8 female trailblazers in Singapore weigh in on hot button issues

1. Amanda Chong, lawyer, poet and co-founder of ReadAble

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The 2018 recipient of the Singapore Youth Award (SYA) for her non-profit work as co-founder of ReadAble (they run weekly English literacy classes in a low-income neighbourhood for children and migrant women) is a big believer in advocating for equality.
On providing more opportunities for marginalised women:
While advocating for systemic change is important (for example jobs that are better structured for balancing child care duties or policies that do not discriminate against single mums), there is no substitute to building deep friendships across divides. Many marginalised women are isolated and face not just economic poverty, but relational poverty – which can be far more dispiriting than pure financial lack.
On checking one’s privilege:
As privileged women, we can befriend and walk alongside vulnerable women as equals. We can listen to their stories, strategise with them to explore options out of difficult circumstances, and champion their interests.

I consider it a huge honour to be the first person my friend calls if her electricity gets cut off or she faces a crisis at home. Like any sort of friendship, this means being willing to inconvenience ourselves for each other’s sake, but there is true joy and connection from sharing our lives. After all, equality is first played out in individual relationships, where we each hold the other to be of equal dignity and worth fighting for.

2. Pamela Chng, Co-Founder, Bettr Barista

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This serial entrepreneur uses coffee as a way to change lives through Bettr Barista, a beneficiary of the DBSF SE Support Programme 2019. The four-week coffee and barista skills course for disadvantaged youth and women is coupled with emotional and physical training, as well as a 10-week long paid internship at partner cafes to equip them to handle the fast-paced food and beverage industry.
On gender equality/equity:
We need education for boys and men about respect, ego (of self), empathy, vulnerability and traditional gender constructs of the role and place of men and women in society. And for girls and women about self-belief, confidence, empowerment and their (potential) place in the world (in schools, the workplace, the home, in the community).
On the phrase “having it all”:
“I don’t believe it’s a realistic or healthy construct - you can’t really have it all. It implies that you can achieve everything you want in your personal, family, work and social spheres easily, without tension, conflict or sacrifice. That’s a mindset that sets one up for unrealistic expectations and outcomes that invariably end in disappointment or despair. It’s more about being clear about what is truly important to you, then creating a life that enables you to be able to prioritise those above all else at every possible opportunity. It is also then important to communicate those priorities to everyone around you, so expectations are clearly set.”
Words she lives by:
In an increasingly challenging and complex world, our attitude and how you look at things is the critical key to a life well-lived, filled with love, purpose, meaning and contribution.

Khalil Gibran said: “Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.”

 

3. Laura Kantor, Head of Marketing and Sustainability, foodpanda Singapore

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This sustainability advocate is a big reason why there’s now an opt-in function to say no to plastic cutlery on foodpanda. A big believer of promoting a workplace culture based on meritocracy she weighs in on what women need to excel in the tech space.
On meritocracy and mentorship:
It is important to ensure that we are all actively promote a workplace culture based on meritocracy and building up individuals with substance. Having strong role models that young, budding tech professionals can look up to would also be encouraging for females looking to make a start in the tech industry.

On the other hand, women who have experienced success in the industry have to give back and mentor the next generation of professionals, especially in our industry where women are still underrepresented.
On gender equality/equity:
It is part of our human nature that we often have a natural preference for, or lean towards people who are similar to ourselves and share similar mindsets. During the hiring process, we need to be mindful of these inherent biases and be receptive and open to people who might be different to you. Particularly in the tech space, there can be a disproportionate representation of females in leadership (check out these women , leading to management teams that comprises of very similar traits and possibly, genders. It is important to constantly challenge these preconceived and underlying biases by surrounding ourselves with individuals who may have different opinions than yourself.

Inspired by a personal business setback to run a socially conscious venture, The Nail Social – a beneficiary of the DBSF SE Support Programme 2019 —does more than just provide gainful employment to marginalised women.
On helping women in need gain self-sufficiency:
We offer flexible working hours, and provide holistic mentorship in areas of personal development such as creating a savings fund and emotional management tools, and assist them with the challenges in their personal life wherever possible.
On creating a positive cycle of empowerment and support:
We hope for our women to rise up to take on more supervisory roles, and in turn mentor the new beneficiaries that join us. Women are a lot stronger that we give ourselves credit for, and that it’s okay to feel scared and powerless sometimes.

