A top director

NBR reports:

The top director of the year according the New Zealand Shareholders Association is Joan Withers, the first woman to win the award.

She was chosen for the Beacon Award because of her outstanding governance skills, ability to lead others, high ethical standards and respect for rules, and avoidance of self-interest, chairman John Hawkins says.

Ms Withers, who is currently chairs both Mighty River Power and Auckland International Airport, tells NBR ONLINE she was “blown away and very humbled” to receive the award.

Her rise to the top is motivating, especially since she started out in life with little privilege. Ms Withers left school at 16, with just School Certificate, before taking a job as a bank teller and later having a child. She worked her way up the bank, before moving into media, where she also climbed the ladder. She started university aged 36, getting up at 3am for two years while working fulltime to complete an MBA, before becoming chief executive of the Radio Network and Fairfax NZ.

That’s an inspiring story for young women, well in fact for anyone who wants to get ahead.