Voices Of Diversity: Women Leaders On Inclusion, Diversity And Equity

As part of our SHEEO (SHE Empowers Others) global campaign, we’ve gathered a collection of insightful advice on workplace Diversity and Inclusion from extraordinary women leaders. Our aim is to inspire and empower women to thrive across various industries.

• Siew Ting Foo – Global Head of Brand & Insights at HP
• Shivani Mukherjee – Fintech #65 Leader Singapore / Singapore FinTech Association
• Dr Carrine Teoh-Ong – ASEAN Top 30 Women in Cybersecurity / President (Cybersecurity & Governance) – ASEAN CIO Association
• Caitlin Nguyen – Head of Digital and Customer Engagement at Abbott
• Akanksha Rastogi – Head of Data and Insights at foodpanda Thailand
• Dr. Kanpassorn Suriyasangpetch – CEO and Founder at Ooca

What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership?

Siew Ting Foo:

“Often, females experience imposter syndrome, and they are the ones holding themselves back. We also engage in our own self-talk a lot, thinking that “we are not good enough.”

Shivani Mukherjee:

“Unequal or lack of female representation in the senior leadership workforce: Absence of female leadership on the board and C-level makes entry, grooming, and growth of female leaders at mid-senior level difficult and topples the diversity element top to bottom.

Unconscious bias, stereotyping, and labeling: Discriminating strong women who are not only talented but also have a voice to stand up for their team and themselves is a very common and prevalent behavior in the tech industry where both banks or tech companies are led by chairman and board and C-level all or mostly males.

Societal expectations creeping into offices and workspaces: The change has to happen at human, conscious, and social levels to see the changes in the workplace. In most countries and societies, women are expected to be multi-taskers and do a phenomenal job both at raising kids, running a household, and at their jobs. This pressure or expectation unfortunately is not so strongly present for men. Men are accepted as non-multi-taskers, great career folks who have an amazing life partner raising his family. This is unfair and unfortunately impacts decision-making at work as well. This impacts the career graph and growth of women. More in press and less in practice attitude of employers to truly empower their mid-career female staff.

Lack of access to mentoring in paid format or backed/supported by employers: Most employers actively run HR drives and campaigns supporting women hires or promoting women, but fail to bet on their existing women staff, take bets on them, provide coaching and in-house lateral/alternate job opportunities for them to excel, learn leadership skills while doing their day job and move up the ladder.”

What are their viewpoints on the leadership role of women in various industries?

Dr Carrine Teoh-Ong:

“The Cybersecurity field has grown tremendously in the region. The need for cybersecurity and the need for talent to accomplish that is growing. There are many capable women in the cybersecurity industry around the world and in APAC. Many of them have tremendous knowledge, experience, and expertise. We see many more women in leadership roles in cybersecurity too, as their experience and knowledge shine. As a woman in tech, I want to encourage more women to be active and contributing in this industry, as the need for talent is tremendous.”

Caitlin Nguyen:

“Today, there are more women leaders in the space of digital and business transformation, which is very encouraging. I believe this is a reflection of a higher level of diversity in general in the workforce, and particularly among those moving into senior leadership roles. The role of community and building support networks is not to be underestimated, as this not only serves to further empower women but is also a great way to strengthen learning agility and continuously improve oneself as professionals and individuals.”

How do you think fostering diversity and inclusion can positively impact innovation and problem-solving in the digital space?

Siew Ting Foo:

Multiple sources of data have proven that when the environment and community are made up of diverse voices and representation, the outcome is usually better. This is often evident, especially when solving ‘complex’ problems. I believe this principle matters and applies in any situation and environment, culturally and organizationally.

Dr. Kanpassorn Suriyasangpetch:

“Promoting diversity and inclusion enhances innovation by bringing together people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas. This leads to more creative solutions and helps address problems in new ways. In digital health, it’s especially important to have diversity to understand different populations’ needs.”

Any pivotal moment/event that fueled your desire to empower others?

Shivani Mukherjee:

“Growing up in a country like India, where society is visibly patriarchal, exposed me to many societal inequalities when it came to gender. Discrimination is the least of them. At the same time, I was born into a middle-class Indian family where education was valued, and my parents treated their sons and daughters alike when it came to our schooling and career choices. So, I was not left to destiny; I was given a fair chance, just like my brothers, to study, perform, and make a place for myself in the world. I did exactly that, choosing the world of tech for my career, and the rest is history.

During this journey, I have witnessed how other girls of my age were not so fortunate to receive the same equality at home or at school. I have friends from my childhood, girls who were married off at a young age and were not encouraged to pursue their careers. It shocked me how it was so easy for society, family, and particularly men in the families to make decisions for their women. I wanted to change this with every fiber of my being. I still do. These life observations, and accepting the fact of being privileged compared to other girls, remind me of my duty to give back to the community. I am passionate about women empowerment, so that we create a society of equity, equality, and acceptance for our future generations.”

