Meet the Front & Female Awards Singapore 2025 nominees

Jaelle Ang

Co-founder, The Great Room

Jaelle Ang co-founded The Great Room, transforming workspaces through uncompromising design despite sceptics who called her ambitions “unreasonable”. As CEO, she navigated Covid-19 by embracing the idea that while “I may not be able to control the winds, I can build a strong ship, capable crew and prepare the sails,” and bet on what she believed in, writing her own rulebook and trusting in her process. Ang grew The Great Room into a global brand and has been recognised in spaces she was once told she didn’t belong in, going on to achieve a successful exit from the business after CBRE's acquisition earlier this year.

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why? 
I am inspired by rebels and trailblazers—women and men who see the world as it could be and have the courage to create change. Personally, I draw strength from my family and from the women leaders who came before me, whose grit and generosity paved the way. Architecture, art and great design also fuel my creativity—they inspire me to pursue beauty and impact together.

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion? 
Start by listening—really listening—to those whose voices aren’t often heard at the table. Then, use your influence to pass the mic, share opportunities and create systems that bring out the best in all people, not just those who look or sound like us. Equity flourishes when we are intentional about nurturing talent and challenging biases, every day.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you? 

• Take long shots. You don’t need permission to step up, take risks and lead. Trust that self-doubt is part of growth, get comfortable with discomfort, and surround yourself with those who are willing and able support your highest ambitions.
• Be kind to yourself, stay curious and always play your heart out on the field—never on the sidelines.
• Build your own playbook. Take time to learn from multiple disciplines—not just what you’re told is “for you”. The wisdom of Charlie Munger: “Learn all the big ideas from all the big disciplines.” That diversity of thought will be your edge. Then own that unique edge that you have.

Durreen Shahnaz

Founder and CEO, Impact Investment Exchange

Durreen Shahnaz founded Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) after leaving Wall Street to witness microfinance's transformative power in her birthplace, Bangladesh, observing firsthand how access to credit could transform the lives of million of women who had been locked out of the system. It taught her the power of connecting “Wall Street to the back streets”. She created the world's first Women's Livelihood Bond™, proving that “investing in women is not charity, it is smart finance”. Her pioneering Orange Movement™ has expanded across Asia, with governments and investors committing billions for gender equality and climate action. Author of The Defiant Optimist: Daring to Fight Global Inequality, she's now working on her second book, The Defiant Optimist: Painting the World Orange, while scaling Orange Bonds globally.

What’s one barrier you’ve broken to get to where you are today?
I am a born rebel and have broken many, many barriers. None [have been] easy. I have faced slammed doors, sceptical investors and bias based on both gender and race. But every scar is a reminder that the barriers we break aren’t just for ourselves—they clear the path for others.

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why?
Wherever I am in the world, I take long walks—through city streets, village markets and coastal paths—to watch the rhythm of daily life. I look closely at the women and children: how they work, how they create, how they persevere. Their quiet determination, often in the face of unimaginable challenges, fuels my own.

I did the Camino Santiago walk in Spain this year. Walking countless miles left with my thoughts was a reminder that every journey, no matter how long, is made up of single steps, and that the most powerful steps are taken not alone, but alongside others striving for a better world.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you?

• Be a Defiant Optimist and match that courage with relentless hard work and optimism of reaching your goal. Choose your North Star and run towards it. The road will be hard—very hard—and filled with self doubt, but if your goal is bigger than yourself, the journey will be worth it.
• Also, don’t give up your career for the sake of family. Instead, build an ecosystem of support so that you can pursue both. There’s no gold medal at the end of this long and fulfilling journey called life, but there is something far more valuable: the quiet, lasting fulfillment of knowing you’ve lived with purpose and you left the world a better place than you found it. 

Tan Peck Ying

Co-founder, Blood

Tan Peck Ying co-founded Blood in 2014 as a business solving her own pain point, menstrual cramps. A pivotal re-branding moment ensured that she remained focused on her true missionof “tackling period issues unapologetically”. Tan’s work, which includes sustainable period care products such as the first sanitary pad made from corn fibres in Asia as well as MenstruHeat and Blood Menstrual Cups, which are sold across 15 countries both online and across 10,000 retail stores, is changing conversations around menstruation. 

