Congo & Its Quest to Achieve Gender Parity

Due to age-old cultural and systemic biases, the word leadership has been associated with men, shaped by traditional power structures that favour men. However, time has changed and so has the perception about leadership. Today there is a paradigm shift with a focus on achieving gender balance in leadership positions globally.

The society and business world has woken up to the need for gender balance which in turn has highlighted unique perspective that women bring to leadership roles. Although a new path is being constructed to a gender-balanced future, yet we have a long way to go.

Let’s take a closer look at Africa’s second largest country, Congo. The nation is one of the key countries of the continent but has been struggling with achieving gender parity in leadership roles, especially in parliament and public service. The 11th largest nation in the world, Congo has recently experienced some growth in women’s representation in the political sphere, yet there seems a long way to go. Women are grossly underrepresented in decision making roles in the public sector.

Irrespective of how tough the battles may be, the tenacious don’t stop. The current edition of GWL magazine tells the tale of a few such women who have overcome the challenges presented by Congo’s business landscape to carve a niche for themselves. Beyond their personal success, these women leaders from Congo are also inspiring role models for young women in the country and the world.

On the magazine’s cover we geature, Mehak Padiyath, Chief Financial Officer, Padiyath Medicity. Mehak brings over a decade of expertise in financial management, strategic planning, and operational leadership. Her professional journey spans diverse sectors, where she has consistently driven profitability, optimized investments, and led large-scale healthcare projects across Africa, blending finance with impactful organizational development.

In the current magazine edition, we also feature an interview with Dr. Laura Viban, an award-winning education leader, has been instrumental in transforming education in a region still struggling with limited infrastructure and resources. Dr. Laura’s contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including an Honorary Doctorate in Education from Maryland State University at the World School Summit in Dubai and the Transformational Leadership Award. She believes in inspiring and empowering students and staff to reach their full potential while instilling a love for learning and a commitment to excellence.

Read more about these inspiring women leaders and the secret to their professional success.

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