The second edition of The Executive Woman Summit (TEWS) will examine workplace structures and career barriers that prevent more women from advancing into executive management and chief executive positions.
Organisers announced the focus at a media parley themed “The Winning Playbook”, held on 30 September ahead of the summit scheduled for 28 October in Victoria Island, Lagos.
|
|
Speakers at the parley said organisations must move beyond hiring more women or appointing them to boards and create clearer pathways for them to reach senior management, influence decisions, and gain economic power.
The summit, themed “Playing to Win: Elevate Your Vision, Value, and Visibility”, is expected to bring together women executives, entrepreneurs, professionals and emerging leaders.
|
|
|
|---|
From inclusion to participation
TEWS convener and founder of BMO Advisory Services and the Women’s Lifestyle Hub, Bola Matel-Okoh, said women’s advancement should no longer be measured solely by their presence in organisations or leadership positions.
“We have been so focused on inclusion that now the conversation needs to shift from inclusion to actual participation, influence and economic equality,” she said.
Ms Matel-Okoh noted that women could occupy board seats while remaining underrepresented at senior and executive management levels, where many critical organisational decisions are made.
Stay Ahead with Premium Times
Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting.
Add as a preferred source on Google
She called on organisations to establish clearer career pathways, particularly for women who enter the workplace through support functions such as human resources and legal departments.
“Women are coming in, but what is the path that will reach that woman? Is it support systems, whether it’s legal, whether it’s human resources? So we have to put in systems now that women are being absorbed into organisations, into institutions with a clear path where they are going into CEO and senior management positions,” Ms Matel-Okoh said.
She also urged women to understand and communicate the value they contribute to their organisations, saying professional competence should be supported by strategic visibility, strong relationships and measurable results.
Beyond functional expertise
Board chair and independent non-executive director Folake Sanu said women seeking executive positions must develop knowledge beyond their immediate areas of professional specialisation.
According to her, senior leadership requires an understanding of market performance, customer experience, organisational strategy and the financial aspects of a business.
“The path to CEO and executive is more in the numbers, and the numbers come from market space. The numbers come from customer experience, and the numbers also come from the fact that strategy is very key in business,” she said.
Ms Sanu encouraged women to understand the key performance indicators attached to their roles, take on cross-functional responsibilities and build strategic relationships.
She also identified sponsorship as an important part of career advancement, particularly when senior leaders are willing to recommend qualified women for opportunities and positions of greater responsibility.
Embracing failure
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Z-Edge Limited, Kikelomo Atanda-Owo, urged women not to view professional or personal setbacks as the end of their ambitions.
“Failure is not the opposite of winning. Failure is part of winning. You cannot play to win if you are not willing to lose,” she said.
Ms Atanda-Owo advised women to learn from setbacks in different aspects of their lives while supporting the development of others around them.
She also emphasised the importance of continuous learning, unlearning and relearning, adding that leadership legacies should be measured partly by the impact made on other people.
Other speakers, including values and character strategist Izehi Anuge and Wema Bank’s Head of Brands and Marketing Communications, Mabel Adeteye, identified emotional intelligence, personal values, competence and measurable impact as important elements of leadership.
About TEWS
The Executive Woman Summit was established to address the realities women encounter while pursuing and sustaining careers at senior levels.
READ ALSO: Stakeholders seek national coffee policy as Nigeria battles production gaps
Its organisers say the platform is intended to move the conversation beyond women attaining leadership positions to how they can become effective and influential leaders.
The summit focuses on career development, leadership, wellbeing, influence, mentorship, networking, and the challenges of sustaining success at the highest levels of professional life.
Its inaugural edition was held in 2025 and brought together women executives, entrepreneurs, professionals and emerging leaders for discussions on authentic leadership, resilience, self-awareness and navigating professional demands.
The forthcoming edition will focus on helping women demonstrate their value, strengthen their visibility, build strategic influence and position themselves for senior leadership roles.
Discover more from Premium Times Nigeria
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
More News
