 Alright, thanks for staying with us. So equity appears to be more achievable than equality, primarily because it recognizes that different individuals or group have different needs and requires distributing resources and opportunities accordingly. Now equality, on the other hand, assumes that everyone has the same starting point and can achieve the same outcomes with equal treatment. This approach does not take into account the historical, societal, personal, and gender-specific differences that certain groups have. Now by recognizing and addressing the specific needs of different individuals or group, we can work towards a more just and equitable society. And so we are asking what does embracing equity mean, particularly for career women and what are some challenges women face in business partnerships. Now, please, let's hear what you have to say. Remember, you can join the conversation, send us an SMS or what's up to rate one. 803-846-63, you can also tweet at us at Weishaw Afqa One with the hashtag Weishaw. So Jennifer, I'm going to bring in our guest in a minute and Uti as well. So I just wanted to quickly run the idea of equity. And let me come to you, Uti, right, when you hear the word equity. First of all, do you subscribe to equity as the way it's been presented for women? Do you subscribe to the idea or the concept of equity? And if you do, why? Yeah, so I mean, equity for me is not a new concept in that that word has been around. But, you know, in the context of thinking about it in relation to equity, to equality, rather, and even though we know that DI, that's diversity, equity and inclusion has been around for a while, equity in itself comes to the fore. When it comes to the fore of your mind, it actually can be quite thought provoking because it forces you to stop and think. You know, for the longest time, we were fighting for equality. We were fighting to be seen. We were fighting to be heard. We were fighting to have the same opportunities as men, right? But the truth is, even when you have the same opportunities, it doesn't mean that the outcomes will be the same because, take, for example, I'm 5'11", right? It sees probably 5'2 or 5'3", maybe. Now, if the both of us wore 16 tails, right, I still would be able to see a lot further ahead than Issy would, even though we've been given the same opportunity, right? So, equity talks about the fact that what does Issy need, right, to be able to see as far ahead as Issy? So, maybe Issy needs a pair of flat shoes or maybe Issy needs a table to stand on. But the fact is, we're now not focused so much on the idea that everybody should just have the same opportunities. But we're now focused on the outcome, on the end point, which is, are we creating success? Are we giving people everything that they need, unique to their circumstances, to get to the goal? So, if we talk about the goal being equal for everyone, let's just say we're talking about success for women, then for each and every single woman, what does she need for success? But I think the thing that I love most about equity is that equity is for everybody. It's not just for women, right? It's every single person has a unique set of needs. And the minute we begin to recognize that, the minute we begin to see that, I have to think about every single person as an individual or maybe a group of a collective in terms of what their unique needs might be, we're going to be able to serve a lot of people better. We're going to have a lot of happier people. We're going to have a lot of just a lot more progress than we would have had for equality. So equality was a great place to start, but equity is a greater place to be. Absolutely, absolutely. Jennifer, do you agree? Yeah, I totally agree with you. Equity is not gender-specific. It is for everybody. And I think everyone needs to recognize that. Everyone deserves an opportunity, and you should be given what you deserve. If you're not bringing so much to the table, then I don't see any reason why you should be sitting at the table. Whether you're a man or a woman, I don't know whatever gender you are. If you're not contributing as much as other people, then there is no seat for you. So if you know and you're sure you can play the game, you can be at the table, you can present what you have and what you have is up to par. Then by all means, you should be given the opportunity to be seen and be heard. Absolutely, absolutely. I totally agree. And everybody that understands those subjects of equity, you know that everybody's needs are unique. So imagine us tailoring specifics. I love Ooty's description of Easey, the heels and all of that. Because of Easey's height, the advantage she may need to stand on the table. Somebody else may just need maybe a six-inch pair of shoes and wear good, right? But hey, let me bring in our guest. So Ibitayo Akimbovola is the executive director of Exclusive Smile Clinic. She has a BSc in biomedical science from Stratfordshire University and an MSc in pharmaceutical sciences from Greenwich University, both in the United Kingdom. She has also attended executive management programs in the leading business schools. Now with over 15 years working experience as an administrator in diverse sector spanning healthcare, telecommunications, housing, marketing and agricultural sector, she is currently the co-founder and group executive director, operations and strategic management at Beacon Hill Smile Group Ltd. And she's joined us live in studio. Looking amazing, hello. Thank you, thank you so much. I like your smile. So because you're here. Yes, it's good to have you here. Yes. Oh, no, when you guys were with me, I was like, oh my God. Is that me? Very good, it's good. Yes, I mean, thank you so much for joining us. This conversation is long, long, long overdue. But thank you for making out time to be with us this evening. All right, so I mean, it's quite interesting reading through your CV, seeing the fact that there are two parts to this conversation that I liked us to touch on. The part on, you know, equity, what it means to you as a career woman. The part of, you know, business partnerships, because you're a co-founder for a business. Again, because first of all, you're a woman, you know, I don't know whether your co-founder is male or female. You know, what exactly are the dynamics, you know, because I see that a lot of times with businesses, there's so much murkiness, you know. Male dominance. And the