What’s one barrier you’ve broken—personally or professionally—to get to where you are today? 
For me, the biggest barrier was internal. I never saw myself as the “CEO type”. I used to doubt if I had what it takes to lead a business and a team. But over the past few years, as we grew and scaled, I’ve leaned into the role and discovered that I actually enjoy it, especially having a direct hand in building the business, growing the people and culture.

How does your work create impact for women and girls—directly or indirectly? 
The biggest impact our work has on women and girls is to help them feel unapologetic about having or going through their period. In many countries, “period” is a hush hush topic, as though it's embarrassing and that there’s something to hide. Our brand Blood exists to not only bring comfort physically, but also to change the conversation (or non-conversation) around period. 

What advice would you give your younger self? 
Be open-minded. Open-mindedness has brought me to where I am today. It’s what allowed me to see new possibilities, adapt and grow. If I had realised earlier how powerful that trait is, I would have embraced it even more when I was younger.

Vivian Lee

Co-founder and CEO, Go!Mama

Vivian Lee is the co-founder and CEO of Go!Mama, an enterprise that provides lactation pods for working mothers. She started the company after experiencing “the chaos of juggling work and motherhood” and seeing friends “struggling in silence”, she says. Her work aims to “make the invisible visible” and ensures no mother has to “choose between feeding her baby and fully participating in society”. Most recently, she launched the SG60 Pods of Impact project, rolling out 60 nursing pods through to the year end across Singapore in hospitals, libraries, parks, places of worship and other public spaces. 

What’s one barrier you’ve broken—personally or professionally—to get to where you are today?
I’d like to think one barrier I’ve broken is pushing back against the guilt society places on mothers who want more. There’s this unspoken rule that women should prioritise caregiving above all else, and that having big career ambitions makes you greedy or selfish. That expectation creates constant tension and self-doubt. It takes real strength and courage to silence that noise and pursue both motherhood and ambition on your own terms—without apology.

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why?
The mothers who texts us saying, “I used your pod today, and it changed everything for me.” It reminds me that change doesn’t have to be grand to be meaningful—it just has to make someone’s day better.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you?
Don’t wait around for permission or the perfect moment. If there’s something you really want to contribute to or try, just start—even if it feels scary or messy. Change happens because someone takes that first step. And it’s okay to doubt yourself sometimes, but don’t let that stop you.

For an individual helping to inspire, elevate and advance women in corporate, business or professional fields

Jenny Lee

Managing partner, Granite Asia

Jenny Lee is a leading venture capitalist and founder of Granite Asia, which rebranded from GGV Capital in 2024 to focus on Asian investments. She has built a portfolio featuring 21 companies valued at over US$1 billion each, with 17 IPOs, including four since 2021. In June 2025, she led a $60 million Series A investment in Centific, a US-based AI data foundry expanding into Asia, focusing on AI and cross-border tech innovation. Lee also serves on several boards across industries. She has been recognised as a top 100 VC investor globally, consistently breaking barriers in the male-dominated investment landscape.

Helen Wong

Group CEO, OCBC

Helen Wong became the first woman to lead one of Singapore’s “big three” banks in April 2021. Under her leadership, OCBC posted record earnings for three consecutive years through 2024, outpacing peers with her “one group” strategy and resulting in Wong being named one of the most powerful women in banking. Last year, she launched the OCBC Women Unlimited Programme to empower women entrepreneurs across Singapore, Hong Kong and the region by offering loans, networking and mentorship. Wong was named ‘Outstanding Chief Executive of the Year’ at the 2025 Singapore Business Awards. 

