10/03/2026

TUESDAY | MAR 10, 2026

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‘Workforce discriminating against ageing women’

said: “Do not limit yourself to being just one thing. Why can you not be a writer, a coach and an entrepreneur?” Sheila calls it the “multi-hyphenate mindset”, embracing multiple skills instead of restricting yourself to a single path. Her own life proves her point. Once told that she lacked talent in painting, she challenged that assumption and later held her own art exhibition. “That is what I teach people: challenge your limiting beliefs.” As women around the world celebrated their achievements on International Women’s Day, Sheila offered a simple but powerful message. “Fear will always be there when you try something new. If you wait for fear to disappear before you act, you will never begin. Feel the fear, and do it anyway.” – By Kirtinee Ramesh Trailer driver breaks gender stereotypes KUALA LUMPUR: Amid the roar of trailer engines, 28-year-old M. Kahmani is proving that women can also steer heavy vehicles across highways, challenging long-held industry stereotypes. Unfazed by the challenges of joining a male-dominated field, Kahmani, who holds a Diploma in Mechatronics Engineering, has been devoted to the profession for over six years, pursuing a halal livelihood for her family despite obstacles. She said her entry into heavy vehicle driving was sparked by curiosity. One night, while working at a factory, she saw a woman sitting in a trailer and wondered if she was driving it. “I asked her and she said she was just accompanying her husband who was driving the trailer. That was where I found my inspiration and became committed to pursuing this field. I took the bold step of obtaining a heavy vehicle driving licence.” She eventually chose a path rarely taken by women after trying several jobs, including cashier, airline customer service officer and technician, none of which lasted long. Previously working in a factory, she found the 12-hour days repetitive and confining, leaving little freedom or personal fulfilment. “Over time, I realised the job did not suit me. It was difficult to take leave or move around freely. That is why I decided to try a career as a trailer driver. In fact, driving is not unfamiliar in my family. My father is a tanker trailer driver and he taught me a lot, exposing me to various aspects of this career. He is one of my greatest sources of inspiration.” However, life on the road is far from easy. Kahmani has faced negative reactions from the public, who underestimate women’s abilities. Long-distance journeys bring physical exhaustion and job demands mean she rarely returns home. Her work also takes her across nearly every corner of the country, often to Ipoh, Perak, where her company has projects. Her mornings begin with collecting delivery documents and inspecting her trailer. Once ready, she sets off, treating her trailer as a second home, equipped with essentials such as instant food, clothes, medicines and basic cooking equipment. “When I am away from my family, the thing I miss most is my mother’s cooking. When I lived at home, my mother would cook but I rarely ate. Now that I am far away, I truly miss home-cooked meals.” Kahmani’s story gained attention after a video of her driving a trailer was widely spread on social media, inspiring many women. She said the response strengthened her resolve to promote self-belief among women. “In terms of capability, anyone can do any job if they have confidence and determination.” – Bernama

o AI recruitment systems set to prioritise younger applicants overlook decades of expertise: Specialist

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Women aged over 50 are quietly disappearing from the workforce and this is happening long before their resumes ever reach a human eye, said veteran change agent Sheila Singam. After four decades spanning education, journalism, corporate training and coaching, Sheila has witnessed workplaces evolve but one worrying trend stands out. Increasingly, experienced women are being filtered out by automated recruitment systems powered by AI. “Many of my friends aged in their 50s and 60s are applying for jobs and they are not even getting interviews. “The moment age categories are entered into the system, they are filtered out before anyone even looks at their CVs.” She said the problem lies not in technology itself but in how companies set the rules for these systems. “AI is only as good as the parameters humans give it. “If the algorithm is set to prioritise younger candidates, then experienced applicants are eliminated automatically.” The consequences are more than just a technical glitch as decades of expertise, wisdom, professional networks and problem-solving skills are overlooked. “Someone who has worked in an industry for 20 years brings insights that a 20-year-old simply cannot match yet.” Ironically, older women may actually be a practical hire for employers. Many are financially independent, have healthcare coverage and are open to flexible or project-based arrangements, yet stereotypes persist, she said. “I think companies believe older women will demand higher pay or be costly medically. But many are perfectly willing to work under flexible arrangements or consultancy roles.” Sheila shared how she has seen this firsthand. “In one room, I had four women, all aged above 50, with incredible experience. All of

Sheila said International Women’s Day should not just highlight achievements, but also shine a light on the barriers older women still face in professional life. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

She added that rather than sidelining experienced candidates, companies should rethink employment models. “Why not hire them on contract, consultancy or project-based roles? You still benefit from their expertise without the long-term commitments that worry employers.” For Sheila, age brings qualities that money cannot buy, such as emotional intelligence, resilience and a steady hand in crisis. “Experience teaches you how to manage people, handle crises and make better decisions. Those things cannot be learned overnight. There is so much talent being wasted,” she added. “These women are not finished with their careers, far from it. If we truly want gender equality, we must also challenge ageism. Otherwise, empowerment stops at age 45.”

them were freelancing because nobody wanted to hire them full-time.” She said the situation highlighted a blind spot in workplace diversity conversations. “Companies talk a lot about diversity, equity and inclusion. But age diversity is often ignored. And what is shocking is that many HR departments are led by women. So, why are women discriminating against other women?” She also said as societies worldwide celebrated International Women’s Day on Sunday, the occasion should not only highlight the achievements of women, but also shine a light on the barriers older women still face in professional life. “There is now another layer of gender bias: discrimination against women aged above 50. If we are serious about empowerment, we cannot ignore this.”

Call to challenge limiting beliefs and embrace full potential KUALA LUMPUR: On International Women’s Day on Sunday, stories of courage, reinvention and ambition came to the forefront, and few embody these qualities better than Sheila Singam. the perfect job for a woman. You worked half a day, went home, got married and raised children.” However, Sheila refused to be boxed in. “I got bored. And boredom can sometimes be a powerful motivator for change.” personal development, and in 2008, Sheila founded her consultancy Human Equation Sdn Bhd, helping individuals, universities and corporations unlock potential. “Starting the business was not easy. The biggest challenge was money.”

Over four decades, she has been a teacher, journalist, coach, entrepreneur and, most importantly, a change agent inspiring women to embrace their full potential. “I call myself a change agent, a facilitator of learning and growth.” Sheila’s journey is a masterclass in refusing to be confined by society’s expectations. “I believe human beings have tremendous potential to do many things. But society often puts us in a box.” Her career began as a mathematics teacher, a path chosen at her father’s urging. “In those days, parents thought teaching was

She moved into real estate, then recruitment and training, before answering her long-held calling: journalism. Writing for theSun, New Straits Times and The Edge, she interviewed high-profile personalities and travelled internationally, all while challenging the notion that women must settle for one role in life. “It was the dream job. Business-class flights, international assignments, it was amazing. “But I kept asking myself: what am I really contributing?” That question led her back to training and

With children in university and months without income, she relied on perseverance, self-belief and faith. “You have to trust that if you do the work, things will come.” For Sheila, growth begins in the mind. “My superpower is shifting mindsets. Change how people see themselves and everything else changes.” Her approach relies on stories and lived experience rather than rigid lessons. To young women entering the workforce, she