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Greetings and it’s my pleasureto welcome you to the
August issue of the newsletter.
It was great to have an opportunity to interview the new, young, energetic Chief Executive Officer of the South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPSE), Ms Latileta Qoro.
Tell us a little about yourself?
I’m 31 years old, from the village of Vuniwai in Vanua Levu. My maternal ties are to the village of Bureta in Ovalau. I was born and raised in Nailili village, Rewa before moving to Suva. I was educated in Fiji before undertaking tertiary education at the University of Sydney. I come from a very small family – a younger sibling who is completing his final year at University and my parents are a retired secondary school Math/Physics teacher and an Accountant by profession.
What habits would you say make you successful at what you do?
(i) My daily allocated time with God – I source lot of passion and unique/creative ideas in this space or during this time.
(ii) I always have to learn one (substantial) new thing every day. I commit to being a perpetual learner and dynamic thinker which is probably why Research at Reserve Bank of Fiji was by far the most exciting tenure I’ve had.
(iii) I make it a point to actively listen to and seek advice from colleagues, my mentors, industry players and when I get a chance, to global leaders in the securities industry. I’ve acknowledged that I can accelerate the learning process and road to success if I take time to listen and glean valuable information from these parties.
What’s the first name that pops into your head when you are asked the question of who inspires you and why?
Two names actually - Jioji and Sereana Qoro (beyond a doubt). They personify perseverance, integrity and being relentless in our pursuit of God and these are values that are somewhat rare in this day and age. I know I still have a
fair few decades to go, but so far I’ve met success in unexpected hours/ways, like this new position I hold, because my parents have inspired me to live out these values. They also inspire me because they’re testament to the fruits of hard work. Both of them came from humble beginnings, born and raised in the village and then moved over to QVS/ACS, worked really hard through and graduated from USP. They then worked tirelessly through the early stages of their career with the bare minimum at times and yet became very successful individuals in their respective professions. I always have that in the back of my mind and with all they’ve afforded me I simply have NO EXCUSE to not be successful.
What was your initial reaction when you were given the news as the new CEO for SPSE?
Completely and utterly surprised! That was then followed by reservation because I quite enjoyed the work I was doing at the Reserve Bank and at that point I thought ‘I’m not quite sure I want to leave just yet’. I then had a chat with my Chief Manager who saw it as an exciting opportunity to forge a strategic partnership between RBF and SPSE and there was no looking back from there.
The month of August is dedicated to celebrating friendship between women, with “National Girlfriends Day” on 1st August and also friends on “Friendship Day” on 2nd August. I encourage readers to acknowledge the amazing girls, women and friends that have contributed and made a difference in their lives – including the sisters, mothers, aunties and daughters who deserve your thanks and attention.
In this issue:lMeet the new CEO for the South
Pacific Stock Exchange, Ms Latileta Qoro.
lThe 2015 Manager of the year award winner at the Women in Business awards – Ema Natadra.
lRushing Woman’s Syndrome: what is it and are you a sufferer? Sourced from the Westpac Ruby
Connection.lWestpac Hosts Tebara Festival
contestants.lUpcoming events.
Meet the new CEO for the South Pacific Stock Exchange, Ms Latileta Qoro
Latileta Qoro with proud parents at her graduationceremony, University of Sydney in 2006
Latileta Qoro
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Newsletter from the Women’s Markets
Being one of the young Chief Executive Officers in the country, what advice would you give young females aspiring to become CEO.
I could go on about hard work etc but that’s a given/expected. So, my personal advice for young women aspiring to become CEO (or any young person for that matter) would be:
(i) know your business/company and understand the dynamics of the industry you operate in; and
(ii) have a fair idea about the future direction of your company/industry so you’re proactive in offering your superiors sound, value-adding advice.
This combination will set you apart for career progression in what is becoming an increasingly competitive world. However, while you’re focused on (i) and (ii) remember that no person is an island. My view (so far) is that the road to the top is a lot less stressful if you can demonstrate that you welcome and value the contributions of your colleagues.
Since you have taken up the CEO post, name few observations you’ve made about SPSE and share at least few strategies of moving SPSE forward.
This is a long one to answer. Perhaps I’ll limit it to two major observations. (i) The Exchange, definitely has the potential to take up a more regional role and also accommodate alternative capital raising modalities because we have a visionary board, Government support, wellestablished regulatory environment and appropriate human and technological resources (ii) From the broader stock market perspective, there remains an evident need to educate the populous to enhance the level of investment literacy and in turn increase participation. Our Strategic Plan articulates specific action items to address these two observations and move the SPSE forward. These include, amongst other things, strategic domestic and regional partnerships, obtaining and implementing Technical Assistance recommendations of new capital raising modalities and greater use
of technology (the internet, social media, mobile apps etc) to generate widespread awareness throughout Fiji and the region.
What are your plans to attract more companies to list on the SPSE and use the exchange as an option to raise capital and also an investment option?
The SPSE’s Strategic Plan (2015-2017), which is a robust road-map, clearly outlines the means by which we will encourage new listing. My only plan is to execute these successfully with the SPSE Team. A few of the initiatives are:
(i) obtaining clarity and/or removing ambiguity around the application of tax incentives for listed companies. Participation has been hindered in the past due to ambiguity.