Jacqueline Poh

CEO, JTC Corporation

Jacqueline Poh is a seasoned public-sector leader, recently appointed CEO of JTC Corporation following her tenure as managing director of the Economic Development Board (EDB), where she steered Singapore’s post‑pandemic economic rebound, securing record-breaking investment in sectors including digital economy, AI, precision medicine, sustainability and innovation. Before joining EDB, Poh held senior leadership roles across multiple agencies: founding CEO of GovTech, managing director of the Infocomm Development Authority, and deputy secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Strategy Group. She has also served in core ministries—Manpower, Finance and Defence. An advocate for women’s board representation, Poh sits on the boards of SingHealth and the Singapore Institute of Technology, and previously A*STAR. Through her cross‑sector work, she champions inclusive growth, innovation and equitable opportunities—contributing significantly to women’s advancement in Singapore.

For an individual driving progress for women and girls or advancing the female agenda in a particularly innovative way or with a focus on innovation

Lynette Tan

Founder and CEO, Space Faculty

“As a child, I was captivated by the universe, but I was living in a region where the space industry was not a known career option,” says Lynette Tan. “It was a dream, something that happened far away. This feeling of being on the outside looking in became the defining motivation of my career.” Tan founded Space Faculty in 2021 after realising “there are countless other young people with boundless passion—for technology, entrepreneurship or a myriad of other fields—who lack the pathways to turn that interest into a profession.” She wanted to inspire all youths to “find and follow their passions,” highlighting that space “needs leaders, lawyers, investors and entrepreneurs as much as it needs scientists.” Through initiatives like the International Space Challenge, she's creating accessible pathways for diverse talent. Her mission is “to demystify the space industry and show youths how we can get them to the stars”.

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion?
I believe one of the most powerful actions we can all take is to be a conscious connector. This means actively looking for opportunities to connect people from underrepresented groups with mentors, sponsors and networks they may not have access to otherwise. It's not enough to simply open the door; we must also build the pathways that help people walk through it. It's about being intentional with our networks and using our influence to lift others up, creating a more level playing field for everyone.

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why?
I'm inspired by the new generation of innovators and thinkers. I have the privilege of working with young people who are unburdened by traditional thinking and are brimming with ideas that will change our world. Their audacity, curiosity, and fearless optimism are a constant source of energy for me. They remind me that the future is not something we passively inherit; it's something we actively build, and that the possibilities are truly limitless.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you?
You don't have to do this alone. Find your tribe—the people who will champion you, challenge you and lift you up when you need it most. This community can be across generations, gender and geography. Mentors, peers and sponsors can open doors you never knew existed. Be grateful for these relationships, and be that person for others, too. Building a strong community is not just a support system; it's a catalyst for change.

Didi Gan

Founder, N&E Innovations

Didi Gan founded N&E Innovations in 2020, a biotech company using food and agricultural waste to develop plant-based antimicrobial solutions. The company’s flagship product, ViKang, is an edible antimicrobial made from cashew shells, durian husks and citrus peels, now used in cling wrap, coatings and disinfectants across F&B, agriculture and hospitality. In 2024, Didi became the first Singaporean to receive the Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Award, recognising her as a rare female leader in a field with “too few female leaders”, says Gan. Her work is advancing sustainable innovation while addressing the gender gap in science and biotech. “We’ve shown that women can lead science-led climate solutions end-to-end.”

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why?
My mother—provider, protector, and teacher—raised five children while building a business. Her grit, fast problem-solving, and empathy taught me that strong leadership pairs courage with care, and that resourcefulness beats resources.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you?
Believe in your vision and take action—don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. Start, learn quickly, and keep moving; let your heart set the direction and your execution set the pace.

Professor Malini Olivo

Biomedical scientist

Entering physics in the 1980s, Malini Olivo frequently found herself the only woman in the room. “I had to work harder to prove myself while quietly battling imposter syndrome,” she says. “That challenge became a source of strength.” A pioneer in biophotonics, who trained in medical physics to bridge science and medicine, today the professor develops innovative technologies for cancer diagnostics and respiratory monitoring. She is co-founder of Series A-funded Respiree for which she received the 2024 President's Technology Award, and was elected a Fellow of Singapore National Academy of Science in 2024 for her contributions to biophotonics science and technology. Olivo has also embraced a second mission: to be a role model for women in science and a champion for the next generation. “I have worked very hard to show that women can lead groundbreaking research while also balancing the demands of family life."

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion? 
Listen deeply, mentor intentionally and open doors for others.

