We must learn to "play like a man, win like a woman." Letter from the CEO – Siza Mzimela

This month we celebrate women as a critical and growing force in our economy and their involvement as business owners, consumers, employees and investors.

Women have made (and continue to make) great strides in climbing the corporate ladder. Many women today hold middle and upper management-level positions, some sit on corporate boards and few hold the title of chief executive officer. Regrettably the number of those women in top positions is far too small, especially in the private sector. Women make up around 40 per cent of the global work force today, but still face huge challenges in progressing to the top of their game. The proverbial glass ceiling is still very much in existence though it has been significantly elevated since the dawn of our democracy in 1994.

Men and women see things differently, bring a different set of skills and perspectives to the table and, frequently, have a different way of approaching and resolving challenges. Although no method of leadership is the right way, it is a fact that women have superior intuitive, nurturing and team-building skills. There is growing evidence here and elsewhere that economic diversity fosters more openness, accountability and a greater willingness to innovate.

The subtle barriers that still exist and prevent women from performing at their optimum are the ones that are the hardest to remove. However, I am optimistic about the future of women in our country. Women who manage to reach the top are proving themselves in these positions. Read about some of South Africa's remarkable women in this edition of Indwe. Features include women who are shifting frontiers in their various specializations, whether in numbers, wildlife, cuisine or business.

Our stories prove that there are huge opportunities for women out there. The stories are motivation that if women pursue their careers, there's not much restraining them from advancing. There are no great barriers to truly superior women in the industry today. The glass ceiling may still be there, but it's not unbreakable. Women have all the skills it takes to be a successful executive. They are great with details and their ability to be technically expert. This bodes very well for women as the successful company of the future needs these qualities in a leader.

Women have to work twice as hard as their male counterparts to gain the same recognition and promotions. In some cases, once at the top, a woman has to basically give up her life to the company. It is harder on women in those top jobs than men, partly because the support system for women and men is much different, As a rule, men have wives at home taking care of the house and kids. Generally, though, women do not have the same support system.

Take a cue from Gail Evans' book Play Like A Man, Win Like A Woman: What Men Know About Success That Women Need To Learn. Ms Evans explains how women can learn the hidden rules in the game of business - rules typically made and mastered by men.

Evans says she met innumerable women who tell her that they feel lost in the workplace, almost as if they were playing a game without knowing the directions. In her book, she tells them that is exactly the case: Business is indeed a game, and like any game, there are rules to playing well. Men know these rules because they wrote them, but women often feel shut out of the process because they don't know when to speak up, when to ask for responsibility, what to say at an interview and a lot of other key moves that can make or break a career.

By the way, Evans is not saying that every woman has to play exactly by men's rules. What she is saying is that women bring many inherent traits to the workplace that can provide them with a potential advantage over men, such as a woman's ability to form relationships, or her intuition. But women do need to know the basic rules so that they can understand the full consequences of their every action and how it makes an impact on their career.

True, women possess particular skills and experiences, which help them to contribute to all stages of life, business, politics, business and even peace or war. For example, in times of conflict, it is often women who take over the running of homes, farms and villages - that is, when they are not driven away to swell the ranks of refugees and displaced persons, of whom women and children make up a large majority.

This month (and every month of the year) let's celebrate and honour the power of women.

Siza Mzimela

Jenean Green: Perfecting the Art of Living By Lindi van Rooyen

Of all the ways to describe Jenean Green, IT Executive for South African Express Airways (SAX), energetic is by far the best. A perfectionist in her work, she wastes no time, and when she puts her mind to something, she does it wholeheartedly. This quality shines through in her personal life and has resulted in a number of courageous expeditions.

Jenean has been responsible for the IT infrastructure at SAX for the past fourteen months. She entered the IT industry straight after completing her matric and jokes that in 'those days' the IT industry as we know it today did not exist. "Times have definitely changed from when I first started out. Back then it was called data processing, and was completely different to what we do now, but I'm enjoying every minute," Jenean reminisces.

When she started out in the industry it was very male-dominated, but today it has become a sector with equal opportunities for both male and female, and she finds it reassuring that her job is no longer considered to be a man's job.

Jenean made her way through the industry by running data processing departments until she was headhunted by another IT company. She joined the South African Airways IT department before moving over to SAX.

When Jenean was younger, she had hopes of becoming a teacher, but her father had other plans for his daughter and hoped that she would become a doctor. After taking on some odd jobs doing data control after high school, Jenean realised that IT was a perfect match for her. Although she never became a teacher, today she enjoys mentoring the younger staff in her department.

Jenean's mother played a pivotal role in her life, and she recognises that her perfectionism is a direct result of her mother's positive influence. As a little girl her mother would take her along to the office where she was working as a secretary. She would give the young Jenean small tasks to perform and show her the correct way of processing information. She instilled in Jenean a sound work ethic that has stood her in good stead. "My mother really taught me how to do a job properly. She taught me never to do something if I was only planning on giving half the effort. I had to take responsibility for everything I did and ended up learning things that most people never learn to do. Subsequently I am a taskmaster and I either do a thing properly or not at all," she explains.

Her strong work ethic also shines through in her private life. She has taken on adventures that many of us only dream of. A few years ago she drew up a list of things she wanted to do in her lifetime, and she brags that she is now well on her way to completing the list. Among other things, she had decided that she wanted to swim with wild dolphins, and has been doing so in Mozambique for the past few years. "It is a most wonderful experience that I think everyone should have. We go out in the early morning to sea and swim with wild dolphins. It is a very emotional experience and it is such a privilege to experience them so close," she says excitedly.

Following the same ritual, Jenean would draw up her list after paging through magazines. Based on what seems exciting, she then adds it to her list and sets out to accomplish it on her next holiday. As a result, Jenean has gone skydiving and broken her personal speed limit on the Autobahn in Germany. Not an irrational person, Jenean indicates that she always thinks things through very carefully before she begins her attempt. "My experiences have been exhilarating and I am happy to have had the opportunities. I always wanted to drive a car as fast as I could on the Autobahn, and when I did it felt even better than I had imagined it would be," she smiles.

Jenean has three sons. The middle son is following his mother in the IT industry. The eldest is a professional cyclist and the youngest a pilot, echoing her energy and sense of adventure.

She intends on staying in the IT industry until she retires, after which she hopes to work at charities for animals or children. Jenean is a humanitarian at heart and recently rescued a cat that had been abandoned at the airport. "Someone had dumped the cat at the hangers and it was obviously being kicked around so it struggled to walk. After a lot of love and a massage, it now has regained its freedom of movement," says Jenean.

Her philosophy is to do unto others as you want them to do unto you, and to respect those around you. With such a way of thinking, any charity would be lucky to have her, but for now SAX is the fortunate one!