Women have called for collective action in eliminating workplace discrimination and harassment.

The need for workplaces to evolve, not just through formal policies but by
cultivating cultures where discrimination is actively challenged, inclusive conduct
is reinforced through regular training, and accountability is upheld through
consistent evaluations was highlighted.

This was during a webinar titled “Breaking the Glass Ceiling”, which brought
together leading professionals from across sectors to confront the ongoing issues of
workplace discrimination, harassment, and gender bias that continue to hinder
women’s advancement.

Sales and Marketing Executive, Linda Ochugbua, speaking on the invisible walls
many women still face in professional spaces, said they are up against outdated
beliefs that associate leadership with masculinity.

“From tone policing to unequal pay and biased evaluations, the message often is:
be twice as good, and still, you might not be chosen.”

She emphasised the need for concrete reforms, pointing to various forms of
harassment, including verbal abuse, hostile environments, and inappropriate jokes
that are often ignored or normalised. “It’s not enough to have policies on paper,”
she stated. “They must be reviewed often and enforced with intention.”

Agile and life coach, Abigail Semono, focused on the role of individual action in
sparking change. Recalling her advocacy for a lactation room in a former
workplace, she said, “What seemed small at the time triggered a broader shift in
how the company supported mothers. One persistent voice can make a real
difference.”

Addressing one of the most damaging stereotypes, Semono called out the claim
that women reach the top through questionable means. “It’s an unfair narrative
used to discredit women’s hard-earned progress. Let your work speak. Stay
professional, define your boundaries, and most importantly, support other women,”
she said.

Product designer, Amirah Oyegoke, addressed subtle exclusion in the workplace.
“Discrimination isn’t always loud. It creeps in when you’re left out of big
conversations or overlooked for meaningful projects. We must stay aware and call
it out.”

Venture builder, Esohe Igbinoba, recounted troubling encounters with
inappropriate investor behavior in informal business settings. “I’ve been asked to
meet in hotel rooms for what were supposed to be business discussions,” she said.
“And when I declined, I was labeled ‘difficult.’ We must protect our dignity and
say no without apology.”