Women's Day 2023
Victoria Commercial Bank PLC orchestrated the third edition of International Women’s
Day on March 8, 2023, marking a zenith in celebrating and empowering women in
entrepreneurship. The gathering convened a distinguished consortium of female leaders,
converging under the overarching theme of the year: DigitALL – Innovation and technology
for gender equality. Against the backdrop of VCB's remarkable status as a financial
institution with record female representation, the event delved into conversations
surrounding equity and inclusion of women in technology.
Chairing the event, Mrs. Eunice Monzi, Head of the VCB Women Committee, emphasized
the bank's strides in gender equality. With 103 staff members, an impressive 51%
are women. At the middle management level, there's a formidable 50% female representation,
escalating to 33% at the EXCO Level. Notably, VCB stands as one of the rare organizations
with female directors, led by the Chair of the Board, Mrs. Ketaki Sheth, a staunch
advocate for gender equality. VCB's representation of women, far surpassing market
averages (23%-35%), positions the bank at the vanguard with an exceptional 50% women
empowerment.
The esteemed Chief Guest, Ms. Zebib Kavuma, UN Women Deputy Regional Director for East
& Southern Africa, highlighted the digital divide as the new frontier of gender inequality.
Against the backdrop of the 67th session's theme, "DigitALL: Innovation and Technology
for Gender Equality," she underscored the transformative yet challenging impact of the
digital space on global gender dynamics.
CEO Dr. Yogesh Pattni, a visionary for gender equality at VCB, emphasized the significance
of this year's theme on technology and innovation. Drawing a parallel with the UK's tech
sector, where only 5% of the female force is engaged, he called for more women to assume
influential roles in technology.
Beyond enriching conversations, the event featured edutaining activities, including cyber
security awareness sessions and a platform for women to share their journeys in male-dominated
industries. The audience, guided by the VCB Women's Committee and the Chief Guest, embraced
the year's signature theme with a symbolic self-hug.
In her closing remarks, Victoria Commercial Bank’s Chief Business Officer Deposits, Azmina
Pattni, invoked Taylor Swift, reminding everyone that success need not come at the expense of
others. The morning concluded with a lavish breakfast spread, featuring a delightful array
of Swahili foods, healthy bites, assorted crepes, and desserts.