Inspiring Women Leaders
Diaan-Yi Lin
Senior Partner and Asia Co-leader for the Social, Healthcare and Public Entities
McKinsey & Company
“Increasing the number and percentage of women on corporate boards is not only equitable; it is also an effective approach to strengthen companies and national economies, by enabling them to tap into the best available people across entire talent pools.”
Varsha Bipinchandra
CFO
Rekanext VC
“(We keep up-to-date with the latest developments and new technologies by) infusing culture such that everyone thinks digital, making a difference in every area of finance function such that it becomes a digital transformation.”
Kemmy Tan
CEO
M+S
“Throughout my career, I have tried to do things differently, because in a competitive landscape, you must distinguish your product, keep on top of your creative energy, and maintain an edge. I’m always thinking in terms of how to improve… Then you must communicate well to get others on board to follow your vision.”
Lily Kong
President and Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor of Social Sciences
Singapore Management University
“So my vision of a university is one that gives back to its community… in terms of developing entrepreneurial, innovative young people to come up with new ideas that can address the challenges of the world.”
Farhana Nakhooda
Senior Vice President, Healthcare and Life Sciences
Health Catalyst
“Ultimately, a clear data-driven approach is essential to understand the true costs of (healthcare) and whether it is being appropriately administered.”
“I’m very bullish about the future for healthcare in Asia Pacific because… there’s a huge amount of opportunity for (countries) those that are less advanced to quickly leapfrog others and learn from each other, and those that are already advanced to actually leverage each other’s innovation and best practice.”
Ong Ai Hua
Head of Government Affairs & Policy, Asia Pacific
Johnson & Johnson
“I have vivid memories of my transition a decade ago, from leading a small and matured market to leading China, one of the largest and most complex markets… your leadership impact is more than the words you speak. What you don’t say and your body language carries messages that have an impact too.”
“With this (‘one-company’) model, we introduced new positions that cover two or more of the verticals, and more exciting regional and global positions based out of Singapore…”
Jasmmine Wong
CEO
Inchcape Greater China and Singapore (Borneo Motors, Champion Motors, Inchcape Automotive Services)
“Singapore is gearing up to expand its EV infrastructures… As the world and Singapore shift towards electrification, we aim to empower drivers to make the transition by offering them a platform that provides the experience of driving (an) electric car at a minimal cost.”
Tan Aik Na
Senior Vice President (Administration)
Nanyang Technological University
“(I advocated) for more open communication across the faculty and staff across NTU – against a backdrop of naysayers… Since then, the university has adopted periodic town halls as a means of employee outreach and communication.”
Vivian Chua
Managing Director, Singapore and Cluster Head for Singapore & Malaysia
HP
“It was possible for a girl to be convincing in a technical field. If you understand what you are selling, you can do a good job in a male-driven industry.”
Teo Lay Lim
Chairperson
Accenture Singapore
“Looking at what is best practice may no longer be good enough. What clients are looking to us to do is to innovate for ‘next practice’.”
Tinku Gupta
Senior Managing Director, Chief Technology Officer
Singapore Exchange
“Being a woman in a technology… I feel proud that SGX was able to deliver 100% uptime for critical business services, deal with extreme market volatility, and even roll-out many new technology initiatives during this period.”
Geraldine Chin
Asia-Pacific Chairman and Managing Director
ExxonMobil
“We’ve seen the cycles in the commodity business. The key really is staying nimble and flexible, staying close to the market and our customers… then adjusting our processes accordingly.”
Lesly Goh
Senior Technology Advisor
World Bank
“My way of giving back… (is) by doing what I do best, which is understanding the challenges and finding novel solutions where technology could be impactful.”
“One of my hopes is to help empower and inspire the next generation of women leaders in government and show them what’s possible.”
Chong Yoke Sin
President
Singapore Computer Society
“I think healthcare will be the biggest beneficiary of tech, and rightly so, for what is more important than life itself?”
