I’m the co-founder and director of Lean In Malaysia. Our goal is to break through stereotypes, shatter glass ceilings, and inspire women to pursue their ambitions without limitations. Empowering individuals, particularly women, sparks a chain reaction of positive change. It’s not just about breaking limits; it’s about igniting a movement for inclusivity and inspiring everyone to seize their full potential.

What is most rewarding about your work?

Witnessing the tangible impact on women’s empowerment. Every positive change we catalyse, every shattered stereotype, and every life positively impacted reaffirms the significance of our efforts.

Who inspires you and why? 

My ultimate inspiration is my mother. I marvel at her ability to multitask, seamlessly balancing the roles of a mother raising five kids, a dedicated school teacher shaping future generations, and a relentless learner pursuing her Master’s and PhD. She embodies the strength to juggle myriad responsibilities without losing her identity as a woman—a powerful testament to resilience and grace.

What’s your philosophy about work and life? 

My mantra is simple: defy limitations. Never let anyone dictate what you can’t achieve just because they can’t. If you have a dream, guard it fiercely and go for it.

Millennial women like myself were raised with feminist slogans ringing in our ears. However, genuine, tangible gender equality is the ultimate goal–equal status as citizens, equal pay for work and freedom from all forms of violence. Making this happen through awareness, advocacy, and legislative change is my lifetime mission.

Who inspires you and why? 

My mother, Loh Loon Nee. I’m the adult overseas born child (OBC) of a Malaysian mother and am part of the demographic still being denied our birthright of Malaysian citizenship due to unequal and sexist citizenship laws. My mother’s passing from Covid in August 2021 was my catalyst for speaking publicly about this issue. Her passing reminded me of the fragility of life and the importance of highlighting the struggles of Malaysian mothers, many with babies and young children.

We are already in our fourth generation of Malaysian women and their families suffering economic marginalisation, emotional trauma and myriad social discriminations in this way. Having lived through every step of my mother’s story in her quest to obtain my Malaysian citizenship, as well as the personal and professional hardships I’ve endured since 1995, is a resounding reminder that our case is not unique. All Malaysian women with OBC also endure such unnecessary challenges and heartache.

What is most rewarding about your work? 

Covering economics and politics has been part and parcel of my work as an independent broadcast journalist for over a decade. Linking back these broader topics to more nuanced and perennial issues via Gender Mainstreaming in a sensitised yet effective manner, which galvanises public support for structural reform, has been most rewarding. These issues include male violence against women and girls, rape culture and sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, motherhood penalty, the Gender Pay Gap, Gender Responsive Budgeting, unpaid care work burdens, comprehensive sexuality education, teenage pregnancy, unintended pregnancies and baby dumping, child marriage and challenges of rural and indigenous women such as period poverty, lack of access for sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Using my social media platforms as an advocacy tool has been a deeply enriching and also eye opening experience. Hardly anyone, especially public figures, spoke about any of the above topics 10 years ago. These days, it’s increasingly normalised to speak up about these experiences and lived realities.

What are your philosophies about work and life? 

Read. Listen. Reflect. Articulate. These four principles have genuinely helped me to be a better journalist and to take on life’s many challenges.

I am one of three commissioners from Asia to undertake a global commission titled Women, Power and Cancer: A Lancet Commission, highlighting the urgent need to integrate sex and gender into all cancer-related policies and guidelines in order to make them more responsive to the diverse needs of women. My mission is to steer health systems (locally and globally) towards person-centred healthcare, delivering holistic care that tackles cancer while strengthening families every step of the way.

What is most rewarding about your work? 

Seeing my work contribute to a Malaysia (if not the world) where cancer patients and their families receive comprehensive support and care from the health system and community, allowing them to live their lives through good times and bad. I’ve witnessed this transformation firsthand through many of my research projects.  

Even with Malaysia’s universal healthcare, many families face a hidden financial storm when struck by cancer. My research has shown that non-medical costs like transportation, childcare, and supportive care can be crippling, pushing families into financial hardship. New, highly effective cancer drugs add to the burden, and job loss due to illness further complicates matters. My team and I are rolling out a groundbreaking financial navigation programme for Malaysian families facing cancer, with the goal of alleviating financial stress, and bringing a better quality of life to those battling cancer.

What advice would you give women on making a difference in the world?

Chase your dreams: Don’t get stuck in someone else’s script. Pursue your own aspirations, even if it means stepping outside your comfort zone. Filling your own cup isn’t selfish, it’s essential. You can’t be the best for others if you’re running on empty. Prioritise and invest in your well-being.   

