The Mauritius Institute of Directors (MIoD) hosted the event “Power in Progress: Accelerating Action for Equity” on 6 March at its new offices in Hyvec Business Park, Ebène. This event, organised for International Women’s Day 2025, brought together business leaders, policymakers, and professionals from various sectors to examine the ongoing barriers to gender equity and discuss concrete strategies to catalyse the emergence of transformational and inclusive governance.
Among the speakers were Katie Lalor, Deputy High Commissioner of Australia to Mauritius, who discussed how women are transforming the global business landscape, and Jean Pierre Payet, Managing Director of Engen Petroleum (Mauritius) Ltd, who highlighted why gender equity is a strategic imperative for today’s businesses. Ranini Cundasawmy, world champion in Muay Thai and a leading figure in Mauritian sports, captivated the audience by sharing her exceptional journey and illustrating how mental strength and resilience can redefine the limits of possibility.
During the event, the MIoD also launched the “Women Leadership Academy (WLA) Readiness Programme,” developed in collaboration with Dale Carnegie Mauritius. This program is designed to prepare women in junior to mid-level professional roles for leadership positions. The WLA Readiness Programme is seen as a precursor to the flagship WLA program, which has already trained more than 200 women professionals in Mauritius and over 30 in Kenya. It addresses the crucial need to strengthen the pool of female talent at the early stages of their professional careers.
The event “Power in Progress: Accelerating Action for Equity” is part of the #AccelerateAction campaign launched by the MIoD in February 2025. This ambitious initiative aims to catalyse a proactive movement within the Mauritian business community to promote gender equity in leadership positions. The campaign includes video interviews with women leaders sharing their personal journeys and experiences, as well as testimonials from leaders aiming to inspire a more proactive movement from the business community.
This event also marks an important milestone for the MIoD, being the first advocacy event organized in its new offices since its strategic relocation last year, a move designed to better meet the growing needs of its members and the Mauritian business ecosystem.
Sheila Ujoodha, CEO of MIoD, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Diversity and inclusion are undeniable competitive advantages for organisations that know how to value all talents. Research shows that companies that fully embrace diversity outperform their competitors in terms of innovation and performance. Our #AccelerateAction campaign aims to promote a meritocratic approach, where skills and expertise are recognised and valued regardless of gender. It is essential to place the right skills in the right positions to build resilient and high-performing organizations. The time has come to transform our collective aspirations into tangible realities, creating environments where every talent can flourish and contribute fully to the success of our organisations.”
Dr. the Hon. Mrs Jyoti Jeetun, Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning, stated: “I think in terms of the government programme, policy and corporate governance, we are aligned around getting more women across the board, not just on corporate boards, but everywhere. One of the gaps that we have to address, and that’s under my ministry, is public sector organisations where diversity is not a requirement yet, as it is in the private corporate world. So we have to address public sector organizations as well to make sure that it also becomes a requirement there.”
In terms of her advice to women seeking to obtain a position on boards, the Minister took the view that it was no longer enough to work hard and await recognition. “I think today you need more than efforts. The younger generation who are coming up need to build a personal brand presence on social media. You need to be visible, you need to have your voice heard. At the moment, I have to fill a number of boards, and I have to look for people. And I am obviously looking for more women on my boards. Unless the women are visible, unless I’ve heard their voice, I wouldn’t find them. I wouldn’t think of them. So I think as much as mine was an activist story and I’m standing here today, I think that’s not the message for every woman who wants to succeed today,” she underlined.
The Hon. Anishta Babooram, Junior Minister for Gender Equality and Family Welfare, added: “On this International Women’s Day, it is time to celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women worldwide. But it is also time to encourage every woman to step out of her comfort zone, take charge of her life, and become a powerful force for change. Women have the right to dream big, take risks, and succeed. However, this can only happen if men become true allies, supporting gender equality in all aspects of life, including the workplace. Gender equality is within reach, but it is essential to work together, starting now, to achieve it.”
This MIoD initiative aligns with a long-term vision to transform the corporate governance landscape in Mauritius. By encouraging diversity and inclusion as strategic levers for organisational performance, the MIoD reaffirms its role as a key partner for organisations wishing to adopt best practices in corporate governance. Through its advocacy forums, training programs, and strategic initiatives, the Institute continues to shape a business ecosystem where diversity is recognised not as a regulatory or social obligation, but as a true lever for transformation and innovation.
About the Mauritius Institute of Directors (MIoD)
The Mauritius Institute of Directors is a professional organisation dedicated to improving the standards and practices of corporate governance in Mauritius. Established in 2008, the MIoD is committed to promoting excellence in business leadership by providing leading resources and support to develop the institutional capacity of its members and the business community. The Institute aims to equip directors and business leaders with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the modern challenges of corporate governance effectively. Through workshops, seminars, networking events, and organisational support, the MIoD actively shapes leadership practices that support ethics, responsibility, and sustainability in both the private and public sectors. More information about the MIoD is available at www.miod.mu.
