Big interview: Hilda Singo

Hilda Singo was awarded Africa’s most influential woman (Malawi) in the Most Influential Women (MIW) in business and government award for 2014 accolade. She is a woman who wears different robes. Excerpts:

Q.Tell me about yuorself

I am Hilda Chipanda Singo, fifth born of six children born to Beatrice Nomalanga Khuzwayo Chipanda and Elton Muarri Chipanda. A proud catholic, I am married to Stain Singo and we have six children. One of our sons has a beautiful baby girl born eight months ago. She is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Three of our children currently live in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Q. What is your educational and professional background?

Part of my primary school education was done in Salima before I was selected to Ludzi Girls Secondary School for the initial two years and proceeded to Kamuzu Academy following its opening in 1985 for Forms Three up to Form Six. I pursued tertiary education with the University of Malawi at the Polytechnic. My choice for a business qualification saw me enrolling for a bachelor of commerce (business administration). After graduating, I worked for a couple of years in the Accountant General’s department. I was then offered a scholarship to study accountancy in England. I returned home qualified as a chartered management accountant with CIMA of the UK.

Looking back, I am grateful to my superiors who made this possible. Their long term vision developed the accountancy profession at a time when government was less supportive to train public servants in commercially oriented professions for fear of professionals being poached into the private sector. I am glad that after gaining some significant work experience I was offered the opportunity to study further and therefore secured another scholarship to study for a masters degree in Scotland at the University of Strathclyde Graduate Business School.

Q. What sort of upbringing did you have?

My mother was very influential in my life. While my father provided and ensured education was paramount, she was always there, as strict as ever and a disciplinarian. Although it may surprise many that given I married whilst in university, it did not deter my determination to finish my studies and neither did I disappoint my family to achieve the ultimate goal to graduate from university at the scheduled time.

Q. What do you do?

Professionally, I work at Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL) as company secretary and chief administration officer. The positions involve management of the corporate structure and ensuring the company complies with its corporate obligations more specifically corporate governance, board logistics, legal and regulatory matters, strategic management and people management. On the administrative side, I am responsible for security, facility and fleet management departments.

In addition, through charity I am involved in a number of philanthropic activities through the Lions Club of Blantyre, where I am president; and the St Montfort Catholic church outside work hours. At church I serve as treasurer.

Q. Tell me about the award?

MIW award is about celebrating and recognising the positive impact women have in their workplace, communities and society at large. Celebrating Excellence in Organisations (CEO) communications has been celebrating the influence of women since 2000 within South Africa. It identified the need for a programme that fully recognised women in various economic sectors and later in the whole continent of Africa. That led to the introduction of the Most Influential Women (MIW) in South Africa in 2009.

The programme has grown immensely in prestige and popularity over the years. 2013 was an immensely successful year for MIW as the programme expanded to the whole continent of Africa and the programme was renamed Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government Award. 2014 already exceeded that standard for having exceptionally high calibre of participants. By earning the Country Winner Award for 2014, representing Malawi, it is a great honour for me to be part of this fantastic success.

The recognition is not only celebrating wonderful works demonstrated by women, but it is reigniting the flame for Africa to shine as a continet when it comes to female business strength and empowerment.

Q. How were you picked?

The number of participants in 2014 was phenomenal. I was nominated among 9 000 participants from the continent, whose nomination forms were scrutinised by the three judges of panel one. It filtered and selected five semi-finalists in each sector per country. The next was the ‘X Factor’ that many of the nominees brought to the table enabling us to pass through the initial stage to the semi-final list. Of the semi-finalists submitted to the next three judges of panel two, three finalists were selected per country per sector.

Each of the 100 finalists was invited to a skype video conference interview with Yvonne Finch, chairperson of the three independent judging panels for Africa’s MIW in Business and Government Awards. The footage was made available to judging panel three, consisting of five new judges, who selected country winners based on the nomination forms, filtered list of finalists and the video footage.

The event took place in Johannesburg at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, South Africa. The programme continues to celebrate stories of inspirational women across Africa. It will culminate into a sensational gala dinner in October where the continental awards will be given to few phenomenal women.

Q. What does it mean to be one of Africa’s most influential women?

It’s been a profound and a humbling experience. Many times we take small positive comments for granted without realising the impact those things truly have on people and our organisations. I really feel very honoured and grateful to God who makes it possible to bring out the best in us. Winning the Country award speaks a lot about the achievement I have made at work, contribution to communities around and society at large.

Q. What should people, in particular women expect, to benefit from your award?

A demonstration of being passionate about what we do; whether we are at work, at home or in our communities. The award will benefit women by stimulating greater motivation to continue being role models and mentors, particularly for young girls who are constantly exposed to distractors from their education. With Members of the Lions Club of Blantyre, I will continue my philanthropic activities to help beyond the people we know. Our planned projects to construct two 56-bed hostels at Namikasi Secondary School and finish Masaka Clinic are at early stages of soliciting funds, just to mention a few of our projects. We are confident we will achieve our goal. The spirit is to refuse to be defined by circumstances or play victim. Instead, we should act, use talents we are blessed with to bless others towards the betterment of their being.

Q. Any last comments?

To be powerful does not mean to demand respect and aggression. A woman can be highly influential and powerful and still be kind and loving. Be fair, but firm. Be credible, but direct. Be confident, but grounded. Assertively, with poise and grace one can and will make one’s way to the top.