successful ones are mostly guys, or maybe male-female. Most times when you see female-female together, there's problems because somehow, somehow down the line, there will be some separation. Yeah, right? So I mean, let's talk on the subject of embracing equity. What does it mean for you as a career woman? Well, thank you very much for that question and happy Women International Month because we got the month, not just one day. Yeah. So equity, as for me in a workplace, is actually a great thing because the other lady spoke on the fact that we have fought for equality. And equality is we get the same thing. Now, equity is we get the same thing, but understanding that the circumstances are different. So what more resources are you given to manage those circumstances to get to the same goal? That's equity. So it's actually a beautiful thing because it makes women shine in wherever they go. And quite a lot, Nigeria actually as a whole is improving. I do agree because you see a lot of women in top positions, you know, what a man can do, we believe that a woman can do even better because we even have master circumstances. We have family, friends, we have, as you said, female to female relationship. Yes, as you said. So we have so many and a male get away with so many things and we are placed in high standard. So to match up, you know, it's good, it's good. It's just being fair, treat me the way you treat a man based on what you give me to get the outcome. Okay, so before I will let Jennifer come in, I want to speak specific to you. How has equity helped you in your career? So bringing it home to you? I believe I work hard. And thank God for good education. I know my worth. So in that perspective, when a man is going for a job or I'm coming for the job, the chances of me knowing I'm going to get it, it depends on what that man is bringing on board. So you're not just going to hire that person based on is a male. You're going to hire them based on what they can give. So for me as a person, I it's been good. It's been good because I know my worth and I fight for my right. So I believe that when I'm not getting what I deserve or what I've put in and the outcome is not in my favor knowing the amount of work I've put into it then we have a problem, don't we? So equality is for me as a person has been good. So you've been getting what you deserve? Well, you have to put in place that we're women. And I understand that fact that we're women. So the point of do I have it all is different for equity in a workplace. So having it all like you have the career, you have the family, you have everything just going well, that's having it all. But when it comes to a workplace, you're playing ball with men. You're playing ball with, so you can't just act on the fact that you're a woman to not develop or to not be as much as a man. Yes, based in time, based in research and most especially based in outcome. The goal that you're getting, that you're getting results done. I'm going to be getting results done and then they'll give it to a man because it's a man. So let's not forget that we're women. So we have to work harder as women. It's standard around the world. Let's talk about it. Women are men they believe in. Men to be in the kitchen, especially in an African setting. The leverage of women playing with men in Africa is not as elite or understandable as the western world. So we have to come in place that, oh, what are the surroundings around me? What am I putting in around me? What am I getting at around me in the circumstances that I find myself? So that's why I said, I don't play for less. So for me, equality I've been getting it because I know I deserve it. Jenny baby. It's amazing you said that and I mean hearing that means that there's probably been progress where you currently work or in the course of your career journey. Because I know years before now that was in the situation. I've also had situations where at my previous workplace my colleague and I his male and I mean we do basically the same thing but my role needed to expand. I was doing way more than he was doing. So for my own team I handed everything I managed all the clients and at the same time I had to also work with him to manage his own clients as well. And in situations like that it's like, oh, I was paid lesser he was paid more I think it got to a point where they wanted me to take some part of his role and I didn't mind I was very excited but then that involved me traveling within Nigeria and then if I was going to go to a state where I needed security I would go with security likewise him so it was basically the same thing but I was shut down. So the initial goal was I was going to do this I was excited which felt like oh yeah I was going to get more pay but after a while I was called to an office and then I was told oh you can't go anymore and I asked why he said because you're a woman. I'm like what does that have to do with anything? I said oh you might get married soon. I'm single I don't have a family or a child I have to go back home to. I am working hard I am getting the results done my region is doing so much better than every other region so what is the problem? So I've had these issues but what I currently work is a bit different because I am being recognized for my work nobody's telling me this guy they're going to give an opportunity to a man because they feel he would do it better. If I can do it better all well and good they're going to appreciate me but I want to ask something have you been able to navigate this to find balance because I know it is not possible that everyone you work with believes in equity and treats you the way you want to be treated. There would definitely be people even in your current space probably even people who are your subordinates that will treat you in a certain way have you been able to balance this and navigate this? I got my emotions. So when I got my emotions I expect that we are all human you know so the expectation of the next person I'm not going to let it affect how I react or so I'm guarding my emotions. They say we are very emotional women so you put that into account and let me just talk back on the fact that you have improved in the place you've worked so the equality which we're fighting for has paid out. It's paid out in a lot of companies as well. The way companies now hire HR to do the right thing and put all this awareness and fight that we women keep saying that we want and