Is the sky the limit?: Leadership and socio-economic development of women in the maritime sector in the eastern and southern africa

Abstract

Women in leadership is high on the economic agenda of all international forums as it is deemed to be an effective tool in addressing a number of socio-economic issues, namely, poverty alleviation, social well-being and wealth creation. In the case of the maritime industry, positive contributions of women are increasingly being recognised. This paper draws a particular attention to socioeconomic development of women’s leadership in the maritime sector. This study applies a case study method, investigating the socio-economic development in women’s leadership in the Eastern and Southern Africa. An adapted model from the economic theory of the Kuznets curve is used for designing a survey of women in leadership as well as analysing their individual experiences in climbing up to leadership positions and their views on leadership in the traditionally maledominated maritime sector.