Women Leadership in ASEAN: Diving Economic GrowthPodcast

Friday 10th May 2024 at 14:00 - 16:00 SGT | 1880 Singapore

women-leadership-round-table

Women Leadership in ASEAN: Diving Economic GrowthPodcast

Friday 10th May 2024 at 14:00 - 16:00 SGT | 1880 Singapore

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ASEAN Economic Forum 2025

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ASEAN Matters (AEF Podcast)

From policy decisions to market trends, our conversations with these visionary leaders provide a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities propelling ASEAN towards a prosperous future

  • The ASEAN Gender Inclusion Forum took place on 10th May 2024 in Singapore, focusing on “Women’s Leadership in ASEAN: Driving Economic Growth”. With a hybrid participation format, this forum focused on showcasing ASEAN’s commitment to gender equality and inclusion. This forum allowed speakers from across ASEAN member states to actively discuss, share their insights, and suggest strategies to promote gender equality in various sectors. This forum also acts as an essential platform for representatives from government, industry, academia, and civil society to collaborate in encouraging inclusivity across ASEAN. The objectives are to evaluate the progress made in promoting gender equality and to develop actionable plans to address existing barriers.
  • Led by Anna Gong, CEO and Founder of Perx Technologies, this discussion explored the well-known challenges women in ASEAN face when pursuing leadership roles. These hurdles include limited access to education and professional opportunities, cultural norms favoring male leaders, and workplace discrimination. Overcoming these barriers requires collective action from governments, businesses, civil society, and others. By prioritizing girls' education and launching awareness campaigns, we can foster gender equality from a young age.
  • Transitioning the focus to larger countries, Cyrus Daruwala, Managing Director for IDC Financial Insights, expressed his admiration for the inspirational women he's collaborated with and highlighted the contrasting approaches to gender inclusion, particularly in the United States. Cyrus criticized Wall Street's superficial efforts, emphasizing that forced integration is just box-ticking rather than a genuine effort to include women and marginalized groups. He called for a sincere fight for gender inclusion from Wall Street's influential leaders. In contrast, Cyrus pointed out that women in many ASEAN countries are already demonstrating leadership in various sectors, like SMEs in the Philippines and F&B stores in Malaysia.
  • Following Cyrus Daruwala's insights, Sachin V. Gopalan, Chairman of the ASEAN Economic Forum, offered another male perspective, noting that gender inclusion is occasionally misunderstood. He emphasized that both women and men bring a wealth of different competencies to the table, and it is crucial to harness these skills to bring out the best in individuals. Sachin argued that true gender inclusion isn't just about meeting quotas but about creating environments where diverse talents can thrive and contribute meaningfully to organizational success. However, despite these positive views, structural challenges continue to impede women's advancement to leadership positions. These obstacles include institutional biases, lack of mentorship and sponsorship opportunities, and inadequate support for work-life balance. Addressing these structural barriers requires a multifaceted approach, involving policy reforms, organizational culture shifts, and the establishment of robust support networks for women professionals
  • Chandan Deep, Vice President of B Capital, then expressed her point of view on the structural challenges that prevent women from advancing to leadership positions in the STEM field, especially within the ASEAN region. She observed that while over 50% of university graduates in ASEAN are women, less than 15% occupy leadership positions. Chandan identified two significant challenges: parenthood, which often leads women to leave the workforce, and a lack of self-belief, which can hinder women, especially in Asian societies, from stepping into higher leadership roles. She suggested that organizations need to address these issues by implementing supportive policies and practices.
  • Building on this discussion, Sita Zimpel, Project Director of Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), emphasized that the concept of feminism is not merely about empowering women but also includes broad objectives of encouraging a feminist development policy. This policy aims to protect and elevate not only women but also other marginalized populations. According to Zimpel, it is essential to initiate platforms that enable women to enhance and provide mutual support.
  • The panel also highlighted the crucial role education plays in empowering women. Statistics show a rise in women graduating from STEM fields in many ASEAN countries. However, social norms and lack of access in certain regions remain hurdles. Speakers like Poe Aye, Founder of FACE, emphasized the importance of instilling confidence in girls from a young age. Meri Rosich echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need to challenge societal expectations that can hinder girls' educational aspirations. 
  • The discussion delved into the concept of "allies" - those who actively support women's advancement. Sachin V. Gopalan advocated for fostering inclusivity from a young age within families and communities. Building on this, Gayathri Peria, General Manager of SUSE, underscored the power of finding allies, both male and female, who can act as mentors, sponsors, and champions. She exemplified this by mentioning her supportive husband and the positive impact of male allies throughout her career. On the other hand, Sita Zimpel offers a complementary perspective, pointing to the importance of visible female role models, emphasizing the power of "seeing is believing" in inspiring future generations. She also addressed the need to dismantle structural barriers, such as limited childcare options, that disproportionately impact women. Policy changes and promoting competition in childcare markets were suggested as potential solutions.
  • The conversation then explored the potential impact of technology such as AI on women's leadership roles. While some, like Meri Rosich, CEO of Asia Pacific & Middle East Oceonomy expressed concerns about women's participation in shaping AI development, Sachin V. Gopalan offered a counterpoint, viewing AI as a potential equalizer capable of making decisions unbiased by gender. Rabiatul Adawiah, a Scientist at A*Star Research, echoed this optimism, focusing on AI’s potential in healthcare. She sees AI as a collaborator, not a replacement, and her work utilizes AI to improve women’s experiences, like monitoring fetal growth at home. Ultimately, she believes AI can empower women’s health by addressing their specific needs. 
  • Finally, the closing segment focused on creating a more gender-inclusive ASEAN. Sachin V. Gopalan emphasized the power of storytelling, urging effective communication of the benefits of inclusivity. Poe Aye stressed the importance of fostering confidence in future generations and creating safe spaces for women entrepreneurs. And last but not least, Krystle Nonis, Branding and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategist, also reminds us to build awareness towards our circle of influence, because true understanding comes from expanding our horizons. By acknowledging those we impact and embracing diverse perspectives, we spark vibrant dialogues that challenge assumptions and foster inclusivity. 
  • Anna Gong then concluded by highlighting the need for flexible work arrangements and supportive government policies that empower women to choose their career paths without sacrificing family aspirations.