we're actually getting maybe not in the flamboyant way that we should be getting it but the awareness is we're talking about it maybe 10 years down the line it's not something they talk about even in Africa or we just take what we are dished but right now with technology there's more awareness there's more recognition because before even though it was being done who do you report to you know nobody's really seeing that. But right now there's platforms where we can speak freely we can come out and say I need help and then when it touch bounds to when you go out meet another woman and now you find women in top positions so no matter how tough we try women because women bosses are really harder than men for some reason. No matter how we are still women and we come down like that but we'll help some another woman if you can deliver we don't want to help another woman and then the woman doesn't deliver it kind of tarnishes a woman's image that we are trying to work hard for unlike a man you can hire for so many reasons you know you can hire a man for so many reasons one that oh he doesn't have the baggages the family baggage women carry like what they said oh you were single why do you being single have to be an equation if I and I deliver the same equal amount and even better yes you know it shouldn't be an excuse but we are fighting and it's really really working so in terms of me that I believe that oh can I work in I everybody knows that I just expect resolved I'm very compassionate I'm very friendly and for me to expect most of the time because I've worked quite a lot coming to Nigeria I've always been in top positions so I've always had subordinates and when you expect something for somebody have you equipped them to know because knowledge is key knowledge is power you know so I'm not being proud but I will say I am being fair in the way I do and expecting deadlines so if you're meeting in my good books and if I'm going to discipline I'm going to discipline based on the H-house law and the effect so I've given you first warning in writing so the code of conduct of every organization organizations now that there's being watched a lot of organization yes that how are you treating we women in your organization yeah so that's why I said through the years well in the time we're in and it's only going to get better it's only going to get better because women are delivering okay yeah we are on that note we have a woman that delivers what we take her opinion question when we come back from the break stay with us we'll be right back alright you are still watching Waze now if you just tuned in we're discussing the topic embracing equity and we're asking what it means for career women and we have Ibitaio Akim Babola with us now please let's hear what you have say remember you can join the conversation send us an SMS or add sub to 08-1 8034663 you can also tweet at us at Weissho alright so I mean the subject of delivery is quite interesting so I don't know was that the best way you could have handled that your own situation Jennifer I don't know but let me come to you Uti you know what do you have to say well so I love some of the the things that the guest has already shared around how she deals with performance and you know leveraging equity I was just interested in her views around one of the key drivers for equity or one of the things that is really really driving that concept of equity and giving more opportunities is the concept of technology and innovation so we see how far we've come in terms of leveraging digital solutions to be able to have better work life balances right so since the pandemic before the pandemic in Nigeria was almost impossible to hear I work remotely but since 2020 of course we now know that working remotely has in fact has become the norm so just interesting to hear what our guest's thoughts are around the impact of technology of innovation on women with this concept of equity and how she's leveraging that in her organization so did you get that did well in terms of leveraging technology technology has made our lives easier and let's be real is connected us as well and is made knowledge impactful so let's say like she mentioned pre-pandemic or pre-COVID there was nothing like working from home you know there was nothing put in place people do work from home I wonder what do they do I used to wonder because my work has always been physical and touch base but I'm administrative I work for clinical so those ones they always open yes there's no work from home you have to be on ground but there are some aspects of the company that can work from home as well like account department can work from home source IT doesn't have to be on ground so we've accessed quite a number of departments in the organization and we have leveraged on working from home like my sister now she works from home she's very much involved in working and upfront that is a goal on from site so you have the time for the kids you can be driving your kids to a soccer game and you're still connected to work because when you stop you'll answer messages and do what you have to do so technology has really helped and technology has helped in ways of awareness as well back to coming together technology has brought us together you can pick up the phone remember when I was growing up you have to wait till you have go to night you want to go there until we are moved please please please you should stay in the house and you can connect you sit in the house and get jobs globally globally but you have to have the right skills to get it but you see even the skills now speaking to what Uti said about technology the skills now you can actually sit in the comfort of your home and learn new skills because again a lot of companies I was speaking to a friend of mine and she was saying that she's putting together she's going in front of some investors and they really want to work on helping moms people that are raising kids when it comes to the work environment because again there's a support structure that is required and technology is really helping so now you are seeing that most companies now are setting up as simple as what's it called in the organization where mothers can be at peace working and knowing that the child is sorted just little little things have been infused has been infused in what's it called in some organizations they have put in those measures just to ensure that there's fairness there's equity because