Jackie Ying
Senior fellow and head of NanoBio Lab
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
“(Covid-19) has forced Singapore to re-examine whether we have the ability to do the various things needed to fight it and we do. We can do the science and we can also develop our own tests.”
Koh Soo Boon
Founder and Managing Partner
iGlobe Partners
“I thought to myself, if [the company is] going down, I’m going down with them. When you see fire, you don’t run away from it; you run toward the fire to try to save lives.”
Jessica Tan
Executive Director and Co-CEO
Ping An Group
“There are many areas where you can take your own initiative, to shape and do what you think is meaningful. This way, you get to do many more things.”
Tan Su Shan
Group Head, Institutional Banking
DBS
“In a digital age where physical size and heft don’t matter so much, empathy and intuition are just as important as IQ and EQ. AQ – Adaptability Quotient – is where women do well.”
“Being able to face up to the fact that you don’t know, admitting it and saying, ‘This is what I don’t know, help me’ is not a weakness.”
Chng Sok Hui
CFO
DBS
“I built many functions from scratch, and in the process, deepened the capabilities and talent bench strength of the bank.”
“You need balance during different stages of a career. You can’t run at the same pace all the time.”
Grace Ban
(Former) Managing Director
Estee Lauder Cosmetics Pte Ltd
“Now, when someone says something cannot be done, my eyes light up. I take it as a challenge.”
Teo Swee Lian
Independent Director
Singtel
“There are some situations where you just have to laugh things off and not take it too personally, but you also have to make it clear that you have a firm stand.”
Corporate leaders share their outlook and hopes for 2019
Women share their hopes for promoting gender diversity in the workplace in the new year.
Ee Rong Chong, Group Managing Director, Ogilvy Singapore
Deborah Ho, Country Head, Singapore, Head of SEA, BlackRock
Lily Kong, Provost & Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University
Dian Rasid, Director, Business Development, Adi Media
Teo Lay Lim, Geographic Unit Managing Director of Asean and Country Managing Director of Singapore, Accenture
Fiona Yik, President, Financial Women’s Association Singapore
Corporate Leaders share the skills needed for future leaders
Hear their views on the skills needed to succeed in an environment marked by rapid change.
Goh Swee Chen, Chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore
Lee Yan Hong, Head of Group Human Resources at DBS Bank
Professor Annie Koh, Academic Director, Business Families Institute, Singapore Management University
Women shaping Singapore’s environment
Hear from two women who shape the way Singaporeans live – in the physical and digital environment
Cheong Koon Hean, Chief Executive Officer, Housing & Development Board
Lim Bee Kwan, Assistant Chief Executive for Governance and Cybersecurity, Government Technology Agency (GovTech)
Women raising the bar for their industries
Hear from women who are taking on sector-wide roles to help shape the future of their industries.
Aileen Tan, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Singtel
Chng Sok Hui, Chief Financial Officer at DBS Group
Irene Boey, Consulting Director of Integral Solutions (Asia)
Lisa Teo, Executive Director (Corporate Development) at Pacific International Lines
Women shaping the future of their industries
Hear from more women who have taken on sector-wide roles to help shape the future of their industries.
Janet Ang, Vice-President, Industry Solutions & Business Development, IBM Asia Pacific
Simran Toor, Partner, Specialist & Private Client Disputes Practice, WongPartnership
Lynette Leong, CEO of CapitaLand Commercial Management
Women succeeding overseas
share challenges they’ve faced on their journey.
Jill Lee, Chief Financial Officer, Sulzer
Pearlyn Phau, Deputy Group Head, Consumer Banking Group and Wealth Management, DBS Bank
Jenny Lee, Managing Partner, GGV Capital
Women board directors share their view on the benefits of having women on boards
They also share tips on how to get onto boards.
Penny Goh, Chairman of Keppel Reit Management and Co-chairman and Senior Partner of Allen & Gledhill LLP
Christina Tan, Non-Executive Director of Keppel Reit Management and CEO of Keppel Capital
Luo Dan, Non-Executive Director of Yeo Hiap Seng
Jessica Tan, Independent Director of SATS
Senior women executives in STEM
share their views on the gender diversity issue in STEM, especially in leadership roles.