I’m the coordinator for Gerai OA, helping to ensure indigenous crafts survive and that families thrive from the supplementary income it generates. I strive to work for and with those who want to help themselves. It is not about charity, but working together.

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome? 

Surprisingly, it’s logistics (because of the sheer distances and the fact that I don’t own a car nor drive; public transport is difficult, time-consuming, and slightly unsafe in rural and interior areas). That, and to a lesser extent, prejudice against capable women. Oh, and learning to say ‘yes’ when help is offered.

Who inspires you most? 

Dr Colin Nicholas of the Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC). He has helped empower indigenous peoples in Malaysia over the past four decades, especially indigenous women. He has helped pave the way for many community organisations as well as a younger generation of indigenous activists. He has done so much with such little fanfare, yet his efforts are greatly appreciated by the communities he has worked with. He really helped Gerai OA find our feet in the early years.

What's your philosophy about work and life? 

Honestly, funding is often easier to obtain than someone’s time. This is why I personally value the efforts of our core Volunteers who are not paid for their efforts. My firm belief is that if we all pitch in (either money, time or effort), we can make life better for everyone.

I’m the co-founder and managing director of BloomThis. Supporting women is close to my heart because it’s about unlocking the incredible talent, creativity, and resilience that women possess. Through initiatives like our apprenticeship program for women from disadvantaged backgrounds, we’re not only equipping them with valuable life skills but also offering them a pathway to financial independence.

What drives you to do what you do? 

My driving force is to craft extraordinary moments that become cherished celebrations in people’s lives. We want to create moments of happiness through exceptional products and services. By doing so, we also nurture meaningful partnerships and collaborations with our team, our customers and the community.

What positive impact do you want to make in the next five years? 

I aim to continue driving innovation within BloomThis, introducing new products that not only delight our customers but also contribute to our growth and market leadership. I intend to amplify our brand’s influence in the realms of branding, PR, and content creation, making BloomThis a recognised name in Malaysia and beyond. I’m committed to advancing sustainability efforts within our e-commerce startup, ensuring that we minimise our environmental footprint and promote responsible consumption. I want to expand our support for women in Malaysia through initiatives like mentorship programs and skill development, enabling them to thrive personally and professionally. On a personal level, I’m dedicated to continuously improving my leadership skills and deepening my spiritual connection.

What advice would you give women on making a difference in the world?

Knowledge is a powerful tool. Continuously educate yourself about your field of interest, stay updated on relevant issues, and empower yourself with the necessary skills and information. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start small if needed, but take that first step.

I’m the executive director of Sisters In Islam. In the coming years, I hope to hone the language and communication on Islam, gender equality and women’s rights in Malaysia for different and diverse groups and communities, especially in Bahasa Malaysia. People need to know. They deserve to know.

What is most rewarding about your work? 

Going on the journey of understanding knowledge of Islam, gender equality, and women’s rights is very liberating and affirming. It’s a lifelong process because there is a lot of work involved in gaining that understanding. And I am still learning.

What drives you to do what you do? 

Knowing that women are so much more and can do so much more than what society limits them to be. I believe that a nation can only be prosperous and successful if women are recognised and treated equally as full human beings in all areas of life.

What is the greatest challenge you've had to overcome? 

Accepting that I am enough.

As the director of Helping Hands Penan, my mission is to empower Penan women and girls to be self-sustainable and to have a voice, raising a future generation of empowered women.

What drives you to empower women in Malaysia? 

The Penan women and girls we support in Sarawak are among the most vulnerable groups among the many indigenous communities in this state. Many of these women and young girls do not have access to education nor the resources to use their weaving skills to reach the market and make a living for themselves. As a mother of four children and grandmother of three granddaughters, I feel compelled to extend a helping hand to pave the way for these Penan women and children to be educated. 

What is most rewarding about your work? 

There is no greater joy than seeing the children we worked with more than 15 years ago, receive education, find employment and raise their own families. The impact we made in seeing the Penan women become self-sustaining, gain self-esteem, and provide for their families from the sale of their crafts is truly rewarding. More Penan children could go to school and more youth in the community are able to further their education.

What impact do you want to make in the next five years? 

Relying solely on craft sales is no longer sustainable with today’s saturated market, keen competition and price wars. We are constantly innovating to widen our markets internationally and provide access for our weavers to corporate customers, keeping them gainfully employed.

I launched Kloth Woman Up to create job opportunities for marginalised, struggling, and vulnerable communities through creative sewing, producing upcycled merchandise from donated fabrics through our Kloth Cares fabric recycling initiative. A lot of women have a genuine interest to earn fair wages through sewing. We help them do this by connecting them with corporate customers seeking to create upcycled merchandise as part of their ESG initiatives. 

