WOMEN in leadership face barriers that are both visible and invisible. From societal expectations and cultural norms to structural inequalities and biases, these barriers have kept many women from realizing their full potential in executive and corporate leadership roles.
This was highlighted by the President of the recently launched Women in Executive Leadership Solomon Islands (WELSI), Ms Pamela Naesol Alamu.
“WELSI is designed to change that. By providing women with the support, networks, and opportunities they need to rise into executive positions, we are dismantling those barriers one by one,” she said when delivering the keynote address at WELSI’s launch on Friday 18 October 2024 at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara.
WELSI is an initiative that was birthed through a strategic collaboration between the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), the Solomon Islands Women in Business Association (SIWIBA) and the Institute of Solomon Islands Accountants (ISIA).
“This initiative is about mentorship, capacity building, and creating pathways that ensure women can ascend to the highest levels of leadership with confidence and competence,” Ms Alamu said.
Ms Alamu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of ISIA, said WELSI’s launching is only the beginning.
“Over the coming months and years, we aim to build partnerships with organizations, industries, and government bodies to ensure that this is not just a symbolic launch but a meaningful, long-term commitment to the empowerment of women in Solomon Islands.
“We will be holding forums, workshops, and leadership training sessions to equip women with the skills they need to lead in an increasingly dynamic and globalized world,” she said.
Research from around the world has consistently shown that organizations with diverse leadership teams—those that include women—are more innovative, more resilient, and more successful. Women bring unique perspectives and approaches to problem-solving, team building, and decision-making.
Ms Alamu said these qualities are exactly what the world, and indeed our Solomon Islands, need as we face complex social, economic, and environmental challenges.
“But beyond the statistics and the research, we know the power of women in leadership because we have seen it firsthand.
“We know the mothers, daughters, and sisters who run households, manage budgets, solve crises, and inspire hope. We have seen women work tirelessly in our communities, leading with courage and compassion. It is time for this leadership to be fully recognized and reflected in our boardrooms, our public institutions, and every sector of society,” she said.
She said together, we are creating a future where leadership is not defined by gender but by the passion, wisdom, and dedication one brings to the table.
“We are building a Solomon Islands where women and men lead side by side, contributing their unique strengths to our shared future,” the WELSI President, Ms Alamu, said.