Soh Siew Choo, Head of Consumer Banking and Big Data Analytics Technology at DBS Group
Jackie Ying, Senior Fellow at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s (A*STAR) NanoBio Lab
Patricia Yim, General Manager at IBM Asean
Sze Tan, Managing Director at the Nestlé R&D Centre, Singapore
Emerging stars in STEM
voice their vision for their careers and the industries they work in.
Guo Huili, Independent Fellow at Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore
Huang Shao-Ning, Partner and Managing Director of AngelCentral
Karen Tay, Smart Nation Director (North America) in the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office
Juliana Chan, Founder and CEO of Wildtype Media Group
Angelene Chan
CEO
DP Architects
“For me, design and the creative process is gender-neutral. I have always thought of myself simply as ‘an architect’.”
Kwang Kam Shing
Asia CEO
JP Morgan Private Banking
“Women have to accept that they cannot always do everything alone, if they want to have a successful career and home life.”
Women in Sustainability
Hear from 7 women who are playing a big role in promoting sustainability in the corporate world.
Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer at CDL
Sara Cheng, CEO of Fuji Xerox Singapore
Tan Su Shan, Group Head of Consumer Banking and Wealth Management, DBS Bank
Yvonne Chan, Director, Corporate Development, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Ng Lay San, Senior Vice-President, Strategic Communications and Sustainability, Sembcorp Industries
Fang Eu-Lin, Sustainability and Climate Change Leader, PwC Singapore
Susan Chong, Founder and CEO of Greenpac
Women on boards of MNCs
Hear their views on what women executives from the region can do to raise their profile and get on the radar of corporate boards.
Euleen Goh, Non-Executive Board Director of Royal Dutch Shell
Yasmin Aladad Khan, Independent Non-Executive Director, Digi
Quek Bin Hwee, Independent Non-Executive Director, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Jeanette Wong, Independent Director, Essilor International
Women in DBS Group Management Committee
share their thoughts on working in an organisation that prizes diversity.
Eng-Kwok Seat Moey, Head of DBS’ Capital Markets Group
Pearlyn Phau, Deputy Group Head of DBS’ Consumer Banking & Wealth Management
Tan Su Shan, Group Head of DBS’ Consumer Banking & Wealth Management
Jeanette Wong, Group Executive, Head of DBS’ Institutional Banking Group
Chng Sok Hui, DBS’ Chief Financial Officer
Lee Yan Hong, Head of DBS’ Group Human Resources
Karen Ngui, Head of DBS’ Group Strategic Marketing and Communications
Tracey Woon
(Former) Vice-Chairman, Wealth Management Asia Pacific
UBS AG
“Women do invest very differently from men – they think not just about generating a financial return.”
Jacqueline Poh
Deputy Secretary
Prime Minister’s Office, Strategy Group
“Driving meaningful technology adoption was the greatest challenge… There may be a tendency… to rush into adopting new technologies without having fully thought through their strategies and use cases.”
Esther An
Chief Sustainability Officer
City Developments Limited
“We strongly believe that creating and expanding opportunities for women are fundamental to sustainable growth.”
Goh Swee Chen
Chair
National Arts Council and NTU Board of Trustees
“It has always been my belief that it’s important to focus on developing people in order to achieve desired outcomes.”
Joyce Tee
Managing Director and Group Head of SME Banking
DBS Bank
“It makes me happy to see my clients grow and reach new levels in their business. Every decision I take has to make a positive impact and a difference.”
Judy Hsu
CEO of Consumer, Private and Business Banking
Standard Chartered Singapore
“It’s about the work, the input, but it’s also about the visibility, [women’s] ability to communicate, all those things, so that they don’t lose out.”
