All WOWed:
Talks and panel discussion featuring trailblazing women were the highlight for many
(From left) Star Media Group editor-in-chief Datuk Leanne Goh, WOMEN: girls founder Low Ngai Yuen, producer-actress Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina, AirAsia Bhd CEO Aireen Omar, group MD and CEO of Star Media Group Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, CIMB Investment Bank CEO Datuk Kong Sooi Lin, PurelyB.com CEO Jesrina Arshad, and servicewoman and Caring Moms co-founder Major Shera Ann Bosco during the WOW – Women do Wonders Talks and Bazaar at SEGi University Kota Damansara.
PETALING JAYA: Passion and perseverance were words that came up repeatedly at the WOW – Women do Wonders Talks and Bazaar.
All the speakers shared amazing stories about their struggles in life, but the underlying message was that success could only come with dogged determination, hard work and single-minded focus in reaching for their dreams.
The auditorium and canteen spaces at SEGi University Kota Damansara were bustling with activity from 9am till 7pm yesterday, as the event – the culmination of Star Media Group’s almost month-long project partnered by AirAsia Bhd – got underway.
Thousands of people turned up to join in the festivities, to support the campaign and to glean knowledge from a list of sparkling women speakers.
While a 100-stall bazaar organised by Caring Moms – a platform that allows mothers to sell or buy products online – took place in the canteen, the talks took place on stage at the auditorium.
The Star’s editor-in-chief Datuk Leanne Goh got the ball rolling with an address that highlighted the importance of having women in an organisation’s management.
Goh said, “At The Star, for example, 41% of the managerial staff is made up of women, and six out of 11 heads of department are female.”
Campaign partners AirAsia Bhd were up next, featuring speeches by AirAsia X Bhd chairman Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and AirAsia Bhd CEO Aireen Omar.
Rafidah’s hour-long talk and Q&A session were a highlight for many of those who had travelled from outstation to gain insights from the former politician hailed as Malaysia’s Iron Lady.
An all-women panel discussion featuring trailblazing women followed. Moderated by WOMEN: Girls founder Low Ngai Yuen, the panel was made up of actress-producer Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina, online portal Purely B co-founder Jesrina Arshad, co-founder of Caring Moms Mejar Shera Ann Bosco and CIMB Investment Bank CEO Datuk Kong Sooi Lin.
Each panellist shared tales about how they had achieved success in their careers.
Tiara shared a picture of herself at 17 and spoke about being in the Hazeline Snow commercial then, and how she was motivated to reinvent how talent was recruited back then.
“I cut out 300 photos and pasted them on cardboard and went to meet with the managers of Leo Burnett,” she said.
“If I had not been so bold, I wouldn’t have made it to where I am today. The path to the top is not easy – not for women or men. One must have passion and purpose,” she said.
Bosco talked about her struggles during her 22 years of service in the army, which shaped her.
The co-founder of Caring Moms said: “The army was good training for grit, and I found that stamina comes from a positive mental attitude.”
Jesrina spoke about her 10-year journey to start Asia’s first health and wellness content-integrated marketplace.
“It was hard to find women then who were studying digital marketing – I started coding, designing and building websites,” she said, adding that she was lucky to have found like-minded women to collaborate with.
Kong said it was important to mentor and encourage other women at work.
“The investment industry can be very intense and competitive, so it is important to share advice and encourage those around you,” she said.
After lunch, the crowd returned and were treated to a rousing showcase by veteran Hong Kong artiste Maria Cordero.
The event ended with the announcement of the lucky draw winners – three members of the audience won 66,000 AirAsia BIG Points which can be redeemed for two return flight tickets to Krabi, Hanoi or Lombok.