Shift in corporate culture propels women to leadership roles

By SHIRLEY MAULUDU
PAPUA New Guinea’s corporate sector has demonstrated a change in culture and mindset with promotion and elevation of women to managerial roles.
Bank South Pacific (BSP) is one of the companies that is committed to empowering women.
Meet a team of female managers under the marketing and public relations (PR) department of the ‘green bank’.
Gorethy Semi, as head of marketing and public relations, is directly responsible for three other divisions.
She has Lavinia Mul (manager – public relations and communications), Stephanie Waide (manager – brand and advertising) and Amelia Minnopu (manager – corporate sponsorship).
The three lead their respective teams as well.
From West New Britain and Manus, Semi said the experience had been humbling for her in her three-and-a-half years with BSP.
“The responsibility of looking after one of the biggest iconic brands in the Pacific, one that is truly a PNG brand, is an experience and a role I am proud of,” she told The National.
“I have a team of 15 people in support and specialist roles including three of our female managers (Mul, Waide and Minnopu) who manage the respective sections of the marketing and PR business unit.
“We have a strong team with individual staff specialised in their respective roles which makes our jobs as managers a little smoother and easier every day.”
Semi has a masters in business administration and a bachelors degree in journalism from UPNG.
Prior to joining BSP, she was senior brand activation manager with Nestle PNG for two years and trade marketing manager (and other roles) with SP Brewery for 10 years.
“The experience of leading with other females not just in my team but other parts of the business makes me even prouder to call BSP my employer of choice,” Semi said.
“I think it’s good to see a lot of women come up the ranks and taking up roles, especially where they used to be male-dominated before.
There are a lot of success stories that inspire us every day in PNG and abroad.
Personally, I think it’s really good to see that the tide has changed with fairness, equality and most of all based on merit, qualification and experience.”
Mul has recently joined BSP.

She formerly worked as programme manager in the development sector.
“Now with a corporate sector, the environment is very different although the basics of PR, marketing and management sounds through and through,” she said.
“I am amazed by the level of support and recognition given by fellow male colleagues and leaders and it is evident in so many BSP female colleagues holding leadership roles.
“Women who have made it up the ranks have gone to where they are through sheer hard work and merit no different to men.
“My team is made up of two males and a female.”
From Western Highlands, Mul has a bachelors’ degree in communication arts – journalism from Divine Word University (DWU).
“Women have always played vital roles in advising and decision making (behind the scenes) to providing for households,” Mul said.
“Women rarely took centre stage and our men have always been supportive and appreciative.
“In recent times, there has been an increase in the number of educated PNG women being elevated to senior leadership roles in their respective fields of expertise.
“My thoughts are that there has been a growing culture of acceptance, affirmation and confidence of women, firstly believing in oneself and her potentials backed by a strong support system from home and it eventually shows at workplace and that’s when women get noticed and elevated.”
After nine years with the ‘green bank’, Waide said it had been the most challenging experience as marketing and PR was always changing, thus, messaging was always needed to be tailored.
Waide studied journalism at DWU, and did post graduate diploma in digital marketing.
“There is equal opportunity for all to progress in our career.
“What is more important is that as a staff, personal commitment and the ability to also give back to the organisation,” she said.
From East New Britain and Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Minnopu said looking after the bank’s corporate social responsibility initiatives was a rewarding role.
“Part of our job is to support and build communities that we operate in,” Minnopu said.
“My team and I manage over 48 community projects nationwide and 15 projects through our offshore branches.
“We also support various health and education initiatives and build partnerships with various institutions, organisations, professional bodies and environmental sustainability programmes.
“We’re always on the go!
“A key factor that enables me to lead effectively is ensuring that I always plan, organise and prioritise my tasks.
“The rest becomes easier when you’ve got that key element to your day right.
“At the end of the day, there is nothing more satisfying than knowing you have made a positive difference and I’m thankful for an employer such as BSP that contributes back to the communities in a meaningful way.”