Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025)

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Beyond Tokenism: Assessing the Agency and Influence of Young Women on Corporate Boards in Botswana and Namibia (2010-2025)

Dr Jenna Coles, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN)
Published: January 22, 2026

Abstract

This policy brief examines the paradox of increased female board representation in Botswana and Namibia between 2010 and 2025, which often obscures the persistent marginalisation of women under 35. While corporate governance codes have improved numerical gender diversity, this study interrogates whether these younger women exercise genuine agency or serve primarily as tokens. Employing a rigorous qualitative, multi-case study methodology, it analyses board composition data, policy documents, and semi-structured interviews with young female directors and board chairs in both countries. The findings reveal a significant gap between representation and substantive participation. Young women frequently report constrained voices, exclusion from critical sub-committees, and their contributions being undervalued, underscoring entrenched generational and gendered power dynamics. The brief argues that current policies are insufficient for fostering transformative inclusion. Its significance lies in shifting the African governance discourse from mere quotas to the quality of participation. It concludes with targeted recommendations for regulators, corporations, and civil society to move beyond tokenism. These include mandated mentorship programmes, unconscious bias training for board chairs, and formalised leadership pipelines to ensure the meaningful integration of young women into Southern Africa’s corporate decision-making structures.

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Dr Jenna Coles (2026). Beyond Tokenism: Assessing the Agency and Influence of Young Women on Corporate Boards in Botswana and Namibia (2010-2025). African Journal of Women in Leadership and Governance, Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025), 41-51.
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Keywords

Corporate governanceBoard diversityTokenismAgency theorySouthern AfricaYouth representationGender parity

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Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025)
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