for a new mom what would equity mean for her she's smart, she's intelligent she already has all the skills to be able to do the job but equity would mean that she needs someone to be there to make sure that her child is fine and she's not worried so she can concentrate on the job that's what equity would mean for a new mom equity would mean something different for Jennifer that is single that doesn't have any responsibility like maybe raising another human being if organizations begin to put that consciousness in their in their setup in their make up as a company and I think some organizations have started doing that they are very conscious about it they are making sure that okay we are putting in XYZ in place for women again technology I would say that life is really easy these days because now the skills even the job environment is changing the skills that you would have required in the past you don't need some of those skills anymore because now you can just go on an app and it will just tell you what you need to do so I think if organizations begin to just adapt some of these technological advancements into the organization it will make people make life easy which he wanted to run away from us for a beat and how organizations give her work from London but I mean this kind of thing would not have happened in the past she would have two things either you would have had to forget about the holiday or you would have decided to just resign from the job but I think there is a bit of a hybrid down happening with different organizations you want to say something Jennifer I like the fact that there are still a lot of companies that still need to get to this point where you're making you're making resources and you're making things available for women to also perform and do well at their jobs like you started as women we have hormones and these are not things that we can't control them that is how we are built and then you have a situation where I have to by the time I get married and I give birth I still have to be a career woman I still have to take care of my family I still have to take care of my kids and sometimes you have situations where a woman has given birth and she's a nursing mother and by the time she gets back to work after her maternity leave you realize that the job isn't there anymore for her they have to probably give her something lesser because oh I couldn't wait for you I mean I get that work has to go on but there has to be things in place to make sure that by the time she's coming back to her job she's either coming to meet a better opportunity or you're just giving her something better she's not supposed to feel less of herself or be demoted just because she gave birth to a child I mean the society will still tell you as a woman if you're married and you're not given birth it's still the same society that will ask you why you do not have a child so those kind of things is like what parts do you get what do you want us to do it's like they're pulling us on all sides I mean we have to do everything so let me come back to you you're quite a co-founder it means you're an employer of labour so what are you putting in place in your organisation to help women just to further enhance the subject of equity that we're talking about okay first I'd like to say most of the top position in the organisation that I co-found are women actually yes I can say that for each clinic clinic is erred by a woman and for that we understand that to give your best we have to give the best in terms of what you say with a child you're allowed to bring your child to work in the safe environment because the company is only 8 years old so we're just having to have new mothers come into the system and we can say that we don't have high kind of staff so people like to stay people like to work for us people like to work for myself and the co-founder and we're putting things like your maternity leave don't touch it is covered we're putting things like your medical family front is number one if family is okay you'll give your best because your rest is sure that you're okay on front so things like school fees if you have an issue paying your children's school fees we can what's the name of your company again don't send my CV sorry I was just joking we can your smile group we have dental vision, dermatology women, aesthetics we believe that the world is going to start being run by women because top position as I said we have women top tech companies you see women sitting in the CEO so things that do change it and we have to put to get in the best out of someone you have to make them happy so things like childcare, medicals your maternity leave you're even coming back from work if you say I'm not ready to come back from work we'll say okay we're not going to replace you because we give you contracts so stick to the contracts and we will stick to the contracts as well let me come to you Uti quickly because you asked a question around the key drivers for equity do you think these key drivers should be universal in all organizations or do you think it should be specific to different industries since you asked that question specific to industries I think the very nature of equity in itself is that it looks at the needs of either the individual or a group of a collective of people that share the same kind of needs and every industry is unique so for example banking public health all of those kind of industries probably need to be working to 24-7 some industries might not need to so these sort of policies that are put in place will have different variations but the end goal is now what we're focused on is on how do we make sure that you have a healthy happy work life balance your mental health is fine everything that we're thinking about that will make you a happy functioning person like our guest said if everything is okay on the home front then we know that we expect that you're going to give your best at work right so these policies and we've seen quite a lot of positive change in a lot of industries I mean the other day I saw a company I think it was on social media I think it was on LinkedIn and the company was saying that they have a one day a month menstrual health leave for women right and then there are companies that have extended paternity pay to a full month because they know that fathers also want to be involved so it's not it's really about understanding the circumstances and the needs and then