IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/zbw/espost/320345.html

Women Leaders in the Strategic Positions of Pharmaceutical Companies: Overcoming Barriers and Systemic Biases

Author

Listed:
  • Nyeleti Mayimele, Nsovo

Abstract

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, emphasising the importance of ensuring full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public. The representation of women in leadership positions serves as a measure of gender equality. Empowering women in leadership facilitates inclusive economic growth and allows organisations to have a diversified talent pool. Women continue to be significantly underrepresented in strategic leadership roles within manufacturing pharmaceutical companies (MPCs) operating in South Africa, despite ongoing efforts to promote gender equity. This study aimed to assess the presence of women in board and executive leadership positions and propose strategies to promote gender-inclusive leadership. A systematic desktop review was conducted to analyse the websites and annual reports of 49 publicly listed MPCs that were selected from the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) 2021 register. The data were collected on company characteristics, leadership composition, gender distribution and professional qualifications of leaders within each company. The results revealed that women comprised only 29.48% of board members and 27.36% of executive leaders, with female pharmacists representing just 28.1% of leadership positions. Statistical analysis, including Chi-square tests, confirmed a gender disparity, with men significantly more likely to occupy strategic roles. The findings highlighted barriers such as unconscious bias, exclusion from influential networks, limited mentorship and sponsorship opportunities and challenges related to work-life balance. The study concludes that addressing these disparities requires a comprehensive approach, including structured sponsorship programs, gender-inclusive leadership policies, targeted talent development initiatives and corporate accountability measures. By implementing these strategies, pharmaceutical companies can create a more equitable leadership environment for women to enhance decision-making, innovation and long-term sustainability of the pharmaceutical industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Nyeleti Mayimele, Nsovo, 2025. "Women Leaders in the Strategic Positions of Pharmaceutical Companies: Overcoming Barriers and Systemic Biases," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 65-78.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:320345
    DOI: 10.61093/bel.9(1).65-78.2025
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/320345/1/BEL-1-2025-5-NM.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.61093/bel.9(1).65-78.2025?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ali Uyar & Cemil Kuzey & Merve Kilic & Abdullah S. Karaman, 2021. "Board structure, financial performance, corporate social responsibility performance, CSR committee, and CEO duality: Disentangling the connection in healthcare," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1730-1748, November.
    2. Bianca Rochelle Parry & Errolyn Gordon, 2021. "The shadow pandemic: Inequitable gendered impacts of COVID‐19 in South Africa," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 795-806, March.
    3. Yogavelli Nambiar & Margie Sutherland & Caren Brenda Scheepers, 2020. "The stakeholder ecosystem of women entrepreneurs in South African townships," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 70-86, January.
    4. Tesfaye T. Lemma & Tendai Gwatidzo & Mthokozisi Mlilo, 2023. "Gender differences in business performance: evidence from Kenya and South Africa," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(2), pages 591-614, February.
    5. Q. Dawood & M. Seedat-Khan, 2023. "The unforgiving work environment of black African women domestic workers in a post-apartheid South Africa," Development in Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(2), pages 168-179, February.
    6. Asel Isakova & Francesco Luna, 2021. "Gender Equality and Inclusive Growth," IMF Working Papers 2021/059, International Monetary Fund.
    7. George Nel & Henriette Scholtz & Waldette Engelbrecht, 2022. "Relationship between online corporate governance and transparency disclosures and board composition: evidence from JSE listed companies," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 304-325, April.
    8. Nyeleti Mayimele, Nsovo & Hulisani Demana, Patrick & Godfrey Keele, Mothobi, 2023. "Pharmacists as Strategic Leaders of Manufacturing Pharmaceutical Companies with Operations in South Africa," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 7(4), pages 200-209.
    9. Aruoriwo Marian Chijoke-Mgbame & Agyenim Boateng & Chijoke Oscar Mgbame, 2020. "Board gender diversity, audit committee and financial performance: evidence from Nigeria," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(3), pages 262-286, July.