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why? 
My greatest inspiration has always been my mother. She was a biology teacher who combined her love of science with a deep commitment to social mission. Beyond the classroom, she dedicated herself to uplifting underprivileged women, eventually working with a global organisation that funded development projects for women across Asia. Growing up, I saw her lead with both intellect and compassion—proving that science and service are not separate paths, but powerful partners in creating change. Her example shaped my own journey, inspiring me to pursue science not just for discovery, but to make a tangible difference in people’s lives, especially for women in need.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you? 

• Don’t wait for permission to lead—step forward, even when you’re the only woman in the room. Your voice and ideas have value, and the moments you doubt yourself are often when you’re about to grow the most.
• Seek out mentors, but also be a mentor; lifting others will strengthen you too.
• And remember that you don’t have to choose between an impactful career and a fulfilling family life—both are possible when you define success on your own terms.

For an individual supporting underserved, overlooked, vulnerable, underprivileged or minority women and girls, and/or seeking to drive human rights and equality

Stefanie Yuen Thio

Founder and chairperson, SG Her Empowerment (SHE)

Stefanie Yuen Thio, a leading corporate lawyer and managing partner at TSMP Law, is the founder and chairperson of SG Her Empowerment (SHE). Established in 2022, SHE addresses online harm and other gender-based issues for women and girls in Singapore through data-backed advocacy and public education with a goal “to better understand the challenges women and girls face and advocate for needed policy change”. Thio also comments regularly on the issues affecting women. “Women I meet tell me I’m unusual—a female who’s prepared to speak out directly and with strong views. It’s not very Asian. I don’t speak out to be different or to get attention. I just try to see where I can do some good and don’t let societal expectations restrict me.”

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion?
Self-examination to look for embedded gender biases and proactively trying to change them.

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why?
I’m innately curious and always very interested in people and what drives them. With that lens, there’s so much to learn from everybody.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you
Don’t let fear define your journey. I grew up with imposter syndrome and low self esteem. I worried that people wouldn’t like me. It was when I let that go and decided to try and make impact that the world of opportunity opened for me. 

Pamela Chng

Founder and CEO, Bettr Group

Pamela Chng is the founder and CEO of Bettr Group, a social enterprise that uses coffee to create opportunities for marginalised communities. Since 2011, Chng's work has empowered over 15,000 individuals by integrating coffee expertise with personal development. She believes that “real impact is deeply human” and has proved that “profit and purpose can reinforce each other, not compete”. Her work focuses on giving women “the tools and belief to rewrite their stories”, creating a powerful ripple effect of positive change. “When a woman finds her voice, she doesn’t just change her own path—she changes her children’s, her community’s and sometimes even an entire industry,” says Chng. “The result is measurable and deeply human: women breaking cycles of poverty, becoming role models for their daughters, and proving that when one woman rises, entire communities rise with her.”

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why? 
I draw inspiration from the quiet resilience of the people I work with every day—especially the women who come through our programmes. Many arrive carrying heavy burdens, yet they show up, learn and push forward with courage that humbles me. Watching someone who once doubted her worth step into leadership, support her family and become a role model for others—that’s where I find my fuel.

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion? 
One action we can all take is to start by redesigning the spaces we’re already in—workplaces, schools, even families—so that people feel safe, seen and heard. Equity and inclusion often get reduced to policies or slogans, but real change happens in the everyday choices of how we hire, how we listen and how we distribute opportunity. It’s asking: who isn’t at the table, and why?

For me, that’s meant rethinking what “talent” looks like. At Bettr, many of our team and leaders began as individuals society had deemed “difficult”, “different” or “other”—single mothers, school dropouts, youth with no formal qualifications, people with mental health challenges. By creating structures of care and support, they’ve flourished.

If more of us actively designed systems where diverse voices could thrive, we wouldn’t just achieve inclusion—we’d unlock talent, resilience and perspectives that make our communities and businesses far stronger.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you?

