Community Archives

Empowering Women Leaders through Speed Mentoring Programme

Posted on June 12, 2024June 12, 2024 by 30club-Malaysia

We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of yet another impactful event by the 30% Club Malaysia – our flagship Speed Mentoring programme, a testament to our collective commitment to nurturing female leadership talent in the corporate world.

This initiative stands as a beacon of empowerment, fostering growth and development for women executives in mid to upper management levels across various sectors.

With the participation of over 60 rising women from over 31 organisations as mentees, the programme served as a platform for invaluable mentorship and guidance where the initiative aimed to accelerate the advancement of women in mid to upper management levels provided them with access to invaluable insights and guidance from 6 seasoned mentors across various sectors.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed mentors whose dedication and expertise from diverse sectors and industries truly inspired these women to reach new heights. The mentors are:

Michael Lai Board Member/Board Risk Management Committee, Great Eastern General Insurance,

Dato’ Ami Moris Chair of Cypark Resources Bhd & Former Chair of 30% Club Malaysia,

Jalalullail Othman Independent Non-Executive Director CIMB Islamic,

Tay Shan Li Co-founder of BabyDash, Managing Partner of ScaleUp Malaysia and Founder and CEO of Swipeless,

May Lim Managing Director The Arnott’s Group (Asia) and

Dato’ Roslina Zainal Independent Non-Executive Director Malaysian Smelting Berhad and, Independent and Non Executive Director Cyberjaya Education Group Berhad.

A special note of appreciation goes to our gracious host, Great Eastern. and members of its key management, Mr. Ng Kok Kheng, CEO of Great Eastern General Insurance, and Ms. Sook Hooi Khoo, CFO of Great Eastern General Insurance for providing the perfect setting for collaboration and growth.

The success of the programme could not have happened without the dedication shown by our team of volunteers and advocates with the 30% Club Malaysia – Nurul A’in Abdul Latif, Chair of the 30% Club Malaysia; Raj Kumar Paramanathan, Co-lead of the Enable Pillar; and Volunteer Advocates – Frauline Josephine Hor, Sarania Sukumaran, Sharmila Gunasekaran, RPh, MBA, Yee Jing L., Aira Pandawa, Catherine M. whose demonstration of unwavering commitment have led to the transformative experience by our mentees.

Some of our favourite key takeaways from the mentees:

- Find your purpose in life and believe in yourself. Stay true to your passions and convictions

- It is important to find a leadership mentor who can provide guidance, support, and wisdom in navigating the leadership journey

- Leverage on one’s own unique strengths instead of trying to trying to conform to traditional notions of mirroring a man to find success in career

We couldn’t be more proud to celebrate the success of this programme in our continued journey to create a future where diversity and inclusivity contributes to driving positive change, innovation and success at the workplace!

Empowering Progress: Celebrating Nine Years of the 30% Club Malaysia

Posted on May 10, 2024May 10, 2024 by 30club-Malaysia

Nine years ago, on this very day, we embarked on a mission to shatter glass ceilings and redefine corporate leadership in Malaysia. With a bold vision to triple the representation of women on company boards, the “30% Club Malaysia” took flight, catalysing a seismic shift towards gender parity.

Today, as we commemorate our journey since 2015, we stand tall, empowered by remarkable progress. Thanks to tireless advocacy and unwavering commitment, women now hold 31.4% of board seats in the top 100 public listed companies and 26% across all PLCs in Malaysia (as of April 2024).

This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a testament to the collective dedication by our Volunteer Advocates, Corporate Advocates and Council Members towards DEI.

But our mission doesn’t end here. The 30% mark isn’t our destination—it’s our launching pad towards true parity. Our new Chair, Nurul A’in Abdul Latif, took the helm recently and together with her, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering an environment where every voice is heard, every talent is recognized, and every opportunity is equitable.

Beyond numbers, our impact resonates in Malaysian boardrooms, in Malaysian communities, and in the very fabric of our nation’s future. By championing inclusivity, we’re not just driving economic growth—we’re shaping a legacy of empowerment and progress for generations to come.

Join us as we continue this transformative journey. Together, let’s redefine leadership, break barriers, and build a future where every individual—regardless of gender—has the opportunity to thrive.

Happy Anniversary, 30% Club Malaysia! Here’s to nine years of empowerment, and to many more milestones ahead.

By Working Together, We Achieve More

Posted on May 10, 2024May 10, 2024 by 30club-Malaysia

Earlier this week, Nurul Ain Abdul Latif, Chair 30% Club Malaysia and her team, including Rejina Rahim, Influence Pillar, Frances Po and Nurini Kassim, Activate Pillar 30% Club Malaysia, paid a courtesy visit to meet with Dr. Ismet Yusoff, CEO of Minority Shareholders Watch Group (MSWG) and Rita Foo, Head Corporate Monitoring.

