22/06/2025

ON SUNDAY JUNE 22, 2025 theSunday Special III

nature of innovation, being ahead means SDYLQJ WKH ZD\ IRU RWKHUV WR IROORZ ´ Yong is also encouraged by the evolving OHDGHUVKLS ODQGVFDSH WKRXJK VKH¶V FOHDU it’s not yet at the level. “

When people see each other in a professional stance instead of a gender-related one, we can learn something from each other and push ourselves to greater heights.”

I overcame these challenges by focusing on demonstrating exceptional competence.”

Structural barriers still need to be dismantled, particularly in leadership styles, work-life balance and industry-specific stereotypes.”

Liew

Yong

Wong

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“Since we’re in an industry that deals with human emotions and communica WLRQ LQWHUDFWLQJ ZLWK GL̆ HUHQW SHUVRQ DOLWLHV KDV JLYHQ PH LQVLJKW LQWR H̆ HFWLYH communication, which I see as a crucial EXW RIWHQ RYHUORRNHG DVSHFW RI EXVLQHVV – the human emotional element. I’m still learning and navigating this, but I try to DSSO\ ZKDW ,¶YH OHDUQHG IURP RWKHUV WR QHZ SHRSOH , PHHW ´ :RQJ DGGHG “First, build your mental and emotional strength. These foundations will give you the focus and determination to start from WKH JURXQG XS DQG NHHS JRLQJ ZKHQ WKLQJV get tough, ´ s KH DGYLVHG DVSLULQJ \RXQJ Malaysian women. S KH DOVR DGGHG WKDW VHHNLQJ LQVSLUDWLRQ LV RQO\ SDUW RI WKH MRXUQH\ “You can get advice from many great SHRSOH OHDUQ IURP ERRNV DQG DUWLFOHV DQG KDYH PXOWLSOH UROH PRGHOV %XW LI \RX GRQ¶W take action on that advice or actively work WR LPSURYH \RXUVHOI \RX ZRQ¶W VHH WKH FKDQJHV RU SURJUHVV \RX¶UH KRSLQJ IRU ´ From rejection to recognition T KH HQWUHSUHQHXULDO MRXUQH\ RI 'DWLQ Nancy Liew, co-founder of Marrybrown, EHJDQ ZLWK VLPSOH LQWHQWLRQV DQG HQRU mous odds. Marrybrown began in 1981 with a VLPSOH YLVLRQ 7R FUHDWH D SODFH ZKHUH 0DOD\VLDQ IDPLOLHV FRXOG HQMR\ TXDOLW\ IRRG LQ D ZDUP ZHOFRPLQJ DWPRVSKHUH %XW IURP WKH VWDUW VKH IDFHG VFHSWLFLVP “ :H IDFHG VFHSWLFLVP DERXW ZKHWKHU D ORFDO EUDQG FRXOG FRPSHWH ZLWK HVWDE OLVKHG LQWHUQDWLRQDO :HVWHUQ IDVW IRRG chains. Many consumers thought authen WLF IULHG FKLFNHQ ZDV H[FOXVLYHO\ D :HVWHUQ FRQFHSW ´ She also had to overcome gender bias in a male-dominated business environment. “ :KHQ PHHWLQJ ZLWK SRWHQWLDO SDUWQHUV VXSSOLHUV RU ¿QDQFLDO LQVWLWXWLRQV , RIWHQ QRWLFHG WKHLU LQLWLDO VFHSWLFLVP DERXW GHDOLQJ ZLWK D ZRPDQ HQWUHSUHQHXU , overcame these challenges by focusing on GHPRQVWUDWLQJ H[FHSWLRQDO FRPSHWHQFH ´

SULRULWLVHG LQ PDLQVWUHDP IDVKLRQ 7RGD\ the conversation has evolved beyond ERG\ VKDSHV WR LQFOXGH FXOWXUDO GLYHUVLW\ DFFHVVLELOLW\ WKURXJK WHFKQRORJ\ DQG SHU VRQDOLVHG VKRSSLQJ H[SHULHQFHV ´ T KDW SXVK IRU LQFOXVLRQ LQVSLUHG WKH creation of AURI, a sister brand aimed at broader audiences. “ :KLOH 06 5($' UHPDLQV D VWURQJ KROG LQ SOXV VL]H IDVKLRQ $85, UHÀHFWV our commitment to making well-crafted fashion accessible to all women, regardless RI ERG\ VKDSH RU OLIHVW\OH ´ Yong acknowledges the road hasn’t always been smooth. “One of the recurring challenges has been consistently demonstrating that SOXV VL]H IDVKLRQ LV QRW RQO\ FRPPHU cially viable but also relevant across all DJH JURXSV ´ She notes that shifting broader industry PLQGVHWV VWLOO WDNHV WLPH GHVSLWH KLJK return-customer rates and community loyalty. “The real challenge lies in shifting the broader industry’s mindset, where change LV RIWHQ PHW ZLWK UHVLVWDQFH %XW WKDW¶V WKH

Identify and leverage your unique strengths rather than leading exactly like others.