• Stop waiting for permission. The systems we live in weren’t necessarily designed for us, so don’t expect them to validate you. Build your own table, bring your own people to it and don’t apologise for taking up space.
• Strength doesn’t mean hardening yourself. Your empathy, intuition and care are not weaknesses—they are your competitive edge. Use them to design workplaces, communities and businesses where others can thrive alongside you.
• Take care of yourself. Too many women burn out carrying the weight of expectations—of work, family and society. Sustainability isn’t just an environmental principle; it’s personal and human. Pace yourself for the long run, surround yourself with values-aligned allies, and remember that leadership is not about doing it all—it’s about building systems where everyone can contribute their best selves and help each other rise.

Jacqueline Loh

CEO, Aidha

Jacqueline Loh has led Aidha since 2016, empowering migrant domestic workers through financial literacy and skills training. Her transformative experience researching poverty in India shaped her commitment to “helping level the playing field for those less advantaged”. The pandemic was a challenging period for Aidha, but since then the charity has opened a new main campus and built and strengthened partnerships with other organisations supporting domestic workers, and in the last year alone has achieved 40 per cent growth in enrollment. It also now offers courses in Bahasa Indonesia. “True empowerment must include financial empowerment,” says Loh, and Aidha’s courses have shown to increase students average monthly savings by 40 per cent. “Our graduates also go on to become role models in their communities, inspiring other women around them.”

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion? 
Migrant domestic workers are part of the fabric life in Singapore. One simple action everyone could take is to simply support one domestic worker you know to join Aidha. By helping her to gain skills, you are creating lasting change that will equip her, and her family, for life.

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why? 
I don’t have to look far for inspiration…I find it in our students. They all have stories of hardship and sacrifice in their lives, even stories of cruelty they have endured here in Singapore, but in spite of the many challenges they face, I am constantly amazed by their determination, resilience and sense of hope. Despite all they have gone through, they are willing to give up part of their precious day off to attend classes and are committed to working towards a better future for themselves and their families. It is an honour and inspiration to support their incredible effort.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you? 
Everyone will face unexpected difficulties and challenges in their lives at some point. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks as what might at the time seem like a disaster could be opening the door to the next big opportunity. Make the most of your situation, whatever that situation is. Determination, resilience and belief in yourself will always serve you well.  

For an individual whose work addresses the health and well-being of women and girls, whether physical, mental, social, sexual or financial

Jenny Tay

Managing director, Direct Funeral Services

Jenny Tay entered the funeral industry after her father's heart attack, stepping in to help with the business “out of love for him”, but discovering her calling to serve grieving families in the process. Breaking barriers in a male-dominated field, she’s redefined funeral services through empathy, innovation and creativity. “Representation matters, especially in industries where women have rarely been seen in leadership roles,” says Tay, whose journey has inspired others to go against expectations, step into unconventional spaces and create meaningful change too. Through the company’s social arm Direct Life Foundation, Tay has launched groundbreaking initiatives including Music for Comfort, a music album that uses monaural beats for grief support, and The Colours of Missing You, a children's book to guide families through conversations about grief. Her mission is to “shift the way society approaches mental health and grief”.

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion? 
To genuinely listen without assumptions. Inclusion is more than giving someone a seat; it is ensuring that their voice carries weight in shaping the outcome. Creating an environment where people feel safe to speak and know they will be heard is the foundation for real change.

What advice would you give your younger self or the next generation of women coming up behind you? 

• Stay curious.
• Believe in the purpose behind what you do.
• Say yes to opportunities even when they feel unfamiliar, because they may take you somewhere unexpected and deeply meaningful. The path may not always be straight, but it can still lead exactly where you are meant to go.

What are you working on now or next that excites you?  
The work ahead continues to build on a vision that has guided us for years: creating spaces and resources that help people feel supported, understood and less alone in their grief. 

Anna Vanessa Haotanto

Founder and CEO, Zora Health; founder, The New Savvy

Anna Haotanto founded Zora Health, after being “shocked by how hard it was to find clear, trustworthy, localised information” during her own fertility journey. Since its launch in 2023, the platform has reached more than 200,000 people across Asia, partnering with over 128 clinics in 16 countries to provide comprehensive reproductive healthcare. Breaking barriers in a sector dismissed as “too niche”, she’s transforming women's health into strategic corporate priorities while developing Asia's first dedicated women's health insurance. Her vision is to ensure women across Asia can make health decisions with “clarity, dignity and financial support”.