What’s the greatest challenge you’ve overcome? 

Overcoming my own fear that I might not be good enough to do something. I was afraid that failure would define me, and I’d be labelled for a certain stigma. Getting out there and just getting the job done is not easy when you fear judgements from others.

What drives you to empower women and girls? 

Women are so unique. We are created to be multi-talented and to perform various types of tasks, if given the right opportunity, resources, and exposure. While there are a lot of empowered women in Malaysia, there are also many who have issues of self-belief due to lack of exposure, opportunity or support systems, unresolved trauma, and vulnerable economic and living conditions. As a result, they don’t realise their full potential. I believe every woman should play a role to support other women and be an active player in the ‘women-ecosystem’. I have faith that the world will be a better place if more women are given the same opportunities, and no one is left behind. 

What advice would you give other women on making a difference?

Believ what you’re advocating through and through. Ask yourself if you’re willing to make the time and energy investment, and how far you are willing risk. Keeping manifesting what you believe and keeping meeting like-minded people. Keep going and getting the job done. And learn how to move on.

I am the Chief Scientific Officer at Cancer Research Malaysia, leading an incredible team of doctors, scientists, and patients who are all working towards improving the outcomes for Asian breast cancer patients. The work we do has put Malaysia and Asia on the world map for precision oncology and enabled us to establish new services in genetics and patient navigation that have impacted many women and their families.

What drives you to do what you do?

As lab scientists or geneticists, oftentimes, we’re pushing the frontiers of how to get more women to survive the disease, but the challenge is many people don’t even have access to treatment. No matter how advanced genetic testing, genomics and treatment selection are, ultimately, many women today are dying of the disease because they cannot access early detection of the disease or the treatments that can save their lives. I look forward to a day when there will be more clinical trials bringing new treatment options for Asian patients based purely on their molecular profiles and a better understanding of cancers that occur in the Asian population.  

What advice would you share with other women? 

The ability to work with a diverse group of individuals, whether locally or internationally, is absolutely key to success. Science is hugely collaborative; it’s really about your ability to form global teams and work with people across different backgrounds, which is essential for positive impact.

What’s your philosophy about work and life? 

Knowing nothing about anything is not a barrier. When I started, I knew almost nothing about breast cancer. But knowing nothing doesn’t mean you cannot learn or assemble great teams who know more than you do to make an impact in an area.

I'm the deputy head of the Community Outreach Unit at Cancer Research Malaysia. My current work at the NGO focuses on improving healthcare access to low-income breast cancer patients through our Patient Navigation Programme in collaboration with the Malaysian Ministry of Health.

What is most rewarding about your work?  

Waking up each day with the opportunity to engage in meaningful work changing status quos and offer hope in challenging situations. Such dedication not only brings fulfilment to my own journey but also contributes positively to the lives of those we touch. It highlights the transformative power of aligning personal passions with the betterment of others, making each day a testament to profound impact. In these powerful moments, witnessing the strength and resilience of patients can inspire and motivate you, even on difficult days.

What's the greatest advice you’ve ever received?

When I was growing up, my mother used to say there are three important things in life. The first is your education. The second is that you must have a professional career. And the third one was that you should see the world.

What impact do you want to make in the next five years?

To change the narrative for the low income patients who are affected by breast cancer. I believe no one should suffer in silence. I hope to see all state treating hospitals able to implement the patient navigation programme and deliver patient-centred care that guides, overcomes barriers and strengthens patients’ faith in going through treatments.

I was fortunate to be part of a diverse and expert team that ideates, designs, and creates solutions improving access to cancer care. I look forward to such opportunities that are made available for nurses in Malaysia and Asia. We hope to establish a collaborative platform to co-create solutions with Asian-based nurses for Asian communities.

I’m the president of Women of Will. We support women from low-income families, the majority being single mothers struggling to navigate their lives due to limited access to resources and opportunities. 

What drives you to empower women? 

Growing up, I encountered cases of physical abuse in public, with nothing done by bystanders to intervene or support them. I have no doubt that subconsciously, I chartered a path for myself to do something about it when I could, and I am grateful that today, Women Of Will is playing a pivotal role in the empowerment of women in Malaysia.

Who inspires you and why? 

The women whom we work with at Women Of Will. Many of us on the team will not hesitate to share that we have learnt so much from the women who are a constant source of inspiration. They are resolute and driven to uplift their children’s lives, generous and selfless in looking out for others in their communities, and possess the tenacity to pick themselves up over and over again. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “A woman is like a tea bag–you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water”.

What advice would you share with other women?

