Leading the Way Forward

Three leading ladies in fintech share how they are rewriting the narrative around what it means to be a female leader

- Chong Jinn Xiung

WINNIE CHUA

Co-founder and chief product officer, PolicyStreet

What are the challenges facing female fintech leaders in Malaysia? Are they receiving more support now?

I think in Malaysia, many women still do not have the courage and confidence to start a business on their own. I understand what they are going through because when I started working in the finance industry six years ago, I needed a lot of encouragement from both my female and male counterparts. It’s not easy, but the good news is that there are more platforms available to encourage and promote entrepreneurship as a viable option.

What do you think is holding more women back from accepting leadership positions?

Women tend to suffer from imposter syndrome, the feeling that they are unqualified for the positions they’ve earned. I think many women require external validation to show them that they deserve that promotion or raise.

Speaking from my personal experience working in the corporate sector, I understand how they feel. Being new to the industry, I was unsure of my potential, and I often felt judged because of my age, experience and gender. Fortunately, things have changed as there is more female representation in the boardroom. While it isn’t a 50:50 split, it nevertheless is a goal that we are working towards.

Given the challenges that face female fintech leaders, who has supported you and helped propel you to where you are today?