Trish Hogan, Subang Jaya Medical Centre
What’s women empowerment?
It means enabling women to be on the same footing as their male counterparts and giving then a hand up when needed. Empowerment means facilitating women to achieve what’s possible for them individually or collectively. It also means allowing women to reach their full potential and to get just, fair and equal compensation for their talents.
What does it take for women to climb up the corporate ladder?
Show up ready to work diligently and purposefully. Learn the good and bad from your bosses and peers, and only emulate the good. Ensure you have the relevant educational qualifications to back you up. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind when required. Have strength in your convictions and always maintain your integrity.
Why should women make their health a priority?
If you are not healthy, you can’t look after anyone else. Women are often relied upon to be the caregivers and they need to maintain their strength. We also need to be role models for our children. If they see that we give our health priority, they too will learn to focus on their own health.
What do you think are some of women’s biggest health concerns?
Women stress that they will not be around to care for their children if they get unwell. They worry about the possibility of getting cancer. They can also suffer mental illnesses from domestic violence and not have the power or means to break out of certain situations. Financial insecurity is also a health worry for women.
Share some tips on how women can better manage their health.
I make sure that I get plenty of sleep. I have a motto: “Never say no to exercise”. I take time to take care of my appearance so that I feel good about myself. Where possible, I eat clean and healthy. Take the stairs at work instead of the lift. Book your annual health screening check. Early detection is far better than late detection. Don’t buy new clothing a size bigger if you have put on unnecessary weight. Use your clothes as a marker or reminder that you need to eat less and slim down.
How do you achieve work-life balance?
My children are all adults now but when they were young I made sure that I hired good help to do the things for the family that I was not able to do. I had to realise that I couldn’t do everything myself. I was lucky that my husband believed that he too had full responsibility for caregiving and raising the children and was a very strong support for all things in family life. I also learnt to not take issues from work home, but to reserve home time for family.