being able to provide for that so whether the person is female whether they're disabled whatever the circumstances right it's just making sure that we're really thinking about what success looks like for each collective that's interesting because now hearing you speak you know we have a happy work governor you know as ridiculous as it sounded when he said it that he wants to create happy hours we then now see that it's actually quite important if you really want to balance you know there should just be some kind of happy hour that is happening I think I want to move to Aqaibom right now alright so let's take comments Uti so my comment says good evening my dear beautiful sisters of hashtag ways embracing equity what it means for carrier women my dear beautiful sister Jennifer mentioned two important points which should not be ignored firstly she said that someone who does not contribute to the table has no business staying at the table secondly she said that women should be given the opportunity to be seen and heard which is very key your guest made mention of a woman who wants to embrace equity must be hard very hard to understand which means there's no room for laziness to who much is given much is expected and of course that's from Daniel Illo our regular fan Daniel Illo calm down for Jesus I said to whom much is given what is expected when they give you women and they not giving you much too but that's on a light note okay so if you had one thing to say to women what would you say to them because again I like the fact that hearing you speak you seem like someone that is very interested in if you do your job then we don't have a problem right and I see that again this is what I hear people women say I will not support you just because you're a woman I would support you because I know that you are bringing something great to the table you're delivering on your job you're excellent at it and you're standing out right that's why I would support you I hear that argument a lot you know so if you had something to say to women right as we are still trying to speak on the subject of equity right what would we say you know that should be how then to now approach because Jennifer I think she asked you that question how do you approach this first of all when someone gives you something less than what you're worth what do you do as a woman do you walk away from that organization or do you stay and then demand for what you think you deserve what do you do then if you had something to say generally to women what would that be okay for the first question what would I do I will pack my bags and leave even though I like to fight I'm not my fighter physically I fight with my output so if they know my worth and I leave the company are they gonna miss me is the company yeah the company will probably still move on you know so your worth comes back to we didn't miss me but personally I'll leave and if they can put things right then I will stay but if they don't even budge then I will leave and move on what I want to say to women out there is we are more than what we think we are let's come out of our shelves let's know our worth let's because if we are in the cocoon it's the outer shell people are going to see and the outer shell is like a camouflage just to leave you know it's like wearing a makeup you know they don't see the bare skin they see makeup and why do we wear makeup it's because we're in the cocoon we're in the shell but if you come out of yourself someone's still saying to me today they are very natural and I'm like okay even though I was coming here and I still had to put a wig on I have a dress under and I'm like oh well it's because what you feel or what you think about me I've got it in my heart I'm not so you're settled in I'm not going to let it budge let's be comfortable in our skin let's know ourselves but we are more than what we even give ourselves credit for once we put our mind to doing something we men will get it done absolutely I agree with you so I have a comment here that says career women should always know that as women they are the ones who are managing our homes and nobody can take that away from them they should do everything to create that balance between their career and their homes organizations who have women in mind should build their organizations with the concept of family in mind so that every woman who is working with them will not be left behind in this sense they should create spaces where their mothers can have space within the organization to take care of their babies while they work thank you Santos this subject of managing the home I've been saying this lately I don't have a problem managing the home I just need a chef I need a cook I need a driver I will help you to manage the home I see a lot of mothers they have and they still don't feel comfortable to let just the driver and nanny go pick up your kid for that I would not even allow that to happen I'm saying that for effectiveness I need the team because sometimes they have the team but they don't know what to do with it don't you agree with me we need the team I feel in that situation that's where being an operations manager comes into play I'm an operations manager I need to manage the entire process I just need to relax I've paid for the resources I have the money to then all I just need to do is manage the entire thing because all these men that want me to go out come back then I'll cook that's not fair we are human beings so if you really want us to manage the home managing the home is not a problem the way I organize people in the office I can come and organize the home and make sure that everything is not that you are expecting that woman to do all that and then come home and I know that's too much I know that my women agree with me but thank you so much I think we had an amazing conversation thank you Jennifer, thank you Uti now before we go I'll show you followers across all our social media handles that wish you Africa you can interact with us further drop a comment and more importantly follow all our engagements on social media like share and invite your families and friends to watch and follow the conversation we have a quote for today here it is again the difference between equity and equality is that equality is everyone gets the same thing and equity is everyone gets the things they deserve we'll see you guys on Monday at 8pm as we bring another great conversation to your screen enjoy bye