Women of substance take a bow

HONG KONG - Female leaders from across Asia who gathered for a high-profile roundtable discussion in Hong Kong appealed for all women to present the best of themselves, dream big and press ahead for greater achievements so as to make contributions to the common good.
Business, politics and entertainment were sectors represented as the eight high-achievers gathered to receive the 2016 Asian Women Leadership Awards on Jan 19. The award, jointly initiated by China Daily and the Asia News Network of 22 media groups, honors successful women who are role models in entrepreneurship, innovation and charity, and are dedicated to making changes in their societies.
This year’s eight trailblazing awardees expressed their views at the China Daily Roundtable themed Leading Asia: Women as Change Agents, Innovators and Entrepreneurs, held alongside the Asian Financial Forum at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Delivering the welcome address, Zhou Li, editorial board member of the China Daily Group, said: “The late chairman Mao (Zedong) once said, ‘women hold up half the sky’. We strongly believe women could do much more than that. They make a difference.”
Untapped talents
“In Asia and in Hong Kong as well, women make up half of the working population,” said Raymond Yip, deputy executive director at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. “The number of women in leadership positions is growing. But there are still untapped female talents, for leadership and innovative roles in particular. We expect more women to take these roles and encourage more of their peers to march forward.”
The awardees then had their say. Pansy Ho, managing director of Shun Tak Holdings Ltd and daughter of Macao gambling tycoon Stanley Ho, said: “We should not be afraid of our own power. Instead of controlling and constraining our abilities, we need to learn how to utilize it, at the right moment, to achieve not just for ourselves but also for the larger welfare of the communities we live in.”
“We need to be more occupied and make other people’s dreams come true as well. This is still the motto for me,” Ho added.
Chadatip Chutrakul, chief executive officer at Siam Piwat Company Ltd noted how women in her country are luckier than many others. “Women in Thailand are lucky, because we don’t have the gender issue,” Chutrakul said. “However, I was taught that whatever I do, I need to do my best. It’s up to us to prove ourselves.” The boss of the Thai retail and development giant then added: “We need to make changes, not just as a mother or a daughter or even for a company, but for the good of the country.”
Commemorative China Daily front pages bearing the image and bio of each awardee are lined up for display. (Photo by Edmond Tang, China Daily)
Christine Loh, under secretary for the environment of the Hong Kong SAR government, channeled the old adage about how a job worth doing is worth doing well.
“No one is obliged to do anything. But remember, whatever you choose to do, you have to do it very well,” said Loh. “It’s important to be adaptive. Sometimes you just need to go with the flow and that could be a great learning opportunity,” she added.
Miriam Yeung, the celebrated Hong Kong actress and singer, told the audience that her success is “a mix of commitment, persistence and courage”. “Nothing is impossible. I believe there’s always a way,” Yeung said. “I’ve never given up on my career.”
While hard work is important, it is equally important to change perceptions, pointed out Dianna Lee, group chief executive officer at Malaysia’s Country Heights Holdings Berhad.
Lee acknowledged that for women who are multi-tasking, it is key to be result-driven instead of dedicating all their time to work. “As long as you can deliver, you are a good worker,” she said.
Jing Ulrich, vice chairman of Asia Pacific at JPMorgan Chase & Co emphasized that for women, it is key to find a passion for life. “For me, success is simple. It’s about passion, perseverance and confidence,” Ulrich said.
“And education is important,” she added. “When I graduated from Harvard, I graduated with confidence. It’s key to young women especially. No one would have confidence in you if you don’t even have faith in yourself.”
Bridge differences
Benedicte Nolens, senior director and head of risk and strategy at the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, told the audience that women who want to have a career need to take risks to seize opportunities as they emerge.
But it is also necessary to accept that women and men are different, she pointed out. “Women are equal to men, until they need to have babies,” she said. “We need to find work-life balance and our support network in order to reach higher achievements.”
Nolens said her way is to turn to Women in Finance Asia, a charity that brings together female professionals in the financial services industry to foster mutual support and growth. “It allowed me to get over a difficult period in my career,” she added.
Audience observing the 2016 Asian Women Leadership Awards. (Photo by Edmond Tang, China Daily)
The reality is that women tend to drop out of the workforce as they grow older. Rebecca Brosnan, managing director and head of product development at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEx), told the audience that in the 25 to 29 age group, labor participation for women is 84 percent. But by the time they reach 55, less than half, or 45 percent, are seen to be still working.
In Hong Kong, 30 percent of married women leave the workforce to care for children, aging parents or for other family obligations. “If women are cut off midway (in their careers), it’s really difficult to get back,” Brosnan said. She highlighted the Back to Work Programme launched by the HKEx to reengage female professionals who may have left the workforce for a few years. The program is in its third year and Brosnan called upon all female talents to return to the work force.
“We are running the program for the third year,” she said. “We have got about 100 applications from mothers who have been raising their kids for a few years. We’ve hired many. And I would encourage all the women who have left workforce to come back.”
Source: http://www.chinadailyasia.com/2016-01/22/content_15376658.html