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Sushila K Chang
Vice-chancellor and CEO, Asian Women's Leadership University College
This education leader is advancing women’s leadership through Southeast Asia’s first not-for-profit women’s liberal arts and sciences university
Sushila Krishnaswamy-Chang leads Asian Women’s Leadership University College (AWLUC), established in 2022 as Southeast Asia’s first not-for-profit women’s liberal arts and sciences university. Modelled after the United States’ historic Seven Sisters colleges, the institution aims to nurture future leaders through interdisciplinary education, critical thinking and global perspectives.
Krishnaswamy-Chang’s commitment to women’s advancement is deeply personal. Raised in a low-income immigrant family with limited access to education, she experienced firsthand the challenges faced by many women striving to overcome social and economic barriers. Her career across multiple countries has reinforced her belief that women play essential roles in leadership, decision-making and community building, yet remain underrepresented in positions of power.
Through AWLUC, she hopes to equip students with both technical expertise and critical skills including problem-solving, communication and systems thinking so they can navigate complex global challenges. Over the next few years, she also aims to personally mentor emerging leaders who embody resilience, authenticity and ethical leadership, empowering them to create meaningful change in their communities and beyond.
I come from an immigrant family of seven children and my parents had little or no education. My story is one of poverty, navigating cultural bias and a continuous struggle to succeed. It is a story similar to that of most women from very low-income families, who have struggled to survive and to fulfil their aspirations. I want women to be fearless, authentic and resilient, rising above all odds without losing their inherent attributes and traits.
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