot light a candle and put it under a bushel. When you succeed, remember to sponsor another young woman,” she advised.
Asabea clarified the distinction between a mentor and a sponsor, noting that while a mentor serves as a role model, a sponsor actively supports the younger person’s growth and has the organizational clout to advocate on their behalf when necessary.
Asabea expressed her strong commitment to establishing a platform focused on vision-boarding, aimed at equipping young women with the tools and guidance they need to successfully navigate the corporate world.