(ii) Introducing alternative capital raising modalities to accommodate different types of companies and financing needs. This may include depository receipts, crowd funding platform and/or a second-tier trading board for small cap companies/Medium sized enterprises. Given the economies of scale that is available at the regional level and our relative competitive advantage in terms of human and technological capacity, the Exchange will also explore regional expansion to increase either through dual listing with economies such as PNG and/
or the establishment of a subsidiary in a feasible regional economy to accommodate capital raising and investment by companies and investors domiciled in other pacific island countries.
Any other comments?I wish to commend and congratulate Westpac for the various initiatives thathave been implemented and will continue to be implemented to promote financial literacy and encourage information sharing, financial inclusion and access to finance and markets for women throughout Fiji.
Picture taken with the winners of the “Be Money Wise Oratory Contest” in July 2015
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Newsletter from the Women’s Markets
Tell me a little about yourself?
My late Dad was from the village of Navutulevu in the Province of Ra and my mum is from the village of Namacu in the island of Koro. I am the eldest of 4 sisters and a brother and received my primary education at Rakiraki District and Rakiraki Methodist School. I moved to Jasper Williams High School for secondary level before proceeding to the University of the South Pacific in 1995.
Who has been your greatest source of strength at all times?
I can never do anything without him for I am nothing without him and that is God alone....Philippians 4:13 When you were called out during the WIB Awards night as the “2015 Women In Business Awards - Manager of the year”, what was your initial reaction?
I was very thankful to God for the fact that he had brought me that far knowing the struggles I went through in order to receive the award. To be a living testimony to others particularly women that despite the odds we go through, we are to believe in ourselves and trust in God at all times.
What have you done differently at work and the community after the win?
Simply sharing experience with women at work and speaking to women groups, schools and at the community level. I have also encouraged other women to take the opportunity and apply to the 2016 Women in Business awards.
Share some of the learnings or experience you have gained leading up to the WIB Awards
Simply a major lesson learnt where I was able to confirm and convince myself to apply for the Manager of the year award. At the same time convince myself that there is nothing to fear and that we are all the same irrespective of who we are and what we do. The key is to be humble, persevere and be resilient. Having these three traits will make us stand out, move on and move on and be successful in this life.
Any advice to women executives and or middle managers working in a male dominated environment?
Believe in yourself and be a doer. To believe in yourself, you need to be agents of change and not to judge others on their actions but to boldly make your own changes with courage and confidence.
Any other comments you would like to make to readers.
That one has to allow herself to have access to education and be empowered to have the skills, confidence and mind-set to become leaders in their respective communities. Strive to be a great decision maker at all levels of public and political life.
The 2015 Manager of the year award winner at the
Women in Business awards – Ema Natadra
Ema is the Manager Southwest Region With theiTaukei Land Trust Board
Ema with the winners of the2015 Women in Business Awards
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Libby Weaver (above) : It is unfortunate that there has been some confusion surrounding what Rushing Woman’s Syndrome is. Rushing Woman’s Syndrome is actually the name of the second book I wrote in 2011. The book initially evolved out of my observation of a shift in women’s health and behaviour in my practice over the previous 16 years. Having done a PhD in Biochemistry I wanted to further understand and explain what was behind this.
Never before in my work had I witnessed so many females in a rush to do everything and be all things to all people. Never before had I seen the extent of reproductive system and sex hormone challenges that I was seeing. Women were wired. Many of them tired too. Tired yet wired. And this relentless urgency, this perception that there was not enough time, combined with a to-do list that was never all crossed off is having such significant health consequences for women I had to write about it. I didn’t want these amazing mothers, sisters, daughters, friends and colleagues to compromise the quality of their lives in order to live up to this perceived urgency.
Not that long ago in human history women were given the opportunity to do what had traditionally been their father’s jobs, while maintaining what were traditionally their mother’s responsibilities and what has unfolded for too many women is a frantic double shift, of work day and night, with very little if any rest.
We’ve made more progress in the workplace than we have in the home. Research shows that if a woman and man both work full time and have one child, she does twice the amount of housework and three times the amount of childcare he does. So essentially, she has three jobs and he has one. It is time for the dawning of new era for women, which means it has to be for our men as well.The perceived need to rush, whether a woman displays it on the outside or keeps it under wraps, is changing the face
of women’s health as we know it in a detrimental way; from PMS to IBS, from losing our tempers to feeling like we can’t cope.
Rushing Woman’s Syndrome describes what is scientifically known as Sympathetic Nervous System Dominance and the biochemical changes this drives in the body. I wanted women to understand the significant way stress can impact the chemistry of their body, the many body systems it can affect, and offer them practical solutions to this.
Ruby Connection: Does RWS exist in the medical texts? Why have you labelled it a syndrome and could/should it be termed differently or are you conducting scientific research and working to get it added formally to the medical terminology?
LW: RWS does not exist in medical textbooks nor have I ever claimed it did or needed to be. I used the word syndrome in the title of my book based on the Merriam Webster definition of the word: “a set of concurrent things (as emotions or actions) that usually form an identifiable pattern”.
