Female entrepreneurs leading sustainable business trends

Michele Wee - CEO, Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam)

In nearly 30 years of working in banking and finance-related industries, Standard Chartered Bank has been the longest employer in my career and where I feel leads the charge on diversity and inclusion (D&I) and sustainability in all aspects. I am a big advocate of gender equity and environmental, social, and governance and I am committed to doing everything possible to increase the impact of my organisation and myself in the communities that we bank internally and externally.

I am a passionate and committed advocate of D&I. I believe in gender equality and equity and meaningfully operationalise this in my organisation. We have a comprehensive agenda and meaningfully instil this inclusive mindset to all of our employees. We want everyone to bring their true self to work. This supports our ambitions to become the bank of choice, the employer of choice, and continue to invest in the communities that we serve.

I have made myself accountable to the organisation as a senior leader who is committed to working relentlessly on this agenda with my colleagues, our clients and regulators. I’m very excited to see the progress being made, which makes me feel even more motivated to accelerate my efforts.

Recently, we received an award from the bank’s Asia D&I Council, recognising our team efforts and for going above and beyond in helping to shape a diverse and inclusive workplace not only in Vietnam but also across Asia. Last year, Standard Chartered was also the first bank in Vietnam to achieve the prestigious certification for equity, diversity, and gender equality at the highest level across all industries, reflecting our dedication to driving gender equality, equal opportunities, and fostering an inclusive workplace culture in Vietnam.

I am part of the core team on the International Finance Corporation and GEAPP senior women climate leadership network. It is inspiring to me to work with other female leaders to create the space where women's creativity and leadership in climate action are not only recognised but are leading the charge for change.

I embrace the challenges of leadership and to me, growth is a constant journey of learning and self-discovery. Learning a little every day to improve the way I lead is also something I strive for. I feel motivated and excited to come to work every day. As a CEO, I’m personally honoured to have been part of the incredible journey spanning 120 years in Vietnam.

Embracing our past with reverence, I am excited to lead our team into the future, energised by the opportunities ahead towards prosperity and resilience in the years to come.

Nguyen Thanh Huong - Country HR manager, ManpowerGroup Vietnam

Women are currently leading the post-pandemic recovery. The global labour force participation for women stood at 49 per cent in 2018, but now it is over 50 per cent. Yet, there is an urgency to ensure women are thoroughly represented in candidate pools for growth jobs.

ManpowerGroup’s Age of Adaptability Report 2024 reveals that women are half of the world’s total working population yet hold less than one-third of managerial and leadership positions. In technology-related fields, women make up less than a third of the world’s workforce despite a global tech talent shortage.

Our annual study, “What Women Want at Work” sheds light on the priorities of global female workers. Women in general look for autonomy, flexibility, growth, and advancement, as well as equal pay and recognition for their contributions. They also seek empathic and supportive leaders who understand their challenges and prioritise diversity and inclusion within the organisation. While work-life balance is still important, job security matters more as 25 per cent are anxious about changing jobs now due to economic uncertainty.

I have read studies showing that female leaders have different ways to approach a matter as compared with their male counterparts. Brain MRIs also show that men and women use different brain hemispheres to solve problems. Consequently, fostering a workplace that embraces and values diverse perspectives is paramount for business leaders, yielding more innovative solutions and successful outcomes. That is called inclusion.

With the baby boomer generation retiring in earnest, attracting and retaining a diverse workforce will shift from a unique initiative to a business imperative. Women will play an increasingly important role in the future of work and employers who can fully leverage their talent are positioned to gain a compounding competitive advantage.

We believe in human potential, and we work hard to create an environment of inclusion for all, including female employees. We are recognised consistently for our diversity - as a best place to work for women, inclusion, equality, and disability. Setting ambitious goals, such as achieving 50 per cent female representation in global leadership by 2025, underscores our dedication to gender parity and inclusion. Notably, at ManpowerGroup Vietnam, women presently occupy 75 per cent of senior leadership roles.

Recognising the multifaceted and essential role of women in the workforce, organisations can foster environments where they thrive by understanding their aspirations, providing opportunities, and cultivating inclusivity.

Tim Evans - CEO, HSBC Vietnam

More than 70 per cent of HSBC employees are female, which is a fantastic reflection of our team. We are blessed to have so many female colleagues who come in every day and give it their very best. They inspire us to be better every day. Their work ethic, their ability to solve problems by working together with other people in the organisation, and their compassion in times of trouble has been a key ingredient to HSBC’s success in Vietnam.

HSBC has a culture in which we actively promote diversity and inclusion. This means that every individual, regardless of their gender, race, or religion, is welcomed at our bank without prejudice, and receives fair treatment. All our team members are encouraged to explore and maximise their strengths, helping them to be at their best. Our recruitment processes are such that we welcome all individuals who have the drive, passion and capabilities required for a fruitful career at HSBC.

I feel pressure to ensure that HSBC remains a successful and ethical organisation that serves Vietnam and its people, and never stops trying to open up a world of opportunities for all our customers. I was blessed to take over a remarkable team four years ago, and I want to ensure that the next CEO receives an even more amazing team.