The Path to Parity

Four prominent Singapore female leaders shed light on the under-representation of Asian women in global leadership through the lens of their own struggles and triumphs

- Nafeesa Saini

It is 2024 and yet, the fair representation of women in leadership roles has yet to be achieved. The discourse around this issue, though, is more dynamic than ever, particularly in light of recent concerns over the limited representation of women on corporate boards in Singapore. This shift is driven by an increasing number of women challenging the status quo of deep‑rooted gender disparities in the workforce.

Research by social network LinkedIn, as presented in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index, highlights the gravity of this under‑representation: in 2023, only 32.2 per cent of senior leadership roles were occupied by women. Other LinkedIn data shows that in Singapore, women occupy 42 per cent of leadership roles, indicating a positive trend towards gender parity here. Among these leaders, a significant subset is making an impact beyond local borders, building cross‑cultural bridges and propelling global business growth. These women are examples of the influence of female leadership in crucial international roles, adeptly navigating cultural and systemic obstacles within the challenging landscape of global business.

Gina Wong, head of global alliances for strategic markets at Kyndryl, an American multinational information technology infrastructure services provider, realised the significance of her role as a global senior executive during an encounter with a Japanese colleague from the company’s Brazil team. The colleague’s excitement for an Asian woman in such a prominent role showed Wong the influence of having Asian women in global leadership. “It dawned on me that we need more Asian and female representation in multinational corporations. My global presence, appearance and speech can make a lot of impact,” she reflects.