Discussing Perspectives on Women & Leadership, Are we there yet?

At Vassallo Group, 16% of CEO’s, 49% of managers and 59% of Executives are women.  Group CEO, Pio Vassallo shared these statistics during a Women’s Day Event, a breakfast rendezvous held at The Chamber of Commerce with the theme, Are we there yet? Perspectives on Women & Leadership.

Six professionals from various sectors were invited as panellists, Dr Nigel Camilleri, Myra Pearson, Ing, Mark Azzopardi, Dr Martina Caruana, Pio Vassallo and Dr Beverly Cutajar.  The discussion was led by the Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing at the University of Malta, Professor Andrew Azzopardi.  The discussion delved into women’s role in society, how it has changed, evolved and what we still need to work on as a society to find a balance between men and women in particular at the workplace.

Dr Lydia Abela, wife of Malta’s Prime Minister attended this event as the guest of honour.  During her speech she mentioned that Malta has made strides in reducing the gender pay gap.  She also mentioned the need for more participation by women in sectors relating to science, technology and engineering among others.  Dr Lydia Abela also made reference to the struggles in society with relation to gender based violence and stressed the need for more to be done to tackle this social issue. 

Addressing the event, Vassallo Group Chairperson Natalie Briffa Farrugia explained how women should be more involved in the ‘decision making’ process at the workplace and beyond.  “I believe that women do not fight for feminism especially when it comes to power, we fight for equality. ”It is ironic how 60% of consumers are women yet women are not involved in the decision making process of the  procedures leading to the production of the same goods and services.”

During the discussion various issues on the topic were raised, one of which was the need for a change in mentality as employers and a society as a whole with regards to education and the way policies are put in place.  Various persons pointed out that over the years there has been progress on the subject however there is still a lot to work that needs to be done.  Vassallo Group CEO, Pio Vassallo concluded that the group believes and supports women and career advancements by creating initiatives and simply looking at women and their capabilities.

At the end of the event Group Chairperson Natalie Briffa Farrugia presented a gift to Dr Lydia Abela, a gift made of mosaic symbolizing the different aspects of a woman and all she has managed to achieve over the years.