While the spotlight at the KL20 Summit was on the main Leader and Founder stages, another equally significant event took place at the Catalyst Corner. This event, "Catalyst for Change: She Runs the World," organized by Cradle Fund and Women in Tech, aimed to foster discussions on female empowerment and entrepreneurship.
Why We Still Need These Conversations
According to the 2023 World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report, Malaysia ranked 102nd out of 146 countries for gender equality, lagging behind many of our neighbors. This underscores the urgent need for continued dialogue and action to bridge the gender gap.
Meet the Panelists
The panel featured distinguished female leaders:
Yuki Aizawa, APAC Director for Women in Tech
Juliana Jan, Senior Vice President in Grant & Investment for Cradle
Viviantie Sarjuni, CEO of SCENIC
Shermaine Wong, Co-founder and CEO of Cult Creative
Norilmi Amilia Ismail, CEO of SpaceIn
Moderating the session was Tunku Danny Mudzaffar, Founder and CEO of microLEAP, a company dedicated to democratizing investments for micro-enterprises.
The Key Question: What's Stopping Women?
A memorable moment was when a participant, reflecting on his career working with women, asked, "What’s stopping women from running the world? Is it mentality? Is it really discrimination?" This question resonated with the panelists, who had been addressing these issues throughout their careers.
Too Few Women Applying for Funds
Juliana Jan pointed out that from a funder's perspective, the challenge isn't just discrimination but also the low number of women applying for funds. This highlights the need for more proactive support and encouragement for women to seek financial backing.
The Leaky Pipeline: From Education to the Boardroom
The manifesto of Women in Tech, "From the Classroom to the Boardroom," illustrates the problem: a pipeline full of holes. Yuki Aizawa noted the lack of female role models in STEM fields, leading to fewer women pursuing these careers. Events like this are crucial for increasing visibility and inspiring the next generation of female leaders.
Overcoming Bias and Impostor Syndrome
In an ideal world, meritocracy would rule, but biases still exist. Juliana Jan explained that many men underestimate women's capabilities, and some women suffer from impostor syndrome. Norilmi Amilia Ismail shared her experience of being doubted as a business-savvy lecturer, emphasizing the need for resilience to overcome these assumptions.
Addressing Intersectionality
Viviantie Sarjuni highlighted the compounded challenges faced by women in rural areas, sharing personal experiences of bias as a Sabahan. She stressed the importance of including rural women in the conversation, as their struggles can be significantly different yet equally important.
Balancing Responsibilities and Societal Expectations
Modern women face cultural expectations to prioritize family and defer to men. Norilmi Amilia Ismail suggested forming supportive communities, but acknowledged the difficulties mothers face in balancing networking and childcare. Shermaine Wong emphasized the need for supportive partners and work environments to make these challenges more manageable.
The Importance of Intentionality
Yuki Aizawa underscored the need for intentional efforts to include women. Whether through mandated quotas or dedicated panels, intentionality is crucial until female representation becomes normalized in all spheres of society.
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