    10. Elena Bulmer & Magalí Riera & Raquel Rodríguez, 2021. "The Importance of Sustainable Leadership amongst Female Managers in the Spanish Logistics Industry: A Cultural, Ethical and Legal Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-19, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Beloskar, Ved Dilip & Haldar, Arunima & Gupta, Anupama, 2024. "Gender equality and women’s empowerment: A bibliometric review of the literature on SDG 5 through the management lens," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    2. Katarina Gomoryova, 2024. "Female Leadership and Financial Performance: A Meta-Analysis," Working Papers IES 2024/6, Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Economic Studies, revised Jan 2024.
    3. Nebyu Adamu Abebe & Navkiranjit Kaur Dhaliwal, 2024. "An empirical investigation of corporate governance attributes and firm performance: evidence from the ethiopian insurance industry," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 4(10), pages 1-25, October.
    4. Khalil Nimer & Muath Abdelqader & Cemil Kuzey & Ali Uyar, 2024. "Emission targeting and carbon emissions: The moderating effect of female directors," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3480-3504, May.
    5. Abusharbeh, Mohammed & Hanaysha, Jalal Rajeh & Samara, Husni, 2025. "The interactive effect of environmental management team with board attributes on sustainability pillars: Evidence from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    6. Asif Mahmood & Rana Tahir Naveed & Naveed Ahmad & Miklas Scholz & Muhammad Khalique & Mohammad Adnan, 2021. "Unleashing the Barriers to CSR Implementation in the SME Sector of a Developing Economy: A Thematic Analysis Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    7. Gladys Merma-Molina & Mayra Urrea-Solano & Salvador Baena-Morales & Diego Gavilán-Martín, 2022. "The Satisfactions, Contributions, and Opportunities of Women Academics in the Framework of Sustainable Leadership: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-23, July.
    8. Yue Vaughan & Yinyoung Rhou & Yoon Koh & Manisha Singal, 2024. "Slack resources and employee-centered corporate social responsibility in restaurant companies," Tourism Economics, , vol. 30(3), pages 592-614, May.
    9. Soana, Maria Gaia, 2024. "Environmental strategies, environmental performance and board sustainability committees: Are financial and non-financial companies different?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    10. Bramwell Kundishora Gavaza & Gift Donga & Justice Ngonidzashe Muchineripi, 2025. "Microfinance and women's entrepreneurship In South African townships," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 7(4), pages 12-22, July.
    11. Samuel Tanjeh Mukah & Martin Ngassa & Wamba Berthelo Kueda & Tiateh Prince Tantoh, 2025. "Board Characteristics and Financial Reporting Quality: An Empirical Analysis of Public Limited Companies in Cameroon," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 12(6), pages 1476-1490, June.
    12. Ali Shariff Kabara & Saleh F. A. Khatib & Ayman Hassan Bazhair & Hamid Ghazi H Sulimany, 2022. "The Effect of the Board’s Educational and Gender Diversity on the Firms’ Performance: Evidence from Non-Financial Firms in Developing Country," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, September.
    13. Andrea Bencsik & Sylwia Pangsy-Kania, 2023. "Sustainable Leadership Practices Based on the Logic of the Honeybee Pyramid—Comparison of Hungarian and Polish SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-27, August.
    14. Pompei MITITEAN, 2023. "The Relationship Between Corporate Governance Mechanisms and Financial Institution Performance. A COVID-19 Perspective," CECCAR Business Review, Body of Expert and Licensed Accountants of Romania (CECCAR), vol. 3(12), pages 55-65, December .
    15. Mauro Romano & Antonio Netti & Antonio Corvino & Marika Intenza, 2024. "Environmental innovation in healthcare industry: The moderating role of women on board in cost of debt," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1921-1933, May.
    16. Neji Al-Eid Omri & Abdulhameed Mohanna Alfaleh, 2024. "The effects of boardroom gender diversity on corporate performance: empirical evidence from a sample of European listed companies," Business Economics, Palgrave Macmillan;National Association for Business Economics, vol. 59(2), pages 86-100, April.
    17. Giovanni Zampone & Giuseppe Sannino & Isabel‐María García‐Sánchez, 2023. "Exploring the moderating effects of corporate social responsibility performance under mimetic pressures. An international analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 53-65, January.
    18. Hassan, M. Kabir & Houston, Reza & Karim, M.Sydul & Sabit, Ahmed, 2023. "CEO duality and firm performance during the 2020 coronavirus outbreak," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
    19. Brahma, Sanjukta & Boateng, Agyenim, 2025. "Board gender diversity, CEO power and LGBTQ-supportive corporate policies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    20. Prince Brefo Boakye & Bernard Bawuah & Desmond Bayond, 2025. "Leveraging firm governance mechanisms for integrated reporting in sub-Saharan Africa: does earnings management matter?," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 1-34, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • L65 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Chemicals; Rubber; Drugs; Biotechnology; Plastics
    • P46 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:320345. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/zbwkide.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.