Our LEADHer’s episode features Hafsa Shamsie, the Managing Director of Roche Pakistan, one of the world’s leading bio -tech companies. We asked her to speak to us on Women in Leadership and share her experiences and insights.
Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. Throughout our 125-year history, Roche has grown into one of the world’s largest biotech companies, as well as a leading provider of in-vitro diagnostics and a global supplier of transformative innovative solutions.
What Does Leadership Mean?
We asked Shamsie what the term ‘leadership’ mean to her, to which she responded by saying
take a minute to imagine that you’re waiting for the elevator, when the door opens you see a lot of people already inside. You then have a choice, either you get in, or you wait for the next time it comes around.
If you step inside, hardly anyone will move from their position, they slightly shuffle and you’re accommodated – this is what leadership is about. You need bravery to walk into that elevator that is already full of people and step out of your comfort zone.
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Once inside, everyone adjusts just a little bit, enough to accommodate you, which reflects life itself. So, be brave enough to get into the elevator, challenge your comfort zone, and you’ll be surprised to see how people will adjust for you and you’ll then reach your destination.
Pakistan has a small percentage of Women in Leadership, why is that?
Shamsie shared that she has been working in Pakistan for almost 30 years, and in between this time, the gender gap has improved. Again, there is still a long way to go in order to reach where we want to be.
According to her, sometimes women choose or prefer to do other things, and that’s okay.
Maybe there’s a woman who is 32 years old, maybe she has made the choice that she wants to stay at home and look after the children.
Secondly, women are not highly encouraged in workplaces. Workplaces should focus on equality of opportunity, rather than equality of outcome in order to help promote and help women in leadership.
The outcome we want is to have 50% women leaders, but, are we giving them the opportunity to help make this dream come true questions Shamsie.
Society’s attitude towards women in leadership in recent times
Society has shown a lot of preferential treatment of women, shares Hafsa Shamsie. People have now become conscious of the corporate sector.
People have now realized the importance of diversity and how a woman’s onboarding changes the dynamics of the workplace, a new way of thinking is there, and the culture becomes more respective.
Watch the complete interview with Hafa Shamsie below:
What do you think of Hafsa’s insights? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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