Dr. Chris Jardine, Group CEO of Tsebo Solutions Group, was honoured to participate in a panel discussion hosted by the Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) held in Cape Town on 30 April 2025.
The event, held as part of the UN Global Compact’s annual country network meeting, brought together African leaders to explore how businesses can help advance gender equality and climate action.
Facing the Hard Truths Together
The panel discussion, titled “Advancing Gender Equality in Corporate Africa is an Imperative,” was moderated by Qahir Dhanani, Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group. Dr. Jardine joined Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa (CEO of Naspers Limited) and Nola Richards (Head of ESG & Sustainable Business at Vodacom) to share experiences, practical examples, and reflections on what is being done — and what more can be done — to make progress in this space.
The session began with a stark look at some of the critical challenges:
- At the current rate, it will take 150 years to close Africa’s gender gap
- 24% of GDP is lost due to gender inequality
- Women hold just 10–20% of management roles in Africa (compared to 30–40% globally)
- On average, male entrepreneurs receive six times more funding than their female counterparts
Tsebo’s Commitment to Gender Equality
As a leading provider of Integrated Workplace Management Solutions across the continent, Tsebo is deeply committed to creating inclusive environments where all employees can thrive. We are proud to be certified as a Top Employer in Africa and recognised as a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor in South Africa. Of our 32,000-strong workforce, 56% are women, and this strong representation extends to leadership:
- 56% female representation in senior management
- 40% black female executive directorship at board level
- 44% of management are women
- In 2023, over 60% of participants in Tsebo’s leadership development programmes were women
Tsebo’s commitment to empowering women goes beyond its operations. Through its ESD initiatives, support for EMEs and QSEs, and CSR projects, the Group provides access to training, development, resources, and funding in a formalised programme, the Tsebo Phakiso programme — helping drive meaningful transformation in the communities it serves.
Through Tsebo’s Remote Sites business (ATS), Tsebo has actively engaged more than 15,400 women in income-generating activities such as agro-based projects, local artwork and catering initiatives across Africa. Additional impact includes:
- Support for over 142 women’s associations and cooperatives
- 25,700+ women benefiting from skills training and development programmes
- Over USD 105 million invested in women’s economic empowerment programmes to date
Leading with Allyship
Dr. Jardine spoke about the responsibility that business leaders — and particularly male leaders — have in creating supportive, inclusive environments. He emphasised the everyday actions that can help make a difference:
“Male allyship is what we do when no one’s watching. It’s about championing our women colleagues in the room — and especially when they’re not in the room.”
In reflecting on the event, Dr. Jardine expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to listen and learn alongside peers who are equally committed to driving positive change. He reiterated Tsebo’s ongoing dedication to fostering workplaces that value fairness, equity, and the potential of every individual.