How does your work create impact for women and girls—directly or indirectly?
We make it easier for women to get answers, care and support at moments that can completely change their lives—fertility decisions, perimenopause, menopause and hormone-related health issues.

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why?
I’m inspired by Melinda French Gates, who donated US$1 billion over two years to support women and families. She’s shown the world that real change for women comes from tackling the systems that hold them back—not just fixing surface problems. She uses her platform, influence and funding to focus on the often invisible issues: maternal health, reproductive rights and economic access. She proves that you can be visionary and practical at the same time and that lasting impact comes from staying the course, even when the work is complex and uncomfortable.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you?

• Stop waiting for the “right” credentials, the perfect timing or for someone to give you permission. If you see a problem that matters, start building the solution you want to see. You will learn what you need along the way.
• Invest early in your financial independence and your health. Both will allow you to take bigger risks and avoid situations that don’t serve you.
• Most importantly, protect your energy. You can’t lead change if you’re running on empty.

Lindsay Davis

Founder, FemTech Association Asia 

Lindsay Davis founded FemTech Association Asia after recognising “there was not a regional platform uniting innovators, investors, clinicians and advocates specifically to advance the growth, reach and impact of the femtech industry”. She challenges perceptions by reframing femtech as “an untapped economic opportunity and a societal imperative”. She has co-authored groundbreaking UN research and hosted Asia's first homegrown femtech conference, while her network represents more than 80 companies across 10 countries.

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion?
Inclusion is not achieved through representation alone, rather it requires ongoing sponsorship from those already included to assign resources, capital and decision-making power into the hands of those historically excluded.

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why?
I often revisit the 2013 New York Times article “Is Giving the Secret to Getting Ahead?”, profiling Adam Grant and his research. I reflect on what it means to be a “giver”, how I can do more for others, and how providing strategic acts of service can be a powerful driver of impact.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you?
My favourite quote is by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” Progress rarely comes from playing it safe, so take more risks.

For an individual aged 30 or under whose work inspires or champions women and girls to drive their advancement

Yulianna Frederika

Founder, Lepak Conversations

Yulianna Frederika co-founded Lepak Conversations at 22 to advocate for Singapore's Malay-Muslim community through research-backed dialogue. Her viral tudung workplace advocacy for Muslim women to be able to wear the hijab in the workplace sparked national conversations and government collaboration. Recently transitioning to run her non-profit full-time, she creates spaces for minority women leaders and organises large-scale events addressing sensitive issues. “Don't be afraid to be the change you want to see”, she advises, emphasising unity and representation in advancing equity.

What’s one barrier you’ve broken—personally or professionally—to get to where you are today?
One barrier I've broken is to show that a young person can have the power and agency to shape community and national narratives.

How does your work create impact for women and girls—directly or indirectly?
My work creates impact for women and girls directly because many minority women and girls see me as a much needed representation of a minority woman leader and someone who breaks barriers and glass ceilings. Representation of minorities is so important to remove any self-limiting barriers or stereotypes the community may have.

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion?
I believe one simple action we can all take is to listen with empathy. I believe empathy is the start to social change. Many people listen with the intention to give their opinion instead of truly understanding another perspective. I believe it is especially important for allies to listen and recognise that just because they have never experienced the same injustice as someone else, it does not mean that it is not real, nor does it invalidate the ally’s experiences. We can start working towards true equity and inclusion when we first recognise the unequal starting points and address them at their root.

Valery Tan

Co-founder, Surety

Valery Tan is the co-founder of Surety SG, a platform focused on menopause and midlife wellness. At 27, she is driving a cultural shift around women’s health in Singapore by providing education, community and a safe space to address rarely discussed women’s health topics. Tan believes her work “directly challenges” the stigma and drives visibility around menopause and midlife health in Asia.