It was a fruitful discussion between like minded partners and both MSWG and 30% Club Malaysia look forward to forging future collaborations to amplify advocacy efforts on gender diversity and corporate governance.

30% Club Malaysia and PwC Malaysia host Beyond Quotas

Posted on March 11, 2024April 1, 2024 by 30club-Malaysia

The 30% Club Malaysia and PwC Malaysia joined forces to host a thought-provoking event in Kuala Lumpur, centered around the theme “Beyond Quotas: Sustainable Strategies for Building the Talent Pipeline.”

The event aimed to shed light on the evolving dynamics within global boardrooms and initiate a crucial dialogue on whether numerical goals confine or liberate the potential of women in corporate leadership.

The distinguished panel, moderated by Tunku Alina Alias, an Independent Director at UOB Malaysia Berhad, brought together a wealth of insights from industry leaders.

The panel featured Chari TVT, Independent Director at UEM Sunrise Berhad; Norlela Baharudin MIA,FCPA Aust,ICDM,TEFL, Executive Director at Berjaya Corporation Berhad; and Tan Mei Sian, Deputy Group CEO at IGB Berhad.

The heart of the discussion revolved around the intricate challenges posed by the ‘Leaky Pipeline’ problem.

The panelists shared valuable strategies aimed at nurturing female talent and fostering the development of a new generation of board-ready leaders. The exchange of experiences and aspirations not only provided enlightenment but also empowered all those in attendance.

The event served as a platform to contemplate the role of quotas and their impact on gender diversity in leadership. Also present at the event were 30% Club Malaysia’s Chair Nurul Ain Abdul Latif and 30% Club Malaysia’s founding chair Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar.

Participants gained insights into sustainable strategies that go beyond mere numerical targets, emphasising the importance of creating an inclusive and empowering environment for women in corporate leadership.

The success of the event was further highlighted by the engagement of the audience and the collaborative spirit that permeated the discussions. It showcased a collective commitment to advancing gender equality in the corporate realm.

As we reflect on the event’s impact, we look forward to continued discussions, collaborations, and actions that will contribute to the ongoing transformation of boardrooms in Malaysia.

This International Women’s Day, 30% Club UK celebrates the UK’s leading women CEOs

Posted on March 6, 2024March 6, 2024 by Aba Wilson-Sam

‘When we recognise women, the Country excels’

Posted on March 4, 2024March 4, 2024 by 30club-Malaysia

On 23rd February, Rejina Rahim and Geetha Kandiah, representing the 30% Club Malaysia, attended the Women’s Ministry Dialogue session, held at one of the hotels in Kuala Lumpur.

It was a meeting of minds and a very engaging session!

Working in groups, split by various interest topics, issues were derived from a lab style discussion amongst group members, who were also tasked to come up with proposed solutions.

Out of 10 topic groups, 4 groups were selected to present their ideas.

Working as part of the “Women and Leadership” group, two key issues were prioritised, namely 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 and 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑠.

It was presented by Rejina and Ts. Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan from Malaysia Board of Technologists to the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri as well as the officials from her Ministry.

It was a very fruitful session where collaboration, healthy discussion and many issues were raised. Change is a journey that happens in an ecosystem and takes time.

We look forward to more collaboration as we work towards a future of gender equality, financial empowerment and equal access to health and well-being measures for women.

30% is not ceiling but a starting point.

30% Club Malaysia and Accenture hosted Board CV Writing Workshop

Posted on March 4, 2024March 4, 2024 by 30club-Malaysia

In the ever-evolving realm of corporate representation, women have excelled at promoting their companies, articulating their strengths, and positioning their organisations for success.

However, when it comes to advocating for themselves, many women encounter obstacles. Presenting their best selves to the world can feel like a daunting task.

Recognising this challenge, 30% Club Malaysia, in partnership with Accenture Malaysia recently hosted a transformative Board CV Writing Workshop facilitated by seasoned expert Raj Kumar Paramanathan, Managing Partner of CnetG Asia and Steering Committee Member of the 30% Club Malaysia.

The workshop provided a platform for the 20 women participants to enhance their skills in board placement and recruitment, while offering a valuable networking opportunity for them.

Raj’s experience and expertise in executive and board search and selection, combined with his encouragement to participants, fostered a truly enriching learning experience where key takeaways from the workshop included:

- Utilisation of Prime Real Estate: The first 1/3 page of a CV, often known as “prime real estate,” is crucial. Effective presentation in this section is paramount, as research suggests that readers form initial impressions in just 6 seconds.