It is the title of my second book and it is a layman’s expression for a more complex scientific pattern, known as Sympathetic Nervous System Dominance (SNSD) and the biochemical changes this drives. As a scientist, I felt that the majority of people would have no idea what SNSD meant, hence the need to translate this to a term that would resonate with people and give them insight into how their body works.
I was invited to do a TEDx presentation earlier this year. My address goes some way to summarising some of the challenges facing women’s health. The YouTube link for the talk is here: https://www.youtube.comwatch?v=tJ0SME6Z9rw
Rushing Woman’s Syndrome: what is it and are you a sufferer?by Ruby Connection
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RWS SymptomsRC: What should women look out for in relation to RWS symptoms and what are your top tips for treatment?
LW: RWS typically shows up as any or all of the following:Sex hormone imbalances which can lead to PMS, mood swings, irregular periods, heavy clotty painful periods, debilitating menopause, tender breasts, fluid retention, and “unexplained” weight gain
Stress hormone over-production or adrenal fatigue which can lead to “unexplained” weight gain or an inability to gain weight, a feeling of panic on the inside, puffy eyes, over-reacting to situations, an amped up feeling, fatigue, poor sleep quality, non-restorative sleep
Thyroid dysfunction which can present as an inability to lose weight or “unexplained” weight loss, deep fatigue or feeling “wired” or swinging between both states, hair lossDigestive system challenges which can present as regular bloating, particularly through the afternoon, irritable bowel syndrome-type symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation or intermittent bouts of both, feeling like you react to a variety of foods and this seems to be getting worseNervous system on red alert which feeds the dysfunctions in all of the above body systems
Top 3 Tips to Get You Started on Road to Recovery
1. Get honest with yourself about how much caffeine you consume and how it affects you.
You know better than anyone if it needs to be reduced. Because caffeine leads the body to make adrenalin, sometimes we are better able to respond calmly to situations when we don’t have the added load of adrenalin from too much caffeine.
2. Explore your perception of pressure. Not so long ago, stress and pressure arose, for
example, from a beloved being unwell. Now when I ask people about stress and pressure they
regularly relay stories of 300 new emails arriving over the weekend and never catching up. You care about emails because you have a beautiful heart and don’t want to “let people down” – but it’s time to reassess what is real pressure for you and what is a busy, rich, opportunity-filled life.
3. Restorative practices. If you live on stress hormones, your body can think
your life is in danger and sex hormone balance can be compromised. Embracing breath-focussed practices can help reassure your body you are “safe” and allow your body to regulate its own hormone balance.
RC: What, in your experience, does treatment
involve? LW: It is different for each person. My approach to
Rushing Woman’s Syndrome has three prongs to it:
1. The biochemical, which explains, for example, how stress hormones can interfere with sex hormones
2. The nutritional, which covers the foods and nutrients necessary for the optimum functioning of each body system as well as the substances that can take away from the optimum functioning of each body system
3. The emotional, which helps people answer the question, “why do you do what you do when you know what you know?” For example, it is not usually a lack of education that leads someone to polish off a packet of chocolate biscuits after dinner. No one does that thinking they are going to feel fabulous after they do so. It’s biochemical or emotional or both.
In exploring an individual’s perceived need to rush
and their need to do all things with urgency, the best outcomes are achieved when all three prongs are addressed.
5 W.M Issue 9
Staff members of Westpac Nausori Branch hosted the Vodafone Tebara Carnival committee and contestants.
Westpac is very passionate when it comes to Women and as part of our commitment to gender equality and the advancement of Women in Fiji , Westpac Nausori Branch staff hosted the Vodafone Tebara Carnival committee and contestants for morning tea.
This was our way of celebrating and recognising the achievements of young women and also supports our mission as the Bank of choice for women. We were delighted to be part of this event where community rally together, have fun and raise funds for project developments.
On behalf of the Westpac Family we would like to acknowledge and applaud the six Vodafone Tebara Carnival contestants for coming forward to “Make it Happen” in assisting the community of Nausori through their messages throughout the week and their fundraising efforts and we wish them all the very best.
Westpac hostsTebara FestivalContestants
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Hope that you enjoy this issue.
For any comments, feel free to contactEseta Nadakuitavuki on 3217 627 oremail [email protected]
2015 CPA Congress at the Sheraton Resort, Nadi.
Theme: Leadership. Strategy. Business
Westpac Micro Entrepreneurs day market at the FNPFBoulevard.
Westpac Morning Health Walk.
Westpac Micro Entrepreneurs night market at the Suva Central Street car park.
August20th - 21st
Saturday 5th September
Saturday26th September
Thursday 1st October
Westpac Micro Entrepreneurs night market at the Suva Central Street car park.
Thursday6th August
Maryangela Bewick999 5964 or [email protected]
Justine Yong [email protected]
Maryangela Bewick999 5964 or [email protected]
Jyoti Maharaj991 2437 or [email protected]
Maryangela Bewick999 5964 or [email protected]
Events and Venue Date Contact Person
7 W.M Issue 9
