Cover The Malaysia women's national hockey team won bronze at the 1985 Women's Hockey Asia Cup, when Maheswari Kanniah was captain (Photo: Maheswari Kanniah)
The Malaysia women's national hockey team won bronze at the 1985 Women's Hockey Asia Cup, when Maheswari Kanniah was captain (Photo: Maheswari Kanniah)
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Maheswari Kanniah, Kenanga Investment Bank's group chief regulatory and compliance officer and former captain of Malaysia's women's national field hockey team, talks about her sporting pursuits and their impact personally and professionally
Sport can lead to success on the global stage, but this is not limited to the pitch, field, court or track—having a sporting background has the potential to lead to business success too.
Studies have shown that the vast majority—more than 90 per cent, according to a study by consultants EY and women’s sports platform espnW—of women in C-suite positions played sport. Taking up sport later in life can also have a positive impact professionally.
To tie in with Paris 2024, our limited series Top of Her Game sees women currently or formerly in C-suite positions in a range of industries discuss their sporting journeys, the role of sport in their lives, and why they would encourage other women and girls to pursue sport. Here, Maheswari Kanniah, group chief regulatory and compliance officer, Kenanga Investment Bank, who is a former captain of the Malaysia women’s national hockey team, opens up.
Above Maheswari Kanniah, group chief regulatory and compliance officer, Kenanga Investment Bank
Maheswari Kanniah, group chief regulatory and compliance officer, Kenanga Investment Bank
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Have you always been interested in sports, or did it come later? What is your sporting journey?
Since childhood, I’ve been drawn to sports, playing all sorts of games with my neighbours, who were mostly boys. We also used to challenge ourselves in running and had our own relays, and I remember beating the boys in the runs.
My interest soared when I had the privilege of living next door to Olympian Sheikh Ali [who represented Malaysia in the men's field hockey at the 1956 Summer Olympics], igniting a passion for hockey. My real interest and journey started then, at 11 years old, when I used to go with his children to watch him play.
When I was in Standard 6 [aged 11-12], we were invited by the Convent Seremban school for a friendly hockey match, but we didn’t have a team. I was a school athlete then and my teacher approached the school athletes to see if we could form a team to represent the school, King George V. There were no takers, but I stepped up and rallied all the girls. Forming a hockey team for my school ignited my passion further. We made a team and eventually beat the Convent school 1-0 with the sole goal scored by me. I took the ball from the centre line, dribbled through everyone and scored that goal—I still remember it to this day!
Then when I went to KGV Secondary, I met my idol teacher, Savithri Sivam who was a double international (in athletics and hockey). Meeting my idol further fueled my ambition to become a double international athlete, shaping my sporting journey profoundly.
I believe the universe set me up for this and sent those personalities to cross paths with me in my life’s journey.
What's your sport of choice and why?
I gravitated towards hockey and athletics. They have been my enduring passions, propelling me from school to national levels. While I initially juggled both, hockey's allure and the necessity of choice for major tournaments due to conflicting schedules for the South East Asian Games and Asian Games led me to focus on it exclusively.
Do you prefer individual or team sports and why?
Team sports, particularly hockey, resonate with me for the camaraderie and mutual reliance among teammates, especially the trust factor. You know that someone’s watching your back all the time.
Team sports also help nurture our character to be more adaptive and in hindsight, this helped me in my later years in the corporate world where I had to deal with many situations with people who have differing opinions. These experiences instilled invaluable skills for navigating both the sports arena and the corporate world.
Above Kanniah started playing hockey while at primary school and went on to represent Malaysia (Photo: Maheswari Kanniah)
Kanniah started playing hockey while at primary school and went on to represent Malaysia (Photo: Maheswari Kanniah)
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When and how often do you do sport?
At this point in my life, I engage in lighter activities like walking around my neighbourhood, exercising and playing pickleball with my group of retired hockey friends, maintaining a connection to sport in general. This is due to a knee injury that I sustained in my late 50s.
How do you make sure you fit sport into your schedule? Any tips or strategies on how to do so as a busy executive?
Balancing sport and a demanding schedule necessitates allocating dedicated time while remaining adaptable to unforeseen changes—a skillset applicable to both sport and the business world.
Prior to my knee injury, I used to make it a point to play hockey at club level once a week on Thursday nights. I joined the mixed team where there were more men than women and enjoyed playing at a more social and relaxed level. Also, I used to hit the gym every Sunday to keep myself fit to enjoy the hockey games, which require a lot of running.
