Date:  24th March 2025
Featured Speakers:

• Devanesan Evanson, Independent Director

• Beverly Spencer-Obatoyinbo, Independent Director

• Risper Genga Ohaga, Finance Professional and Business Leader

• Suhana Selamat, Independent Director

• Michelle Mutinda, Financial Sector Professional

Featured Moderator: Liza Liew, Manager, Consulting & Client Services of LeadWomen

The session topics such as leveraging diverse perspectives on boards, imposter syndrome, managing conflicts, and cultural & geopolitical awareness.

Key Insights:

🔹 Recognising differences across various board types and adjusting expectations accordingly is key.

🔹 Making early connections with fellow board members can provide an understanding on how the board operates.

🔹 Cultural nuances and boardroom dynamics greatly influence how one can contribute meaningfully—emotional intelligence is key!

🔹 In organisations with a Senior Independent Director (SID), directors can rely on them to surface concerns about boardroom dynamics.

🔹 Interpersonal skills—tone, language, and approach—are often more critical than technical expertise at board level.

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date:  13th March 2025
Featured Speakers:

• Chua Chai Ping, Country Head and HR Director of Experian

• Marie Lee, Associate Director, Sales and Marketing, Robert Walters Malaysia

Featured Moderator: Sherena Razaly, Business Development Manager, Agensi Pekerjaan Joint Resources

LeadWomen's 2nd year collaboration with Robert Walters, in celebration of International Women's Month!

Key highlights from the session:

🔹 Common barriers women face when re-entering the workforce, particularly confidence, skill gaps, and imposter syndrome.

🔹 Psychological safety - Career comebacks often come with a dip in confidence, and it's essential for leaders to provide consistent support and reinforcement. 

🔹 Adaptability is key for career comebackers! While it can be challenging to return to work amidst shifts in workplace dynamics and business operations, staying flexible and open to change is essential. 

🔹 The importance of a supportive workplace culture—including flexible hours, remote work options, and mental health programmes.

🔹 Hiring Managers were encouraged to hire based on potential rather than just current skill sets.

Read More via LinkedIn HERE 

Date:  25th Nov 2024
Featured Speaker: Dr. Sharbanom Abu Bakar, Independent Non-Executive Director of AFFIN Islamic Bank Berhad.

Dr. Sha shared valuable insights into the world of Artificial Intelligence, and highlighted the importance of using AI responsibly and ethically, ensuring it works alongside human intelligence rather than replacing it.

Key highlights from the session:

🔹 AI Evolution and Industry Impact: Explored AI’s journey from its origins to deep learning, showcasing transformative applications across industries. Discussions recognised AI's role in boosting Malaysia's GDP. 

🔹 Workforce Transformations: AI adoption is reshaping industries like automotive and telecoms while emphasising the need for workforce upskilling amidst job disruptions. 

🔹 Ethical AI and Governance: Stressed the importance of responsible AI practices, with frameworks like GDPR and the EU’s AI Governance Act guiding accountability and compliance. 

🔹 AI in Education and Risk Management: Focused on integrating AI into education to prepare future generations while addressing ethical concerns in risk management with clear policies and internal surveys. 

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date:  25th July 2024
Featured Speaker: Christine Liew, Former Chief Commercial Officer of PLUS and Ex-Global Marketing of SHELL.

Christine began with a visual that struck a chord with many, capturing the sensation of "everyone, everything, all at once”. This led to an honest discussion where delegates shared (recent experiences) like handling crises (both at work and home), tough conversations, and navigating reorganisations—all of which reflected both the wins and challenges.

She also touched on the struggle of finding time to connect outside of work when so much of it is consumed by professional and personal responsibilities. The conversation (addressed the topic of anxiety that introverts and even extroverts face at times) when attending networking sessions and introducing themselves. Additionally, we explored ways to manage stress and focused on the importance of wellbeing for leaders (and their teams). Dr Nathan Eva’s “Is good leadership bad for the wellbeing of leaders?” article was referenced as a thought starter.

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date:  25th June 2024
Featured Speaker: Dr. Christina Ooi, Former APAC Chief Procurement Officer

Dr. Christina highlighted the growing importance of ethics in today's organisations, emphasising the need to distinguish between good and bad practices at every level of management, from senior management to top leadership. She posed a critical question on “Are top leaders aware of potential blind spots and red flags?” and emphasised five (5) key ethical risks that organisations must vigilantly watch for: conflict of interest, fraud, corruption, coercion, and collusion. 

Real-world cases of unethical business practices were shared, offering valuable insights into mechanisms that can detect and prevent such behaviour. Ultimately, it boils down to the quality of talent hired and the unwavering commitment to enforce zero tolerance for unethical behaviour.