What’s one barrier you’ve broken—personally or professionally—to get to where you are today? 
One barrier I had to break was the idea that success has to follow a fixed, linear path. Growing up in Singapore, there’s often a set “track” that many feel they must follow: graduate on time, get a stable job, climb the ladder. My journey didn’t look like that. It took me longer to complete my studies, I switched industries, and I stepped away from traditional roles to start my own venture.

At first, I saw these detours as setbacks. But breaking that mindset and embracing the idea that unconventional routes can lead to unique strengths changed everything. It taught me that experience outside of the “expected path” gives you perspective, adaptability and resilience. These are now the very qualities I rely on in building a movement in a space as sensitive and under-discussed as menopause and midlife health.

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion?
Start small, start now. You don’t need to lead a massive campaign to make a difference; change often starts in everyday interactions. It could mean choosing inclusive language in meetings, making space for quieter voices to speak up, or challenging a stereotype when you see it. These small acts create ripples, and those ripples can change the culture around us. If we wait for the “perfect” opportunity, we might never begin. So we need to start with what’s within our reach today.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you? 

• To my younger self: Don’t be afraid to fail, or of what others might say. Do what lights you up, even if it feels unconventional.
• To the next generation: Don’t wait for the “perfect time” to start something, whether it’s big or small. Even if you fail, so what? You’ll have learned something valuable. It’s better to try and stumble than to live with “what if”?

Ong Wei Ching

Founder, Self

Ong Wei Ching is the founder of SELF, a social enterprise dedicated to helping underserved women build confidence, emotional resilience and personal leadership. Since launching in 2023, her BetterSelf workshops—designed around psychology-informed group coaching—have been empowering women to overcome internal barriers and face the tension between “how they were taught to “be” and the messages of empowerment they see online”, ensuring they find their own voice and path. Self’s model also trains participants to become peer facilitators, creating a “ripple effect of empowerment that reaches far beyond Self’s immediate circle”, says Ong.  

What’s one barrier you’ve broken—personally or professionally—to get to where you are today?
For years, I held on to the dream of starting my social entrepreneurship journey, but I chose the comfort of a full-time job instead. I didn’t dare to speak openly about my work because I kept thinking I wasn’t good enough. For a long time, fear, rooted in my own beliefs, limitations and the “pressure” I felt, held back both me and Self’s growth. Choosing courage over fear has been the most transformative step.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you
Practice self-love in both its soft and hard forms. Soft love nurtures and comforts; hard love challenges you to confront your inner struggles and commit to working through them. Part of hard love is to stop blaming external circumstances or other people, and start looking within yourself—taking full responsibility for every action and decision you make. You can’t “make” people do something, but you can choose how you respond, how you grow and how you move forward. It’s not easy, but only you can create the change you want.

For an individual who is expanding opportunities and/or driving meaningful change for women and/or girls both within and beyond her geographical or industry borders

Janine Teo

Co-founder and CEO, Solve Education!

Janine Teo co-founded Solve Education! after realising that she wanted her career to have “clearer purpose”. She left corporate hospitality to found her gamified, AI-powered platform, which has delivered over 30 million lessons to nearly 2 million learners globally. She’s particularly focused on working to give girls and women not just skills, but the confidence and connections to shape their own futures, especially as she frequently observes how “one empowered woman can transform an entire community” because “when women learn, they lift others with them”. 

What’s one barrier you’ve broken—personally or professionally—to get to where you are today? 
I was 16 years old when I found myself in a Computer Science class with only two girls—and I was one of them. I chose the subject because I enjoyed logic and problem-solving, and because my dad, a computer engineer, encouraged me to try it. In a family that had hoped for a boy, I quietly felt the need to prove myself.

I ended up topping the class and representing my junior college at the Olympiad for Informatics—beating the boys in a field where girls weren’t expected to lead. I didn’t choose Computer Science to prove a point, but I proved one anyway: you belong in the room, even if it wasn’t designed with you in mind.

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion? 
Speak someone’s name in rooms they’re not in. Opportunities change lives, and often they start with someone willing to recommend, endorse or open the door for another.