Dr Carrine Teoh-Ong:

“As I pursue my career in cybersecurity, I’ve noticed there are few women in the field, especially at cybersecurity conferences and in publications. I believe there is a gap and a need to empower others in the field to be represented and heard. This is also a good opportunity to encourage more women to embark on a career in cybersecurity.”

What continues to motivate and drive you in your career?

Shivani Mukherjee:

“Tech came to me first as a choice in education and then as a career. Today, I see tech as a powerful instrument to change the world, impact lives, fuel economies, and make the world a better place. I won’t lie; while I started in this field to make money and build a stable career, today my drive is quite spiritual in some ways. I believe tech is fundamental in democratizing access to services and choices of shopping, spending, earning, decision-making, and information for everyone (men and women alike). It also adds a sense of responsibility that I grow in this field and ensure that we adopt tech for good. We are able to protect against the abuse of tech, which can result in significant damage to people and properties. So, as a leader in tech, I am in this for people, product, and peace.”

Siew Ting Foo:

“I have been very fortunate in the early stages of my career to have had mentors and bosses who helped me ‘own my own voice,’ acting as sponsors and mentors. Hence, I believe it is time for me to pay it forward and help mentor and champion diversity. At HP, I have been actively assisting young females, mentoring them both informally and formally. Additionally, I am engaged externally in female organizations that champion diversity within the startup community.

I feel that marketers, given their role in society, can make a significant impact. Therefore, in many campaigns, I have tried to demonstrate this. One campaign that I am particularly proud of is the HP stereotype campaign. It aimed to help females return to work and showcased how HP technology can facilitate that process. It was very inspiring and successful, especially within Japanese culture.

I still believe there is work to be done in promoting diversity and inclusion both in Asia and around the world, and marketers are in a position to enable that.”

Akanksha Rastogi:

“Encouraging Participation: Despite existing barriers, the growing involvement of women in the Data Science field serves as inspiration, creating a chain-reaction effect and encouraging more women to join the industry.

Mentorship Impact: Having mentors from an early age has played a pivotal role in my life. They not only teach you but also enable you to learn. They are individuals who provide valuable perspectives, helping you develop the self-capacity necessary for personal growth, continuous learning, and success in life.”

Dr. Kanpassorn Suriyasangpetch:

“I’m excited by the vast untreated mental health needs that persist across Southeast Asia. My aim is to democratize access to emotional well-being regardless of socioeconomic background through innovative digital solutions. However, real change requires ongoing education, so I continuously strive to better understand diverse communities and include marginalized voices.”

My hope is that by empowering open conversations and reducing stigma, we can nurture conditions that allow human potential and dignity to flourish. As a leader, I am focused on creating ecosystems where people feel heard, and supported to seek help, and where nuanced human stories can emerge.

If we come together driven by compassion and our shared humanity, I believe we can positively transform how mental health is understood and realized across Southeast Asian cultures. But it requires perseverance and leadership rooted in moral courage.”

Do you have any advice for young women embarking on this journey?

Caitlin Nguyen:

“I started my journey in digital business in general due to my curiosity for learning and my interest in how data and tech can inform innovative strategies and brave experiments. My advice to others on this journey is to stay curious, be open to unlearning some things and learning new things, and never lose your sense of wonder. My second piece of advice is to always take care of yourself mentally and physically, find your people, and build your community.”

Siew Ting Foo:

“My advice for females is to be the best version of themselves. What do I mean by that? It’s having the self-confidence and humility to constantly strive for the best version of yourself and also not being afraid to “own your own voice,” meaning to speak your mind and be your authentic self.”

Akanksha Rastogi:

“Life is akin to a game of dots. While aiming for the bull’s eye, it’s crucial to recognize that each throw teaches you about the conditions and the ecosystem you’re in, offering a tiny hint about getting closer to your goal. Tugging at that hint provides clarity.

• Avoid the need to know everything before starting
• Focus on being certain about the direction until reaching your destination or uncertainty arises
• Avoid being obsessed over being right initially which can hinder learning from previous mistakes and attempts
• Embrace the concept of failing fast to expedite improvement and rapid learning”

Dr. Kanpassorn Suriyasangpetch:

“For a female health tech leader, immerse yourself in the evolving health landscape and patient needs. Connect with female peers overcoming gender hurdles in this male-dominated space. Stay motivated by the difference better innovations can make for patients. With resilient adaptability, drive positive change despite obstacles. Expertise should emphasize health first, then tech. Lead by understanding the human experience of health challenges. Leverage your innate strengths there.”

Running from March (Women’s Day) to April (Girls in ICT Day), our first-ever global campaign, SHEEO (SHE Empowers Others) serves as a platform for influential women worldwide to share their stories and guidance with the next generation. If you’re a woman leader with impactful stories to share, reach out to us to be part of this empowering journey!