Honing skills of women in the boardroom

The Star

a day ago

WHEN women leaders are told their ideas cannot be implemented, they should continue to pursue them without giving up, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh says.
'When you are told something cannot be done, ask why.
'Is it because no one has done it before? It doesn't mean it cannot be done; maybe you can be the one who finally implements it,' she said during the third edition of Deloitte Malaysia's Board-Ready Women (BRW) programme 2025 at Menara LGB, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
Siew Ming says it is important to have a circle of people who will speak the truth. Hannah cited the issue of automatic citizenship for children born to Malaysian mothers and foreign fathers under the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2024.
She explained that in 2022, both Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional included this matter of citizenship in their election manifestos.
'When the unity government was formed, this issue was one of common interest between both parties, which led to the reform.'
She said this was an example of how a rejected idea was ultimately successful because it was continuously championed.
Hannah also advised participants to practise what they preach, saying that employees expect their bosses to live by the values they promote.
She noted that with social media, people were held accountable for what occurred in their private life once they became public figures.
She said that even she was not free from public judgment.
'I work seven days a week. Sports events mostly happen on weekends, and when I take just an hour to shop with the little free time I get, I am questioned about why I'm not at work.
'Similarly, board members and directors work around the clock and have their own challenges,' she said, adding that a woman leader's performance sets the benchmark for the next one.
BRW's programme leader Siti Hajar Osman said women now held 29.7% of board seats across Malaysian companies, a significant leap from just 14% a decade ago.
Hamidah advises participants to continue learning in areas they lack knowledge.
Among the top 100 public-listed companies, the figure is 33.1%, reflecting a growing recognition of the value women bring to leadership, she said.
'The call to increase leadership diversity goes beyond social responsibility – it's a strategic imperative,' she said, adding that the programme helped to drive gender parity, innovation in leadership and a sustainable talent pipeline.
Since its inception in 2023, over 50 women leaders had graduated from BRW where the programme equipped them with the technical expertise, strategic insights and soft skills needed to thrive in boardrooms.
The programme is run in collaboration with BoardRoom Malaysia, Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM) and 30% Club Malaysia.
It offers participants industry insights into the latest trends, technical thought leadership and essential soft skills to meet the evolving demands of corporate governance.
Participants also benefit from exclusive access to board decision-makers, industry leaders and knowledge partners through networking opportunities.
Among the speakers at the event was Maxis independent non-executive director Datuk Hamidah Naziadin, who encouraged women leaders to continue learning in areas where they lack knowledge.
'I was not good in financial matters. In 2024, I signed up for ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). Keep learning,' she advised.
Another speaker, PETRONAS Chemicals Group senior independent non-executive director Yeoh Siew Ming, said it was important to have a circle of people who would tell you the truth, as this was crucial for the decision-making process.
She said there would always be new things to learn and keep abreast of, with artificial intelligence (AI).
'I even learned chemistry later in life to understand things better.
'The more we spend time on something, the better we become at it,' Siew Ming said, adding that during the Covid-19 pandemic she took up golf which helped her find common ground with her male counterparts.
BRW is a flagship initiative under Deloitte's 'Global Boardroom' programme that aims to prepare more women for boardroom roles.