Womenwill gives platform to address gender gap in economic opportunities
KUCHING: Womenwill, a Google-initiated programme, was launched in Sarawak by Google Business Group ( GBG) at iCube Innovation Sdn Bhd on International Women’s Day recently.
The women- only event, supported by iCube Innovation and OurYouth.my, saw more than 50 women from various industries come together through a platform of common ground that Womenwill creates.
Womenwill, in collaboration with GBG, was launched globally last year to address the gender gap in economic opportunity and help women around the world to learn, connect, succeed and be heard.
Despite the rise of women leaders and entrepreneurs, women remain under-represented even in the most developed markets around the world.
The programme aims to bring about positive changes and impacts for local women in communities around the world. At the launching event, head of GBG Sarawak Clara Liew stressed on the common misperceptions that revolve around the word ‘ feminism’.
“Not just in the west, but globally, this word has too often been wrongfully linked to ‘manhating’ when it is simply about equality and inclusivity for both genders.
“It is important to first correct these misinterpretations. Hence, we have decided to kick off the programme covering gender equality basics and raising awareness on unconscious biases that exist not just externally, but internally too,” she said.
The Womenwill workshops will chiefly focus on four programme areas in the long-run, namely digital literacy, entrepreneurship, inclusive workplace and leadership. According to Liew, it is Womenwill’s mission to make a difference by erasing the gender gap in digital literacy, economic participation, labour force participation, wage and leadership.
“As it is the first Womenwill, we wanted to ensure it takes off in the right direction, starting with recognising the experiences women share. We wanted women of different ages and backgrounds to come together and connect with one another.
“The goal was not only to own up to our achievements, but also own up to our insecurities as the best kind of empowerment is one that comes from within ourselves,” she added.
Guest speaker Olivia Ling, who is the founder of Poppies and Rebel Studio Fitness shared from her own life and career advancement experience in ‘ Managing & Leading – Identify Your Strengths’. The event featured a panel of highly accomplished women, who are experts in their own field, in a dialogue on ‘Overcoming Self- Doubt and Unconscious Biases’. The panelists were Ann Wong (Penan Women Project president), Alicia Voon (founder and managing director of Mummycare and FD International Sdn Bhd), and Dr Rohaya Mohd Nor (Unimas Faculty of Economics and Business associate professor).
Through workshops, up-skilling programmes and advocacy, Womenwill seeks to inspire, raise awareness about gender gaps, connect with one another, and expose women to information and tools.
For more information and to stay updated with Womenwill activities in Sarawak, follow Google Business Group ( GBG) Sarawak on Facebook.