Develop partnerships with people who share aligned goals. Partnerships are essential and will help magnify the impact of the work many times fold, enabling you to address the multi-layers as well as provide more holistic solutions.

Together with my colleagues at Kemban Kolektif, I built the Gender-Empowered Generation (GEG), a feminist legal response network to build a human rights-based, gender-progressive legal network bridging NGOs, law students, and legal practitioners (with a focus on young women lawyers) to fill in the current gaps and address the lack of meaningful remedies and access to justice in Malaysia.

What is meant by access to justice here is to ensure the legal rights of women in communities affected by harmful practices, such as rape culture and gender-based violence from the lens of a substantively gender-equal impact in women’s daily lives.

What drives you to do what you do? 

I first noticed systemic gender discrimination when I was 16–I led a group of then fellow boarding school teenage girls to demand equality (in watching football) since the boys faced no restrictions compared to us. Fast-forward 10 years, it was evident again that the law school education I had graduated from did not implement a human rights approach for women in their daily lives, whether theoretically or practically. We were not supported in becoming lawyers in the criminal courts in particular. As a government prosecutor, I saw the power of women leaders who held their power and warned powerful men against sexual harassment. I saw how crucial these women bosses were in holding safe spaces for young women lawyers to thrive. In activism currently, there are a handful of women practicing criminal law in the private sector compared to thousands of men. The fire in my belly has always been fuelled by the strength of the sisterhood, solidarity and the support of peers or giants whose mighty shoulders I have been supported upon.

What is most rewarding about your work? 

When inequalities or injustice are pushed back in whatever way; when the sisterhood comes together and manages to attain meaningful remedies and real social change, that’s truly rewarding. When the voices of mothers or parent(s) facing violence and abuse are heard and acted upon, when girls get to speak truth to power and stand tall, I am happiest to watch our work to help them shine.

I’m the Head of Production at Double Vision, and the executive producer and director of the Astro Originals series Liar. Working with the Women’s Aid Organisation cemented my resolve to work on Liar, which dealt with the ambiguity of sexual assault from a Malaysian Muslim female perspective. 

Who inspires you and why? 

As far as work is concerned, I think it would have to be Steven Spielberg. The guy is one of the greatest storytellers that lived and the most commercially successful director in history, but did you know that he was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Theatre, Film and Television three times?! Goes to show that if you’re really good at something, there is nothing or no one that can stop you–even the people who supposedly know what they’re doing.

What impact do you want to make in the next five years?

In five years I want to prove that Malaysian stories CAN and WILL travel in a commercial way. Traditionally, Malaysian films and TV don’t sell well outside of the country let alone the region, but I really believe that it can be done.

By providing guidance and opportunities through Mereka’s Women in Entrepreneurship programme, I aim to instil confidence and nurture growth for women, creating a ripple effect of positive change in both professional and personal spheres.

What drives you to empower women? 

To allow individuals to see the deep-rooted potential in themselves, providing them with a platform to develop their skills and encouraging them to try, reinstating that it is okay to fail because that is the only way to find their path to success.

What is the greatest challenge you have overcome?

I struggled with seeking help from others, which usually resulted in me taking things on myself. I’ve learnt the power of community and a strong support system when it comes to overcoming challenges.

What are your philosophies about work and life? 

There’s a quote by the author John Gardner that says, “meaning is something you build into your life”. We always hear of people “finding meaning in what they do”, but I feel it shouldn’t be the case. This resonates with both my personal and professional life, where I choose to create experiences and paths that truly inspire me and give me joy, where I build my own meaning and satisfaction in all that I do.

I'm the co-founder of Health Equity Initiatives and a senior lecturer at the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia. I am driven by my faith and the call to serve God in the disadvantaged, to create an equal and inclusive world where deservingness to respect is inherent to being human and transcends divisions of gender, race, religion, creed, or class imposed by society.

What drives you to empower women? 

It’s not just a matter of supporting women in general; it’s deeply personal to me to support women who are marginalised. Refugee women show remarkable resilience in the face of challenges, including trauma, violence, and the daily struggle to secure work, healthcare, and education for their children. Migrant women make the difficult decision to leave their families to provide for them by nurturing others. Their daily realities are steeped in challenges, yet their choices are driven by immense love and care. Supporting these women goes beyond mere fairness; it’s about nurturing a world that acknowledges equality and inclusivity at its core. There is rich evidence: entire communities thrive when we empower disadvantaged women. Empowered women make healthier choices for their families, champion sustainable practices, and strengthen community bonds.

What’s the greatest challenge you’ve overcome? 

