Page 14 - ITL Oct-Dec, 2020

Women on Board & in Business Leadership
On Oct 29, 2020, Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business and a larger emphasis by media to ensure that women rise to
(CERB); an outreach initiative of Pakistan Business Council, and the top. The organizational perspective was given by both Abrar
the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance held a webinar Hasan and Faryal Sadiq, about the gender related policies in
on ‘Women on Boards and in Business Leadership – Addressing their organization. As the male ally in the discussion, Abrar
barriers for women in senior leadership’. The online discussion Hasan spoke of his learning related to increasing the numbers of
featured Interloop’s Faryal Sadiq, VP Sales & Marketing alongside women in the workplace in his time as CEO, hence highlighting
Sadia Khan, Commissioner, SECP; Tahira Raza, Independent the tone that needs to come from the top.
Board Member & Former CEO First Women Bank Limited; Abrar
Hasan, CEO National Foods Limited; Ahsan Jamil, CEO, Faryal shared a similar perspective about the right tone at the
Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG); and Ehsan top, as an important first step which has to match the right
Malik, CEO Pakistan Business Council. policies and practices, including family friendly policies and
training women to be leaders in the organization. She echoed
Ahsan Jamil in his opening note, spoke about the importance of that at Interloop, women in visible leadership roles serve as role
gender in terms of economics and equality. The discussion, models in a more diverse workforce. In terms of management
moderated by Khadija Hashimi, Head of Corporate Affairs and positions, Faryal highlighted that Interloop has in the last two
Brand & Marketing, began with Sadia Khan and Loty Salazar years increased the number of women in the Management
sharing current statistics related to women on boards and in top committee, a visible change has been seen in initiatives and
positions in Pakistan and at a global level, highlighting that there policies in which women are involved, and added ‘Women are
is a clear difference in return of assets when there are women in heard as experts and not just representation of gender’.
top management positions.
The webinar highlighted the links between gender diversity and
When speaking on the situation that exists even if there is a company performance. It also highlighted the barriers which
business case for inclusivity, Tahira Raza highlighted that the need to be focused on, in the society and in the organization.
resistance is due to cultural and social challenges and must be This, combined with policies and company targets are the way to
addressed in a number of ways beginning from school curriculums achieve gender parity.

Corporate Briefing Session

“Interloop is a business for purpose! We always plan in advance performance during FY20 and Q1,21, showing remarkable
and take medium to long term decisions in the best interest of improvement after the first wave of COVID-19. The new
the company & all stakeholders”, said Musadaq Zulqarnain, Denim Plant & Hosiery Plant 5 are also recording significant
Chairman Interloop Limited, at the Corporate Briefing, held on progress and expected to add to sales & profit upon
Nov 19, 2020, online due to the COVID-19 situation. completion. With healthy order books and increasing sales,
the future prospects are encouraging, as the management
Institutional investors, analysts & shareholders took keen keeps a watchful eye on the second wave of the COVID
interest in the briefing as the Management shared company’s pandemic.

Musadaq Zulqarnain, Chairman Board of Directors; Navid Fazil, CEO; and Muhammad Maqsood Group CFO, Interloop Limited at the Corporate Briefing Session

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