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date:  26th Apr 2024
Featured Speaker: Molly Fong, Executive Director of InNature Berhad

Molly kicked off the session by sharing valuable insights into InNature’s dedication to using non-animal tested and 100% Vegan ingredients in its products, community support initiatives, and efforts to reduce plastic waste, landfill waste, and combat climate change while promoting animal welfare.

InNature's approach is a testament to profit with a purpose, exemplified by initiatives such as its circularity programme to upcycle its own plastic waste and other practical solutions for retailers to embrace ESG. Regulatory support has further bolstered their efforts, leading to increased trust, loyalty, and positive impacts overall.  

Molly highlighted InNature's commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), showcasing a Board of Directors and management structure with more female than male representation. She also encouraged companies to pursue B Corp certification, citing InNature's distinction as the first B Corp certified PLC in Southeast Asia. She also shared insights into ESG business frameworks via B Corp, offering guidance for both SMEs and PLCs to explore and implement.

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date:  26th March 2024
Featured Speakers:-

• Sammie Sam - Director, Executive Search of Robert Walters

• Joanne Rodrigues - Group Chief Financial Officer of Affin Bank Berhad

Featured Moderator: Usha Devi (UD) - Managing Consultant of PeopleBiz Consulting; LeadWomen Member

LeadWomen organised its first Panel Series of Power Hour, for the year in collaboration with Robert Walters.

Sammie kicked off the discussion with valuable insights from the e-guide, covering crucial aspects of transitioning into a new role, building teams and relationships, establishing credibility, and more. She emphasised the importance of learning from other leaders and maintaining an open mindset.

Joanne highlighted the significance of understanding workplace culture and overcoming imposter syndrome, which often holds women back. She shared her own experiences of building relationships and finding her voice in the first 90 days – which resonated with many of our attendees.

Both speakers stressed the importance of open communication, more engagements with the stakeholders and boards, and the need to find one's voice and display confidence in stepping up to top management levels. It was agreed that being conscious in relationship building would tremendously help in difficult and challenging situations.

Usha also emphasised the need to find supportive communities and for leaders to actively contribute to the onboarding process, rather than relying solely on the human resources department. 

Access Robert Walters e-guide HERE
Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date:  20th March 2024
Featured Speaker: Surita Mogan, Founder and President of Edometriosis Association of Malaysia (MyEndosis) 

Surita shed light on the alarming diagnostic delays, which can span 6 to 8 years, emphasising the importance of regular check-ups for prevention. Of particular interest was Surita's exploration of the 'Gender Pain Gap,' revealing the tendency to dismiss women's pain as emotional and the underrepresentation of females in medical trials. 

Our delegates gained valuable insights into the misconceptions surrounding endometriosis and the urgent need for early interventions. Surita stressed the importance of validating symptoms and creating an environment where women feel comfortable communicating their condition, whether to HR or within their own circles.

While awareness of endometriosis remains low, Surita emphasised the crucial role of social support from all fronts—family, educational institutions, employers, healthcare providers, and government—in improving the mental well-being of women with endometriosis. 

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date:  27 Feb 2024
Featured Speaker: Savita Saigal, International Legal & Corporate Consultant, Saigal Vohra

Savita highlighted the escalating complexity of geopolitical events and its interconnected nature, emphasising their potential impact on businesses ranging from supply chain disruptions and lower profitability to expropriation and staff evacuations during conflicts. 

Directors, she suggested, should proactively engage in continuous education, assess their board's competency, and bring in specialists to fortify high-level expertise in handling geographical risks. 

Establishing the right structure and processes enables boards to assign responsibility for geo risk management, ensuring regular updates on the latest tensions. Boards must ensure that management is prepared to identify, assess, quantify geopolitical risks and are able to integrate the right set of response measures in their decision-making process. 

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date:  7th Nov 2023
Featured Speakers: 

• Neha Dhyani, Senior Cybersecurity Advisor, Nokia Solutions One

• Annabella Subashini, Head of Compliance, Integrity & Ethics, Axiata

• Preetha Nadarajah, Chief Technology Officer, Nokia Malaysia

Moderator: Dr. Sharbanom Abu Bakar, Independent Non-Executive Director, AFFIN Islamic Bank Berhad

LeadWomen organised its second Panel Series of Power Hour in collaboration with Nokia and Axiata.

• Neha highlighted current challenges and provided valuable insight for both CISO and Board to achieve complete visibility and effectively manage cyber risk.

• Preetha drew attention to the convergence of cyber attackswith Artificial Intelligence (AI) and underscored the importance of having board directors with a strong business acumen.

• Annabella highlighted the risk of breaching confidentiality and personal data, along with the importance of protecting intellectual property rights.

• Dr. Sharbanom offered several guiding questions including AI impact on cybersecurity, balancing security and usability when implementing cybersecurity measures and the pivotal question of key KPIs that boards should prioritise.

