New data shows 15 percent of export firms have women leaders, many of whom suffer from self-doubt and feel a lack of networks and money compared with their male counterparts
Women in leadership roles at export companies account for half of those in domestic firms according to the latest data, while women working in the industry are split on whether discrimination is a factor in the divide.
A diversity report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade released this year shows women make up a majority of the senior leadership roles in just 15 percent of export firms. By comparison, 28 percent of non-export firms had a majority of female leaders.
The New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is also delving into the topic. Of the 1400 companies the agency works with, only 16 percent are female-led, with women either in the final decision maker or chief executive role.
The agency is conducting initial research into the issue, which includes interviews with women at the helm of export companies. So far, this has highlighted a number of barriers that may be contributing to this low rate.
These include women suffering from self-doubt, lacking networks with export experience, power, and money compared with their male counterparts. A struggle to raise capital is also flagged, with some female founders saying they’ve opted out of fundraising because they’d be told it’d be more difficult as a woman.
“Fundraising was the thing that opened my eyes a bit to the fact that gender discrimination is still alive and well out there," – Janine Grainger, Easy Crypto chief executive
Janine Grainger is the chief executive and co-founder of Easy Crypto, a Kiwi company that has expanded overseas into Australia, Brazil and South Africa.
Grainger thinks discrimination is a stumbling block for women wanting to take their firm international, particularly when it comes to getting financial backing.
“Fundraising was the thing that opened my eyes a bit to the fact that gender discrimination is still alive and well out there,” she says. “Someone once said to me, ‘I never thought I’d invest in a company run by a woman,’ which was a bit of a backhanded compliment."
She’s been asked whether she planned to have children, as that would affect the investors' decision.
"It can be a legitimate question to ask in terms of how the company is going to be run over the coming years, but if it's a question that would only be asked to a woman, then that's not appropriate.”
Meanwhile, Nic Wetere, chief executive officer at Waikato-based dairy company Bodco, admits she suffers from self-doubt at times, but she doesn’t think her career has ever been hindered by the fact she’s a woman.
If anything, she thinks it's been helpful while travelling for business matters.
“There are not many women at the helm of export companies. In a way, you are almost treated better because people take you more seriously.”
At the same time, she says women who are entrepreneurs and trying to build their own company might come up against barriers she hasn’t had to face through working for established companies.
"I’ve also thought that if the company doesn't like the idea of me having children, I don't want to work for them anyway," – Nic Wetere, chief executive at Bodco
Wetere says she’s always been honest about her family plans with employers, and hasn’t felt she’s had any kick back.
“'I’ve always been treated with respect because of it. I’ve also thought that if the company doesn't like the idea of me having children, I don't want to work for them anyway.”
She says export business is a tough game, and she encourages women to build a strong support network in order to cope with the ups and the downs.
“You won't meet one exporter who hasn't failed on the journey. It’s the war stories which actually make up successful companies,” she says.
Catherine Beard, advocacy director at BusinessNZ, doesn’t think discrimination is necessarily stopping female-led businesses getting on the international stage, but rather that fewer women are drawn to working in export industries, such as the primary industries and manufacturing, in the first place.
Beard says exporting is difficult for any New Zealand companies, who tend to be on the smaller end of the scale and will struggle to compete in an international market.