Key Takeways

  1. The conversation centred on the essential role of gender inclusion and women’s empowerment in propelling economic growth in the ASEAN. By implementing policies and initiatives that promote equal opportunities, address cultural biases, and offer support for women to thrive professionally. The key topics in this discussion also include the critical barriers that prevent women from advancing in their careers. 
  2. Through its hybrid participation format, the discussions significantly enhanced the conversation about equality by cultivating an inclusive exchange of ideas. The roundtable was enhanced by the diverse backgrounds of its speakers.
  3. This discussion underlined the essential role of raising awareness about gender equality as a central focus. One of the speakers, Poe Aye, uttered an initiative focused on instilling confidence among women in the ASEAN region. She emphasized, “We should be more compassionate in what we do”. This perspective reflects a comprehensive vision aimed at empowering women, promoting gender inclusion, and circulating positive transformation throughout the ASEAN community.
  4. Female empowerment through education, particularly in STEM fields, took highlight in the conversation. While access to education remains a challenge, the rise of female graduates in ASEAN countries demonstrates progress. The importance of household education was also emphasized, showcasing how confidence and aspirations are nurtured at home, underlining that empowerment starts at the very foundation.
  5. From battling insecurities to dismantling biases, allies emerged as a powerful force in this conversation on women's empowerment. Mentorship, partners, and visible role models were identified as crucial tools. The discussion even ventured into policy changes to address structural barriers, highlighting the need for a multi-pronged approach that tackles both cultural mindsets and systemic challenges.
  6. This forum also explored the dynamic landscape of technology and its impact on women’s leadership. While concerns were raised about the potential effects of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Increasing participation of women in AI development was seen as a crucial step towards ensuring gender equality. Interestingly, some participants even thought that AI could potentially be less gender and racial bias.
  7. All participants agreed that empowering women requires a multifaceted approach. Effective communication of the benefits of inclusivity, fostering confidence across generations, and supporting for nurturing policies were identified as crucial steps forward. Furthermore, addressing structural barriers such as parenthood-related drop-offs and magnifying self-belief in women were emphasized. By embracing an accomplished approach that includes confidence-building across generations, ASEAN should open the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.