Report-Back: CEO Connect Forum South Africa | August 18th, 2023

The Shared Value Africa Initiative, #ITSNOTOK, KPMG South Africa, University of Johannesburg, and Shift Impact Africa co-hosted the CEO Connect Forum, which took place on August 18, 2023, at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. 

The event gathered top CEOs and business leaders for incisive dialogue on tackling the urgent issue of gender-based violence (GBV) and promoting gender equality within and beyond organisational structures. Built upon previous research collaborations, this year’s forum focused on turning conversation into actionable change.

These speakers emphasised the economic imperatives of gender equality, revealed gaps in corporate leadership roles, and introduced actionable metrics and tools for immediate change. They also focused on the importance of empathy and leadership in combating systemic biases. The introduction of the Gender Equality Implementation Guide provided a structured approach for businesses to engage actively in gender equality initiatives. The forum closed with a call for immediate and comprehensive action, emphasising that gender equality is not only a moral but also a strategic business imperative.

Download the Forum Reportback, which underscores the critical role that CEOs and corporate leadership have in driving this change, backed by transparent metrics and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Click here to download the report-back