- AOE Table: The Area of Expertise (AOE) table serves as a powerful self-assessment tool, aiding in identifying Most Significant Achievements (MSA), strengths, weaknesses, and areas of interest. This structured approach helps participants gain clarity on their professional profiles.

- STAR Format: When describing achievements or responding to interview questions, utilising the STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Results) format ensures clarity and relevance, enabling succinct articulation of experiences and their impact.

Additionally, participants were advised to:

- Engage in Self-Reflection: Take time to identify and articulate the three best attributes.

- Eliminate Fillers: Remove unnecessary jargon and fillers from CVs, prioritising clarity and conciseness.

- Develop an Action Plan: Commit to completing CVs by taking concrete steps toward refining and finalising professional profiles.

The 30% Club Malaysia’s signature Board CV Writing Workshop equips participants with tools, tips, and confidence to navigate the competitive landscape of board placements. By empowering women to represent themselves effectively, initiatives like these contribute to achieving greater gender diversity in boardrooms.

Our thanks goes out to Accenture Malaysia for generously hosting this event, underscoring their commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity in the workplace!

Making Waves: Nurul Ain meets Hanneke Smits, 30% Club Global

Posted on March 4, 2024March 4, 2024 by 30club-Malaysia

Nurul Ain Abdul Latif, our new brand new Chair of 30% Club Malaysia and Executive Chair at PwC Malaysia, met with Hanneke Smits, CEO of BNY Mellon Investment Management & Global Chair of the 30% Club Global.

Fueled by passion and purpose, they delved into 2024’s focal points for both the Global and Malaysia Chapter.

From upcoming events to impactful activities, the stage is set for transformation and growth!

30% Club Malaysia Welcomes PwC’s Nurul A’in Abdul Latif as New Chair

Posted on March 4, 2024March 4, 2024 by 30club-Malaysia

30% Club Malaysia is thrilled to announce Nurul Ain Abdul Latif, Executive Chair at PwC Malaysia, as our new Chair!

In this new role, Nurul will work alongside our Corporate & Volunteer Advocates on various initiatives to advance women leaders on corporate boards and management teams in Malaysia.

In addition, with PwC Malaysia as our new corporate sponsor, we’re not just setting targets, we’re pushing boundaries!

30% is not a ceiling but a tipping point towards true parity. Let’s continue championing diversity, equity, and inclusion to shape a more inclusive future together for Malaysia! Join us on our path to parity!

Read our media release here.

Empowering Women in Leadership: 30% Club Malaysia meets LAKSANA

Posted on December 30, 2023January 8, 2024 by 30club-Malaysia

Recently, 30% Club Malaysia sat down with a team of LAKSANA – Agensi Pelaksanaan Ekonomi & Koordinasi Strategik Nasional to discuss collaboration and support our continued agenda for Path to Parity.

Dato’ Ami Moris, our Chair along with steer-co members, Rejina Rahim of the Influence pillar and Norlela Baharudin of the Enable (Board Mentoring Scheme) pillar met with Sharifah Khairiyah and Shahrol of LAKSANA, an agency set up by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) to track and monitor the implementation of key government initiatives.

The agency believes that key initiatives such as those advocated by the 30% Club Malaysia to promote more diversity in boardrooms and C-suites receive support and collaboration with the regulators and policymakers.

During the discussion, representatives of 30% Club Malaysia proposed how the agenda of a 𝙋𝒂𝙩𝒉 𝒕𝙤 𝙋𝒂𝙧𝒊𝙩𝒚 can be furthered at various ministries e.g. MOF and the Ministry of Women Community and Family Development.

During the discussion, a key suggestion was made for the relevant authorities to take the lead in talent pipeline initiatives for both the public and private sectors.

The discussion also focused on influencing the investment ecosystem within Government-Linked Companies (GIC) and Government-Linked Investment Company (GLIC) in terms of promoting various measures to support more women-linked investment initiatives, women entrepreneurs, and more women participation at the policy-making level in the government and local authorities.

The 30% Club Malaysia is eager to work with the relevant ministries and agencies, as the potential benefits for the country are evident – a 36% boost in GDP, equivalent to USD20 billion, can be realised by aligning women’s workforce participation with that of men.

A study conducted by McKinsey & Company in collaboration with Lean In presents compelling evidence of a direct link between increased representation of women in leadership roles and higher return on equity.

The 30% Club Malaysia is hopeful and positive that it can forge a stronger collaboration with the Government as it strives to make further progress along the Path to Parity in the current year.