5. Dr Karen Soh, Medical Director, Privé Clinic

Credit: Privé Clinic

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The medical director for Prive Clinic is no stranger to juggling multiple hats. As a mother of four and former President of the Association for Women Doctors Singapore, she’s also a trainer for specialised aesthetic treatments like Merz and Silhouette Soft threadlift.
On achieving equality at home:
From a societal standpoint, gender roles have been long-standing but we are slowly seeing a shift in those pre-defined roles and values. I always make it a point to communicate with my husband to ensure that either one of us is home to be there for our children and that their needs are taken care of. I believe that communication is key and working together as a family unit to take turns and cover the responsibilities required is what makes it work.
On the phrase “having it all”:
I believe that as a woman, having it all means to be contented and having a sense of fulfillment in an all-rounded aspect of life, such as being a mother, wife and career woman.

Being successful is quite subjective (here are some fears you need to overcome to if you want to succeed in life), but more importantly, having certain milestones in each of these areas and learning from experiences as I continue to evolve and grow in each of my roles, that’s where I get my sense of fulfillment from and have a sense of gratitude.

6. Grace Chung, CEO APAC, Healthcare, Sodexo

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While women hold only 25 per cent of five critical C-suite positions, it’s a number that’s creeping up. For Grace Chung, her career as a hospital executive has seen her working for Parkway Pantai and Gleneagles Hospital, while juggling being a mother of two, and achieving results that have earned her a seat at the table.
On gender equality/equity:
I think that it is important that we inspire and develop the next generation of leaders, creating opportunities and inspiring them towards leadership. We can do this through formal programmes; for instance, my company has a program called SheWorks, where women from local communities can shadow our team members and learn more about a potential career with us. But on a day-to-day basis, we can also embed this in the way we lead our teams, giving them the chance to develop and grow, grooming them for future leadership positions.
Words she lives by:
It’s “Love yourself!” As a working mother, we play many roles and it is okay to recognise that we are not going to be perfect at everything and give ourselves too much pressure. We are all on a lifelong learning journey so let’s enjoy each episode along the way.

7. Demi Paramita, Head Bartender, SKAI Bar, Swissôtel The Stamford

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While the local bar industry is still dominated by male bartenders, at SKAI Bar, Demi Paramita is a rising talent to watch (here we spotlight other female bartenders). One of the top six at the Singapore Chivas Masters Competition 2019, she weighs in on making a mark in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
On gender equality/equity:
Compared to a few years ago, where [gender] discrimination was much more apparent and deep-rooted in the industry, we see quite a marked difference nowadays. Female bartenders, like our fellow male counterparts, are no less qualified and we have seen a steady rise of female bartenders in Singapore and its normalisation following that. I would like to see this support continue, having the best bartenders recognised and lauded, regardless of their gender and backgrounds; and for up-and-coming bartenders to gain more opportunities based on their own merit and achievements.
Words she lives by:
“No pain, no gain” – this was something that my mentor, Bannie Kang, used to tell me every time I felt like giving up. Bartending is not as easy as others think, and it is much more than making cool concoctions behind the bar. But once you fall in love and appreciate what bartending is, there will not be a day that you call ‘work’ anymore. Rather, you’ll be doing what you love and enjoying it every day.

8. Hazel Kweh, Founder and CEO, BloomBack

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Inspired by her partially disabled sister’s positive experience with floral arrangement, Hazel Kweh decided to start BloomBack, an online floral and gift platform that provides marginalised women with training and employment opportunities. A beneficiary of the DBSF SE Support Programme 2019, BloomBack has helped over 20 women attain self-sufficiency since its establishment in 2017.
Words she lives by:
BloomBack’s theme of the year is “bloom one step at a time”. I want to encourage women to not be too focused on the end goal and neglect the journey. Just have faith and trust the journey.