I believe you must always set aside time in your schedule [for sport], but also have the flexibility to change if the need arises. Similarly, at work, we must react fast to changes and adapt as we go along.
How has sport help you personally and professionally?
Personally, sport enriched my social skills, patience and decision-making abilities. It also helped to bring out the best in myself and have more empathy in my team. It taught me to be more patient and forgiving with myself and others, and to learn everything at a fast pace as the window is short from training to tournaments.
In those days, centralised training would occur just two weeks before a tournament, requiring us to report to the training camp with a certain level of fitness. Hence, self-discipline was essential.
We all talk about KPIs today, which I believe those came about in the mid-90s, but I learnt KPI setting in 1978 when I was 18, i.e. how many tournaments we were going to play and what placing we needed to achieve in each one. No textbook will get you ready for that—you must live in that moment and make critical decisions on the spot to ensure that you win the game. I learned to set goals and be in difficult situations and find a way to overcome such situations—all in a practical manner.
Professionally, I would say that sport has instilled discipline, organisation and leadership—crucial for success—and above all taught me to empathise and be a team player.
See also: Checking out the smash hit sport that is pickleball
Professionally, I would say that sport has instilled discipline, organisation and leadership—crucial for success—and above all taught me to empathise and be a team player.
Do you have a proudest sporting moment or achievement?
I have had many proud moments, such as being the youngest captain of the national team at age 25, winning my first bronze medal at the Asia Cup in 1985, and being named Hockey’s Sportswomen of the Year for two consecutive years.
Among those numerous achievements, winning bronze at the Asian Games in 1982 stands out. I was the Vice Captain of the team at the age of 22.
Why do you think people who play sport are more likely to achieve in the workplace and how do you think sport has contributed to your journey to the C-suite?
Sport prepared me to face challenges and disappointments and have the patience to overcome them. You need to change your strategy when things do not go your way, and quickly think of ways to overcome [challenges]. For example, as captain of the team, I didn’t have the luxury to wait for the half-time whistle to get instructions from the coach to change the game plan. I had to read the game and know that our strategy was not working and make a quick decision to instruct the players to change strategy immediately, otherwise it may be too late to get back in the game.
Creativity is something that I put a lot into, both in my game play and at work. I want to be different from the rest, to think out of the box, but also to nurture people, and get them ready for the journey of life, both professionally and personally. Having been a leader at such a young age and been given the responsibility and trust to lead a team for the country, I tend to bring this side of me to my corporate world. I read and recognise the skills of people and nurture them to be the best representations of themselves.
To me, sport cultivates resilience and strategic thinking, qualities essential for success in the workplace. My experiences as a team captain have profoundly influenced my leadership style and approach to mentorship in the corporate world.
Above The Malaysia women's hockey team at the 1985 Women's Hockey Asia Cup in South Korea (Photo: Maheswari Kanniah)
The Malaysia women's hockey team at the 1985 Women's Hockey Asia Cup in South Korea (Photo: Maheswari Kanniah)
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Why would you encourage girls and women to take up sport?
Encouraging girls and women to embrace sport is crucial for fostering confidence and resilience. Sport equips individuals with essential life skills and fosters a sense of empowerment.
You learn to win and lose and overcome your barriers and work hard to achieve your goals. You learn to socialise responsibly, have lower levels of depression, and experience a higher state of psychological well-being.
When you are playing sport, you also tend to be particular about the nutrients that you put in your body, which in the long run will give you a healthy lifestyle. It keeps your mind and body active and disciplines you when you need it the most. It also lends structure to your life and is something to look forward to. You don’t have to play at a national level to be competitive and achieve all of the above—and you can start at any age.
All in all, sport teaches you teamwork, goal setting, the pursuit of excellence in performance and other achievement-oriented behaviours, which are critical skills necessary for success in the workplace.
What are you most excited about for Paris 2024?
The Olympics in Paris 2024 represents the pinnacle of sporting events—a global celebration of strength and talent. It is where all the various sports and games are housed together with the whole world participating.
Above all, we can be in Paris while sipping coffee in our own living room as we watch the Games live and feel and share the emotions of the athletes thousands of miles away. It is such a great feeling. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Malaysia to clinch its first-ever Olympic gold medal.
About
Rachel Duffell is regional content director for Power & Purpose, including Front & Female, and former regional content director for Tatler Dining. She is a journalist and editor who has been covering people, gender, impact, leadership, culture and lifestyle for more than 15 years.
