Skopje, September 19th, 2024
Women on Boards Adria (WOBA) and M6 Educational Center Skopje (M6) hosted on Wednesday, 19th of September, the “Advancing Gender Equality in Global Leadership” conference. This event marked the second in a series of in-person gatherings aimed at promoting gender diversity in leadership, with a growing number of companies and leaders joining the WOBA initiative. The event built on the success of the inaugural conference held in March, which officially launched the WOBA initiative in North Macedonia.
WOBA conference captured the attention of leaders from diverse industries across North Macedonia, showcasing the rising momentum and commitment to advancing gender equality in leadership roles in all sectors.
Driving Sustainable Change Through Inclusive Leadership
The event was opened with a fireside chat with Robert Baker, a prominent global expert in gender diversity and male advocacy for advancing women’s careers, and Tanja Mihajlovska Dimitrievska, WOBA Ambassador and Lead for North Macedonia.
Baker, who is one of Europe’s most renowned diversity and inclusion speakers and a career development coach with over 40 years of experience in corporate talent consulting, addressed the role of men in supporting gender equality, emphasising why male involvement is crucial for creating a gender-equal, inclusive workplace. He shared his insights into why gender equality must be prioritised at all levels of society and how organisations can benefit from fostering gender-diverse leadership.
“Following the success of our first event in March 2024 in Skopje, where the WOBA initiative for Macedonia was launched, the interest in joining this collective journey has continued to grow. Diversity and inclusion are essential in shaping the future of the corporate world, and we are proud that, through the WOBA network, activities, and partnerships, we are actively promoting gender equality in corporate governance. Together, we are breaking down barriers that prevent women from entering and advancing into leadership positions,” said Mihajlovska Dimitrievska.
She noted that, in such a short time, the number of companies and members from North Macedonia who have joined the WOBA network and its mission to increase the representation of women in boardrooms and leadership roles has already reached 50.
The conference explored the critical importance of diverse leadership in driving sustainable change and fostering inclusive decision-making. Key discussions focused on how gender-balanced leadership contributes to economic growth, societal well-being, and organisational success.
In a panel titled “Strategies to Support Gender-Balanced Leadership,” Prof. Viktorija Trajkov, PhD, Deputy Minister of European Affairs of North Macedonia, Maja Kadievska Vojnovikj, Former Vice Governor of the National Bank of North Macedonia and Advisor to the Board of Stopanska Banka AD Bitola, Katerina Bosevska, PhD, Managing Director of EOS Matrix North Macedonia and EOS Kosovo, Berkan Imeri, PhD, Executive Director and Member of the Managing Board of Halk Banka AD Skopje, talked about the current state of gender diversity in North Macedonia’s public and business sectors. Panellists discussed leadership positions in the financial sector and the role of government policies in supporting gender equality across industries.
Future vision
The event reaffirmed WOBA’s mission to foster gender-balanced leadership and create sustainable change across industries and public sectors in North Macedonia. It underscored the need for ongoing collaboration between the public and private sectors to build inclusive leadership pipelines, with wider society playing a vital role in supporting and championing gender equality.
About Women on Boards Adria (WOBA)
Women on Boards Adria (WOBA) is a regional non-profit initiative founded to increase gender diversity in executive and non-executive leadership. It serves as an umbrella association for the promotion of gender equality at decision-making levels. WOBA works with businesses, governments, and international institutions to promote greater gender diversity at the board and C-suite levels of public-interest companies across the Adria region.