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why? 
My grandmother couldn’t afford textbooks for her children, so she borrowed them and hand-copied them—page by page—by candlelight. She never had more than a basic education herself, but she believed deeply in the power of learning. Those handwritten books helped my father earn his degree, and her belief in education shaped mine. Because of that foundation, I became the first female degree holder in my family—a reminder that the sacrifices of one generation can open doors for the next.

Mrinalini Venkatachalam

Regional director, Southeast Asia, North Asia and Oceania, WEConnect International

Mrinalini Venkatachalam’s work expands economic opportunities for women-owned businesses across Asia Pacific, connecting women to global supply chains and providing them with training, mentorship and advocacy. “When women-owned businesses grow, they create jobs, [women] reinvest in their communities, and serve as role models for the next generation of girls,” says Venkatachalam. “The ripple effect is profound. Girls grow up seeing women leading companies, driving innovation and thriving in industries once dominated by men. They learn that leadership and entrepreneurship are not exceptions for women.”

What’s one barrier you’ve broken—personally or professionally—to get to where you are today? 
When I became a mother, I was met with well-meaning but limiting assumptions that I would need to scale back my work, travel less or step away from opportunities to lead. Instead, motherhood deepened my sense of purpose and sharpened my commitment to driving change. It made every project, partnership and programme more urgent, because I’m no longer working for impact in the abstract. I’m building a future my daughter will inherit.

Balancing the demands of parenting with the scope and intensity of my work hasn’t been easy, but it’s proven that women can lead globally, forge transformative partnerships and grow inclusive networks without stepping away from their role as mothers. Breaking this barrier has allowed me to show other women (and my own child) that you don’t have to choose between family and making a difference. You can define your own path and use it to shape the world for the better.

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion? 
One powerful action we can all take is to be intentional about where we spend our money and who we give opportunities to. Every purchasing decision is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in. Whether you’re a multinational corporation sourcing from suppliers, a small business hiring contractors or an individual choosing where to shop, make a conscious effort to work with women-owned, minority-owned and other underrepresented businesses.

What advice would you give your younger self—or the next generation of women coming up behind you? 
Be an ally and amplify voices. There are many women equally capable, often overlooked due to perception and bias. Advocate for them. Whether it’s championing migrant women, youth leaders or women-owned SMEs, use your platform to elevate others.

Natasha Latiff

Lawyer; founder, Strategic Advocacy for Human Rights; founder, Fair Future

A Singapore-qualified human rights lawyer who works with some of the most vulnerable women in communities around the world, Latiff founded Strategic Advocacy for Human Rights and Women for Justice Afghanistan to support survivors of violence, war, persecution and forced labour. Selected as a 2024 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, she now advises on business-related human rights harms and due diligence. Latiff lives by the advice, “Don’t wait for permission to work on what you believe matters. Build the skills, do the work and create your own credibility.”

What’s one barrier you’ve broken—personally or professionally—to get to where you are today? 
Every job I’ve ever had was one I created for myself. I didn’t step into ready-made roles—instead, I identified the gaps, built the vision and convinced others to believe in it. It meant carving out a place where none existed, taking risks without a safety net and building opportunities not just for myself, but for others alongside me.

What’s one action you believe we can all take to advance equity and inclusion? 
It’s easy to get caught in the superficial side of inclusion—token gestures, surface-level representation. Ask whose voices are missing, whose experiences aren’t understood and what structural barriers remain in place. True equity and inclusion require us to look beyond optics, to the systems, decisions and everyday practices that determine whether people can participate fully and safely.

What or who do you look to for inspiration—and why? 
The individual who has most shaped me—both personally and as a leader—is my co-founder at Women for Justice, Humaira Rasuli, an Afghan human rights lawyer of extraordinary courage. She embodied every quality I aspired to develop: pioneering spirit, diplomacy, strategic thinking, resilience and a fierce commitment to justice. She stood for human rights even when it was extremely tough, when facing pressure from all sides. Together, we took on human rights cases others avoided, built teams of women lawyers and stood firm in the face of immense risk. Working alongside Humaira throughout my twenties and thirties has been the most significant influence on my development as a leader and lawyer. Our time together has also been marked by many tragic cases and adversity—and part of who I am today, my character and strength, I owe to her.

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