Maryanne Maina

Maryanne Maina

Mentoring people to enable them to tap into their skills is essential for the growth of the workforce. It also improves productivity in the workplace, competitiveness of employers and it promotes self-employment.

"Mentoring and coaching is important for women's development. Very few women join top management without being guided," said Sandra Dunn, the deputy chief executive officer at the Banking Sector Education and Training Authority (Bankseta).

"Through mentoring, relationships are formed. Networking is very important in one's career. Therefore, one must find a mentor who is influential in their field to guide them."

Dunn is involved in various leadership projects that promote a culture of learning in companies.

"We have also launched a women's development programme for the banking sector which targets 15 women annually for intense leadership development," she said.

"In these programmes, women interact with other women in banking and microfinance sectors and various companies are also involved."

This profession requires a person who is patient, resilient and passionate about people and their development.

"It is also important to learn a sense of urgency and problem solving in this job," said Dunn. "Working in human resources is an added advantage for anyone interested in this kind of work."

In her profession she is faced by various challenges such as scarce leadership skills and few women holding senior management positions.

Dunn gained valuable experience by working in various human resources roles in the banking industry for 10 years before joining Bankseta.

"I identified key people as mentors to tap into, who coached me and prepared me for my leadership role," said Dunn.

"My education has also been key in my career. I studied a bachelor's degree, a master's certificate in training and development and a management advancement programme," she said.