Tanketa Chance-Wilson, Executive Director of the Barita Foundation

What is one key change you believe needs to happen—whether in the workplace, community, or society—to create real progress for women, and how can you (or have you) contributed to making it happen?

WHEN contemplating matters of gender equality, I think about my daughter and the kind of reality I want to shape and influence through persons with whom I have direct contact.

In the context of my career as a corporate foundation professional, a role occupied mainly by women, I am mindful of the welfare outlook embraced by many, and I make a concerted effort to shift the narrow understanding of what we do through our work. Imbalance and inequity create conflict and result in many of the challenges we face as a society; it’s therefore imperative that as a female leader, I recognise that I may not be able to advance complete equity and instead work at bending the curve. I do this by applying a gendered lens in making decisions about impact investing, especially in education and youth development, and making everyday decisions that are sensitive to the unique needs of both men and women.