Cover Spotlight on women leaders: Rachel Duffell with Gina Wong, Shivani Saini and Supriya Rao Patwardhan
Spotlight on women leaders: Rachel Duffell with Gina Wong, Shivani Saini and Supriya Rao Patwardhan
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Tatler Singapore, in partnership with 1880, held an insightful dialogue with three Singapore-based women leaders on the barriers facing Asian women in the quest for global leadership positions
In 2024, the pursuit of gender equality in leadership roles remains a work in progress. However, there's been a noticeable uptick in conversations addressing this issue, particularly concerning the underrepresentation of women on corporate boards in Singapore. This shift is driven by an increasing number of women challenging entrenched gender disparities in the workplace.
In anticipation of International Women’s Day (IWD), Tatler Singapore spoke to four women leaders in Singapore, who shared their personal insights into the underrepresentation of Asian women in global leadership roles. To honour IWD, a panel discussion was hosted in collaboration with members’ club 1880 on 27 March, featuring three of the female leaders.
Moderated by Rachel Duffell, Tatler’s regional content director for Front & Female, the dialogue delved into the career trajectories of each woman and highlighted the scarcity of Asian women in leadership positions. The discussion placed particular emphasis on fostering allyship, mentorship, and improving workplace support for women’s advancement.
Gina Wong, head of global alliances for strategic markets at Kyndryl
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The three panellists were: Gina Wong, head of global alliances for strategic markets at Kyndryl, an American multinational information technology infrastructure services provider; Shivani Saini, global vice president of digital and tech for business units at Haleon, a global consumer healthcare company; and Supriya Rao Patwardhan, executive vice president at DHL Group.
1880’s The Double served as a vibrant space for networking
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The evening kicked off with a networking session and light bites and a networking session featured a specially curated menu by 1880 offering savoury canapes like mushroom and tofu gyozas, crispy avocado maki, and spicy salmon maki, and desserts such as lemon meringue tarts and chocolate marquise.
Accompanying the culinary delights were the exquisite wines from Malt & Wine Asia, featuring a selection of both white and red wines from J. Denuzière. Crafted using gentle and natural winemaking methods, each bottle unveils unique micro-cuvées, allowing every cru to express its distinct style and character.
1880, founded on the belief that conversations can shape a better world, provides a platform for diverse minds to cultivate great ideas. As a salon for creators and explorers, the club offers a space to connect, relax, and engage in meaningful dialogue in exceptional comfort.
Rachel Duffell moderated the panel discussion
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The panel discussion commenced with an opening address by Aun Koh, Tatler Singapore’s editor-in-chief. The panel delved into several key discussion points, exploring the apprehensions and concerns surrounding taking on global leadership roles. Practical aspects of managing such positions, including the benefits of relocation and flexible work arrangements, were also discussed.
The dialogue expanded to the importance of encouraging women to pursue such positions and the various forms of support crucial for success, such as mentorship, sponsorship, and networking. The panelists, all of whom are mothers, shared insights into balancing family responsibilities with demanding careers, touching on the struggles faced and strategies employed to navigate “The Motherhood Penalty”. They also discussed ways in which workplaces can better support women leaders, highlighting initiatives within their own organisations that have proven beneficial, and spoke candidly about their own former and present managers who have impacted their career trajectory.
Audience members posed insightful questions during the Q&A session, covering topics such as the “Queen Bee Syndrome”, which refers to when female employees in senior positions treat their subordinate female colleagues differently, as well as strategies for men to better support women in both professional and domestic spheres.
Jimmy Teo
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The evening drew to a close with closing remarks from Koh, followed by a continuation of the networking session. Attended by both accomplished women leaders, aspiring leaders and male counterparts, the intimate and insightful gathering embodied the event's theme of “The Path to Parity”. Among the wealth of insights shared, notable takeaways included Saini’s encouragement to “think BIG”—“B” for belief in oneself, “I” for investing in oneself, and “G” for “go for it”. Wong emphasised the importance of intentionality in the workplace, including calling out discrimination when it comes to gender ratios, while Patwardhan advised seizing relocation opportunities for personal growth.
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Credits
Photography: Adrian Lee
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Nafeesa Saini is the Features Editor at Tatler Singapore, where she shapes long-form stories on culture, business, philanthropy, wellness, and the people driving change in Asia. With a deep interest in storytelling that intersects meaningfully with identity and impact, she has profiled a diverse range of visionaries, from scientific pioneers in AI and health to creative trailblazers and literary minds.
Nafeesa’s writing includes cover stories and profiles that spotlight influential voices, alongside commentary on the trends reshaping our world.
Off the clock, Nafeesa unwinds with fiction, a good thrift hunt, and ‘brainrot’ TikTok scroll—while always keeping one eye on her next cultural getaway, usually to Indonesia.
