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Summary
· Rising through the ranks within government and serving as the first female managing director of Zanzibar Social Security Fund has left an inalienable mark to Sabra
Dar es Salaam. Sabra Machano is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer
of the Warrior Women Foundation, a non-governmental organisation with a vision
to build a strong and reliable market network to help Small and Medium
Enterprises grow into stronger business entities.
She founded the organisation because
of her deep desire to make a difference in people’s lives. But her ambition to
lead and her leadership skills started since when she was 23 years.
Having studied Economics and Finance
in college she got an opportunity to work at the department of External Finance
in the Ministry of Finance and Planning in Zanzibar for about 10 years.
From there she was promoted to
become the first female managing director of the Zanzibar Social Security Fund
(ZSSF) for four years. At ZSSF she managed a team of over 150 employees in
Unguja and Pemba.
“Climbing up the corporate ladder I
learned how to manage my time and other resources effectively in order to be
successful and to be able to manage the personnel well,” she noted.
“I was determined to never give up
and I was always looking for ways to improve and grow,” adds Sabra.
The secret to her success at ZSSF
was a dynamic plan that she crafted to ensure short term success and long term
steady performance.
The plan included intensive,
ambitious business strategies, short-term goals, and long term objectives. She
also spearheaded the overhaul of various under performing departments to reduce
stagnation and increase growth and productivity.
She also established appropriate
administrative policies, services, structures, controls, and reporting systems
for the efficient and effective performance.
“My key achievements include
increasing the fund reserves and worth by over 70 percent in a three year
timespan,” she reveals.
During her tenure at ZSSF all
pensioners received their pensions by the 20th of each month. There were also
more benefits such as the maternity medical cover which improved company
visibility in products offered especially the maternity benefit, she says.
Commenting on how she empowers women
to be leaders in the society she says recognising the importance of gender
equality and the need to create an environment that is conducive to female
leadership is crucial.
She leads by examples, she says,
through creating a culture of respect for women and by valuing their
contributions and their potential to lead. In her efforts to promote the
advancement of women she advocates for easy access, by women, of the same
resources and opportunities as men, including education, training, and
mentorship.
She says, it goes beyond
highlighting instances and stories that portray gender-based discrimination in
the workplace, in the community, and ensure that women have access to the same
job opportunities as men.
Sabra is also a public speaker
focused on raising awareness about parenting, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and
self-awareness as an important part of creating a better world for everyone.
GBV is a serious issue that affects
people of all genders, but is disproportionately experienced by women and
girls, Sabra argues. When it comes to parenting, she claims, parents are the
ones with the first responsibility to mould their children behaviours.
Self-awareness by parents is
important because it helps to create a better environment for children to grow
up in a set up that allows personal growth and encourages creativity.
Commenting on her roles as the
Chairperson for the Binti Salha Foundation she says, as a passionate advocate
for girls’ education she feels obliged to contribute her skills and experience
to the Foundation’s mission of increasing access to girls’ education.
“I have worked with a variety of
organisations to promote and support girls’ education. I have also served on
the board of several companies and non-profits and have extensive experience in
fund raising, strategic planning, and organisational development,” says Sabra.
Challenges of a working mother
Being a working mother is not easy.
It requires juggling between multiple roles and responsibilities, all while
trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance, she says.
She admits that it can be difficult
to find the time, resources and energy to devote to each of these task, and it
can be even more difficult to be successful. With the right strategies and
support, it is possible to overcome these challenges and achieve success in all
areas,” she says. It takes a village, though, and Sabra has learnt to ask for
help and not be ashamed of her human weaknesses.
Hindrances to success
What is it that stops women from
excelling to higher leadership positions? The question is tricky, according to
Sabra.
This is because on one hand there is
significant improvement in representation of women in leadership roles, in
increased access to education and employment opportunities.
There is also improved economic
opportunities for women as well as the general increase in the ease of access
of social and political rights by women.
On the other hand, she says, the
potential for backlash against gender equality initiatives is huge. There is
also increased pressure on women to conform to traditional gender roles, and a high
potential for increased gender-based violence.
To encourage women to take
leadership positions, she says, a number of steps should be taken.
Organisations should create a culture of support and inclusivity. This means
providing a safe and welcoming environment where women can feel comfortable
speaking up, taking risks, and advocating for themselves.
Sabra explains that this can be done
by providing mentorship and training opportunities, as well as making sure that
women are represented in decision-making roles.
“Organisations should ensure that
their policies and practices are gender-inclusive, and that they are actively
working to reduce any gender-based pay gaps”, she adds.
Organisations should also provide
flexible working arrangements that allow women to balance their work and family
commitments, she notes.
This could include offering part
time or remote working options, as well as providing access to child care and
other family-friendly benefits.
She says, this will help to ensure
that the family unit is supported and working women have the opportunity to
excel both at work and at home and become thriving individuals.
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