For almost two decades, Jane Sun has been part of Trip.com Group’s C-suite. And since 2016, she has served as CEO of the Nasdaq-listed company, which is one of the world’s largest online travel agencies, counting more than 400 million users and 45,000 employees.
Yet for all her experience and success, Sun experienced her fair share of bias as she worked her way up in the male-dominated tech industry, first in Silicon Valley, where she worked for more than a decade after graduating from the University of Florida, and then in China.
Sun recalls an early business trip when she was CFO at Trip.com to meet with partners in another Asian country and describes how her then (male) CEO entered the room and was met with bowing and great politeness. The number two (also male) executive in the company then entered the room and was received with similar degree of respect. Ranked third, Sun then entered, but wasn’t even greeted with so much as a handshake. “I don’t think they intentionally tried to hurt anyone, but they couldn’t imagine a female could take such an important position in the organisation,” says Sun.
Since then, she has also faced similar experiences when travelling in the US, where, having moved into the role of COO and then her current role as CEO at Trip.com, she was visiting Silicon Valley and everyone kept asking where her husband was. “Even in Silicon Valley, people had a difficult time imagining a major internet company CEO could be female. There’s still a perception that CEOs, particularly in the high-tech industry, cannot be female. So, we have to work very hard to put in measures to really encourage female leadership within our organisation and within the industry.”
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Tatler Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Tatler Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A New Era
La Prairie unveils the first product from its new collection, the Life Matrix Haute Rejuvenation Cream, an innovative creation that represents a new chapter in luxury skincare for those seeking to maintain healthy skin
Revolutionising Healthcare
Artificial intelligence is the future of healthcare, according to Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association CEO Harjit Gill. Ahead of its Asia Pacific MedTech Forum 2024, she outlines how a digitally driven healthcare system can improve access and outcomes for all
REBIRTH RENEWAL REWARD
Renowned artist Nari Ward gives Tatler a peek into his Harlem studio as he prepares for his solo exhibition in Seoul
Blurring Lines, Breaking Boundaries
Cartier’s creative director of jewellery and watches Marie-Laure Cérède on the maison’s commitment to creating statement-making timepieces for discerning luxury consumers
Louder Than You Think
It might not shout about itself, but among the world’s most influential people, Brunello Cucinelli is everywhere. Its co‑chairman and co‑creative director Carolina Cucinelli shares why the Italian brand’s high‑end ubiquity is built on its rock‑solid values
Tan Yin Ling
The co‑founder of Cloop on how her social enterprise is closing the loop on Singapore’s fashion waste
THE World IS YOUR Oyster
Tatler gets a taste of the luxe nomadic life aboard the world’s most exclusive residential ship as it sails from South Korea to Japan
HAUTE HOTELS
Find out where designers, models and fashionistas stay during Fashion Week
RAISING THE STEAKS
Hanwoo, Korea’s native beef, is celebrated not only for its flavourful meat but also its rich history and deep cultural significance. We explore the qualities and traditions that make Hanwoo a national treasure—and why the rest of the world needs to know about it
The Fashion Centennial
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Loro Piana looks back on its legacy of exceptional fabrics, textile innovation and savoir faire in its fall‑winter 2024‑2025 women’s and men’s collections