Women in Leadership Positions

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 Women in Leadership Positions


“I demand more rights for women because I know what women can do.”

Truer words cannot be spoken. 


Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female president of Liberia, West Africa, assumed her presidency in January 2006. The regime was fraught with tremendous challenges of a post-conflict nation, collapsed economy, crumbling infrastructure, dysfunctional institutions, enormous debt and bloated civil services. Challenges of those left behind - the primary victims of the Civil War, women and children - were tough to fight.


“On the first day in office, I was excited and exhausted. It had been a very long climb to where I was. Women had been who suffered the most in our civil conflict and women had been the ones to resolve it. Our history records many women of strength and action. A President of the United Nations General Assembly, a renowned circuit court judge, a President of the University of Liberia. I knew I had to form a very strong team with the capacity to address the challenges of our nation. And I wanted to put women in all top positions. I knew that was not possible, so I settled for putting them in strategic positions.”- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf


From thereon it starts, the ascent of women in Liberia. She recruited the first Chief of Police to address the fear of the women who had suffered enormously during the Civil War, the Minister of Gender, to be able to ensure protection and participation of women. Overtime, the Minister of Justice, Minister of Public Affairs, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Commerce & Industry, were all women. Since women participation in leadership was unprecedented in her times, she settled to appoint women in junior ministerial positions. At the end of 2012, their economic growth peaked at 9%, infrastructure was growing at a very fast pace, institutions were functioning again, the huge $4.9 billion debt was largely abated, with the formation of good relations with the IMF, the World Bank and sister African countries. As is said, progress is never guaranteed; women participation in her cabinet reduced from 14% to 8% as the environment became increasingly toxic. But there’s nothing more predictable than the plight of a woman who wants to change things, who is brave enough to speak out and who is bold in action. She had her fair share of criticisms and toxicity but was happy with the results. 

There will always be those who want the status quo to remain. Based on patriarchy, patronage, entitlement and misogyny, political parties keep women from their rightful places and shut them out from holding leadership positions. 

Put women in decision making roles, see the wonders, see the change. 

Want strong communicators? Women are the best choice.

Flexibility, self-reflective approach, multitaskers, nurturing, focusing on teamwork, are the additional attributes possessed by them.

Now if you agree “WOMEN SUIT LEADERSHIP”, try and start changing stereotypes, for when gender is seen intrinsic to the economy does the true value of women come into the conversation.


- Tripti Banka

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