South Africa, with its rich diversity, faces many challenges, but taking a step back reveals a nation that is truly “stronger together”, says Jill Morris, a director at Lee Botti & Associates. “Diversity brings together people from different backgrounds, cultures and perspectives, fostering innovation and creativity.”According to Morris, gender diversity has become an important part of that diversity. “The country is evolving rapidly, with a significant focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, where diversity, equity, and inclusion play crucial roles,” she points out. Concurrently, the technological revolution, driven by AI and advanced technologies, is reshaping businesses and the global landscape.“Traditionally, the logistics industry, like many other sectors, has been male-dominated. However, there has been a significant increase in the number of women entering this dynamic field, taking on leadership roles, directorships, entrepreneurial ventures, and ownership positions,” she says, highlighting that women are seizing opportunities through education, networking, mentorship, and hard work to build their careers in an industry that used to be entered by c h a n c e . To d a y, there are myriad opportunities to study logistics, maritime, supply chain management, and transport, among others.Kim Botti, also a director at the company, says while recruitment practices sometimes still ref lect traditional gender roles – such as favouring men for physically demanding or security-focused positions and women for administrative roles due to their organisational skills – women are increasingly being considered for positions in logistics. “Women continue to demonstrate their ability to multitask by juggling a variety of skills. Strengths in administration, communication and emotional intelligence have enabled them to take on more responsibilities and more leadership roles.”Botti says the Covid-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for new work trends. “Although many organisations are effectively working back in the office, the world has seen that there are ways and means to think and function differently. We are seeing more and more career-minded women, many with children, balancing home and work life, focused on their career choices. This is not just driven by financial necessity but personal grow th.”Morris and Botti agree that these days male and female candidates more often than not have equal opportunities when applying for roles, with the best candidate being selected, regardless of gender. “The industry is far more open to equal opportunities for all. Interestingly, when considering the placements made in 2024 through our organisation, more than 65% of these have been female candidates, and this was across all sectors of roles from administration, operational and sales positions to management,” says Morris.
