Cover Accomplished philanthropist and the first Asian president of Soroptimist International, Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam received this inaugural award at Tatler Ball 2024 in Malaysia (Photo: Fady Younis)
Accomplished philanthropist and the first Asian president of Soroptimist International, Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam received this inaugural award at Tatler Ball 2024 in Malaysia (Photo: Fady Younis)
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Accomplished philanthropist and the first Asian president of Soroptimist International, Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam received this inaugural award at Tatler Ball 2024 in Malaysia
This year Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam achieved what no Asian has in 103 years—she is the first Asian president of Soroptimist International, a global volunteer movement dedicated to empowering women and girls. At 77, her commitment to excellence and innovative thinking continues to inspire, shaped by a career in senior public relations roles at Malaysia Airlines and the Malaysian Tobacco Company.
Siew Yong’s journey reflects the values instilled by her late father, a taxi driver who encouraged her to aim high despite humble beginnings. Her tenacity led her to leadership roles even as a student, and later, in her professional life, she built a reputation for her out-of-the-box approach.
After retiring at 50, Siew Yong channelled her energy into community work, co-founding Westnita, a CSR initiative under her late husband Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam’s company Westports Malaysia, supporting women and children in underprivileged areas, and joining Soroptimist International.
Through SI, she spearheaded impactful campaigns, including Walk the Talk – Stop Violence Against Women, uniting participants across Asia Pacific to raise awareness on gender-based violence.
As SI president, Siew Yong oversees 65,000 members across 120 countries. Balancing the demands of leadership at her age isn’t without challenges, but Siew Yong’s dedication remains unwavering.
In November 2024, Siew Yong was recognised at an awards ceremony organised by the newly formed Malaysian chapter of Women in Management, part of WIM Global founded by Dr Sulochana Segera. Out of 296 nominees worldwide, she was one of 50 awardees honoured in categories celebrating exceptional achievements, some of whom included Malaysia’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dato Sasikala Devi Subramaniam, and Nigeria-born Princess Monalisa Okoje.
At Tatler Ball 2024, Siew Yong was honoured with the inaugural Tatler Impact Award for Humanity, lauding her trailblazing efforts to support women and girls. For this award, Siew Yong was presented with a custom-made trophy by Artelia, as well as an exclusive bio-hacking pass from ĀMANÏ Wellness worth RM10,000 credits, and an Armani Prive gift.
“I’m so delighted and totally overwhelmed to have won the Tatler Impact Award for Humanity. This honour and recognition have motivated me to do more than what I have done before, which is to give a voice to underserved communities.”
In May 2025, Siew Yong was one of several speakers for a moving side event at the 34th Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) entitled ‘Emerging Threats Against Women and Girls in the Digital Era: Artificial Intelligence and Gaslighting’. Organised by Soroptimist International and the Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO), the event explored how AI-driven threats and digital abuse pose escalating risks to women and girls.
With her visionary leadership and accolades, Siew Yong not only paves the way for future Asian leaders but also sets a powerful example of lifelong dedication to empowering women and girls worldwide.
Tatler Ball 2024 is proudly sponsored by Cartier, Volvo, The St Regis Kuala Lumpur, The Exchange TRX, Valiram, Armani Beauty, Moët Hennessy Diageo Malaysia, Amani Wellness and Artelia
Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