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date:  22nd Sept 2023
Featured Speaker: Theresa Goh, CEO and Founder, TG Consulting Sdn Bhd

Our members delved into the world of Transfer Pricing (TP) with Theresa Goh, where we have:

• Uncovered insights on TP Rules 2023 compliance

• Gained understanding of penalties imposed by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB)

• Explored the benefits of Special Voluntary Disclosure Programme (SVDP) 2.0

• Learned how strong tax governance aligns seamlessly with robust corporate governance

Despite Transfer Pricing being introduced in Malaysia two decades ago, IRB remains dissatisfied with compliance levels.

Theresa shared real-world cases stemming from grey areas in TP documentation, underscoring the importance of referring to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) for clarity.

As for the Board of Directors, the session highlighted the critical importance of understanding when TP Rules apply and the necessity of reviewing TP documentations

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date:  24th Aug 2023
Featured Speakers: 

• Siti Zarah, AGM Business Development, Mobile & Wireless, TM One, Telekom Malaysia

• Preetha Nadarajah, Chief Technology Officer, Nokia Malaysia

Moderator: Gerhard Ott, Customer CTO & ESG Principal Malaysia, Nokia

Our delegates glean invaluable insights from our distinguished panelists;

Gerhard presented an array of strategies for combating climate change, highlighting significant GHG emissions sources across industries and sectors, and presented Nokia’s research.

Siti Zarah highlighted TM's unwavering commitment to ESG sustainability, emphasised the company's proactive journey towards decarbonisation, starting with their own operations and development of product services.

Preetha highlighted the crucial role played by the three pillars of decarbonisation, digitisation, and decentralisation (3Ds) in driving the adoption of technology.

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date: 26th July 2023
Featured Speaker: Dr. Sharbanom Abu Bakar, Independent Non-Executive Director, AFFIN Islamic Bank Berhad

Our members and delegates gained valuable knowledge on ESG's links to Sustainability and UN SDG 17, including common issues across various industries, reporting requirements, and case studies.

Dr. Sharbanom emphasised why the ESG journey is important to every company and industry, and how ESG promotes value creation in 5 ways - top line growth, cost reduction, regulatory and legal interventions, productivity uplift, and investment & asset optimisation (McKinsey, 2019).

The session also discussed the existing challenges in encouraging and convincing companies to incorporate ESG in their business strategy and operations. We agreed that we must appeal to everyone's desire of leaving a lasting business legacy for future generations as a focal point; while we work towards achieving the 5 values offered by ESG.

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date: 23rd June 2023
Featured Speaker: Prof. Rachel Ooi, Certified Chair™️ ™️ Advisory Board; CEO Coach (ICF PCC) & Forbes Council

Rachel’s session provided our members valuable insights that highlight the widening gap between human progress and technology's exponential growth.

It became clear that transformation is not merely an option, but a necessity if one seeks to attain presence and significance in this context.

Sustainability presents a significant challenge, particularly in relation to business and social needs, especially in developing countries. However, underserved markets offer potential for opportunities, necessitating transformative leadership that recognises the shift away from isolated value creation.

During the session, Rachel highlighted that when it comes to deploying AI, it is crucial to acknowledge the presence of humans and establish clear policies, whether at the C-level or board level.

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date: 11th May 2023
Featured Speaker: Anuradha Katyal, Global Head of People & Culture - Digital &Transformation, Scania Group

Anuradha Katyal shared valuable insights into her journey while participating in a discussion on the most effective strategies for advancing as an ambitious woman.

Her inspiring journey deeply resonated with fellow members present, highlighting the importance of open sharing and empowering one another for mutual motivation.

Full Version of Key Takeaways via LinkedIn HERE

Date: 12th April 2023
Featured Speaker: Chooi Hoon Low, Sustenance, Strategy, and Transformation Consultant

We learned from Chooi Hoon’s session that DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) is more than just the right thing to do - it's about weaving sustainability into a company’s life cycle.

The session discussed the multi-generational challenges faced by brands and the importance of tracking and measuring indicators to address them. The largest generation in history is Generation Y (Millennials), and they tend to opt for brands that have the ability to create a positive influence on the world.

Chooi Hoon highlighted that the strategy of 'SMILE' could help companies navigate DEI to strike a chord with both consumers and employees.

We also learned that social listening can help companies measure their success by understanding the conversation surrounding their products and services.

Read More via LinkedIn HERE

Date: 28th Feb 2023
Featured Speaker: Khadijah Iskandar, Business Consultant, Restu Efektif

Khadijah Iskandar shared her insights on risk management, including financial risks and global case studies, as well as the current challenges faced by businesses.

Our members also delved into the topic of artificial intelligence and its role in monitoring but not replacing human risk management professionals.

As a female leader in the field, Khadijah highlighted the importance of keeping up with risk management trends and understanding an organisation's end-to-end processes.

She also emphasised the significance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (#ESG) and how every individual can contribute to them, regardless of their company's size.

Read More via LinkedIn HERE