Wendy Lim
CEO
Manulife Asset Management
Ms Lim finds the greatest satisfaction in roles that create an impact and can positively change people’s lives.
Adeline Sim
Executive Director
HRnetGroup
“My dad always says that anyone he meets should benefit from that encounter, and that has become a driving philosophy for us at HRnet.”
Young Jin Yee
Managing Director and Market Group Head
Credit Suisse
“I have a passion to help women…. Female colleagues … produce results and are great performers. But they don’t do themselves justice… We need the mind and skill set to increase visibility.”
Goh Sok Kim
Managing Director, Asia Data Innovation and Data Governance Lead
Citi
Although technical skills are the skills of the future, Ms Goh noted that softer marketing and business skills are equally important.
Eleanor Seet
President and Head of Asia ex-Japan
Nikko Asset Management
“We enable our women employees by fostering an environment that provides the support they need to continue in or rejoin the workforce.”
Chew Gek Khim
Chair
Straits Trading Company Limited
“”People always think they’re right but when you have to be transparent and accountable, it forces you to think: Is this really right?”
Lynette Leong
CEO
CapitaLand Commercial Trust Management
“We have plenty of qualities that can complement and provide a good balance to the male attributes – we need not act masculine or try to compete with men.”
Ong Yeng Fang
Head
UOB Private Bank
“Managing people, managing them in a different culture and language, … you really learn. That’s why I like bankers with international exposure.”
Elaine Lam
Head of Global Corporate Banking
OCBC Bank
“We’ve grown roots in the organisation and … we can see the outcome of the strategies taken, we feel accountable for it, and there’s a sense of ownership.”
Huang Shao-Ning
Founder
AngelCentral Pte Ltd
“So entrepreneurs are the ones who have to carry a lot of stuff. You must have the commitment to build something … the foundation’s bricks have to come from you.”
Grace Ho
President
SWAT Mobility
“If you see a road less travelled, but you’re confident that you can do really well, take that plunge.”
Jeann Low
(Former) Group Chief Corporate Officer
Singtel
“Customer-centricity is important. At the end of the day, it is the customer who pays our bills.”
Wong Su-Yen
Chair
Singapore Institute of Directors
Her biggest reward as a director is “the opportunity to have an impact”, a sentiment echoed by many other women directors.
Yasmin Khan
Executive Vice President, Commercial, Asia Pacific;Managing Director, Emerging Markets
DHL Express
“To be successful, you have to be able to take on different challenges, have the drive to succeed and to push yourself to be the best that you can be.”
Ivy Ng
CEO
Singapore Health Services
“I am a huge advocate of having a strong family life and never delaying marriage or having children because of work. You just have to embrace it, enjoy it, and then come back and be busy again.”
Chong Ee Rong
Co-Deputy Managing Director of Operations and Commercial
Raffles Medical Group
“A lot of times, it’s not about not being given the opportunity, but not creating that opportunity for ourselves.”
Rachel Eng
Managing Partner
Eng and Co. LLC
“I hope to set the path for other capable female lawyers – with hard work, with talent, they can do it.”
Rita Soh
Managing Director
RDC Architects
“To be successful, you have to be able to take on different challenges, have the drive to succeed and to push yourself to be the best that you can be.”
Tan Yen Yen
(Former) President, Asia Pacific
Vodafone Global Enterprise
“One-way management doesn’t work… it is about delegation and collaboration, and I empower individual decisions through guidance.”
Jeanette Wong
(Former) Head of Institutional Banking
DBS
“You have to be able to take on some hard decisions and not be wedded to your past ones, even if you believe that you may be right.”
Kuan Li Li
(Former) Country Manager and Chief Operating Officer
Barclays Singapore
“Today, being the head of a bank is not just about being a rainmaker, bringing in the bread. It’s actually about being able to manage and harness the whole operating ecosystem.”
Tan Poh Hong
(Former) CEO
Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore
“It’s about understanding people too, looking at their circumstances, having flexibility and empathy, and seeing what is the best that you can do for them.”