I have navigated through multiple significant hurdles in my life. I made the difficult decision to pause my career for 12 years to care for my child, constrained by inadequate child-care options. After a 20-year gap, I returned to school to pursue doctoral studies, re-entered the job market, and transitioned to an academic career, which had evolved considerably since my earlier days in the field. During this period, I also fought serious life-threatening health challenges. Yet, with the grace of God, a never-say-die spirit, and the love and support of those closest to me, I overcame these obstacles, learning invaluable lessons in faith, resilience, and adaptability.

Who inspires you and why? 

I find great inspiration in the refugee community we serve. Their resilience, generosity, and unwavering spirit in the face of adversity continually remind me of the power of the human spirit.

I’m the writer and director of the 2023 film Tiger Stripes. I believe having a greater diversity of storytellers, and therefore more diversity in stories that are being released in cinemas and streaming platforms is a good thing. Today, there is still a big divide, and women are still under-represented in the film industry. 

What’s the greatest challenge you’ve overcome?

A lot of crippling self-doubt. When I moved back to Malaysia, I stopped directing and writing short films because I was afraid that I wasn’t good enough. I didn’t know who I was, what my identity was as an artist, what my voice was. It took many years for me to figure things out and gain the confidence to direct my own short films.

What’s your philosophy about work and life? 

I hope to aim for commercial success in all my stories, and I hope for sustainability in my career. All filmmakers want to be able to keep making films and sustain their careers. If I could make a huge hit like Barbie, I would do it, but if I made a much smaller film that only a handful of people liked, it would still be important to me.

What advice would you give other women? 

Be honest with yourself and what you want to say. Fight for your voice. 

I co-founded Wahine Capital with a vision to empower women through financial knowledge and collaborative platforms. We created W Vault, a dedicated digital safe uniquely crafted for women, allowing them to securely store and organise vital digital details such as documents and financial records. 

What drives you to do what you do?

Women are made more financially vulnerable given the simple fact that we outlive our male counterparts by five years on average, earn about 20 per cent less the higher we go up the corporate ladder, and we also have one-third less EPF savings at the age of 54. Having been in the investment industry for 25 years, it was obvious to me that there is a dearth in solutions to help women maneuver this. Given the patriarchal society we live in, I wanted to help simplify financial management and minimise the pension crisis that’s about to blow up.

What’s the greatest challenge you’ve overcome? 

Bridging that mindset to investors and users on why focusing on women matters. 

What’s your philosophy on work and life?

That would be this quote from the film Gladiator: What you do in this life echoes in eternity. So what legacy are we leaving? 

What advice would you give other women?

Every voice matters so don’t be afraid. Your little contribution may just be that tipping point towards changing a person’s life for the better.

I am the vice president of WOMEN:girls, and Gender and Social Inclusivity Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam. I aim to move the needle in the gender space and support girls and women; hopefully both at the grassroots as well as at the policy-making level.

What drives you to empower women and girls?

Without women at the backbone of the country–nurturing our children, investing time in unpaid care and labour work–there is no way we will be able to become a dignified, developed Malaysia. I have seen women in my life caring for me, ensuring I have all I need to get the best education, nourishment and well-being support while putting their own needs aside–this is my reason for doing what I do now.

What are your philosophies about work and life? 

I believe in the pursuit of personal freedom. To free oneself from mental, physical, emotional and financial imprisonment; and to escape the societal gaze and mass opinion is true individual power to authentically choose for oneself. Women have a lot stacked against us in this world, and the pursuit of personal freedom is to relentlessly pursue self-determination. And God; I trust in God a lot.

What advice would you give other women? 

In the words of the powerhouse singer, Madonna: “If you don’t use your voice, you don’t make a choice, and someone else will speak for you instead.” To be a change-maker, even for yourself, you have to learn to stand up for yourself, and then for those who are unable to do the same.

I’m the founder of MADCash. We work with ladies who do not have access to mainstream finance to uplift their businesses and help them be bankable in two years. Their success is our success as we work on building an ecosystem of women who will then help others succeed.

What is most rewarding about your work? 

That we found people who believe in us at MADCash and believe in our ladies is so rewarding. These last few years have been so gratifying; after spending 12 years building software, this is the first time that we have seen how what we have built helps our community.

What drives you to do what you do? 

I have been privileged to have mentors in my life who have inspired and pushed me to be all that I can be since my school days. Having someone believe in me and see the potential of what I can be before I even believe in myself has been so powerful in building my confidence and identifying my dreams—I want that for every woman and person out there.

What impact do you want to make in the next five years? 

I would love to see MADCash make a difference in as many women’s lives as possible because I have met such amazing women on this journey so far and have seen how these ladies bring impact to the people in their lives after joining our program. We aim to directly impact 1 million women and see them impact 50 million lives.

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