Grishma Kewada, 40
Regional head of Risk Management Asia Pacific Region, Coface
Be the change you want to see in the world – that’s been my mantra and guiding force in all that I do in life.
I grew up in Zimbabwe, Africa, in a family of four girls – I have a twin sister and two younger sisters – and within a multicultural environment. From young, we were taught to never consider gender. Our parents constantly reminded us that a world of opportunity was available to us, and that gender had no bearing on a person’s capabilities.
I have carried that thought with me throughout my life and career, when dealing with my team at Coface.
In my own experience, apart from facing some gender bias during job interviews in the early days of my career, I have been lucky to have largely worked for corporations where gender diversity and inclusion were not mere tick-the-box exercises; rather, they were built into the company’s culture. That’s the message the Financial Women’s Association (FWA), which I have been a part of since its early years, wants to get out there. We want to encourage companies to look at gender inclusivity from the standpoint of making meaningful and impactful change.
FWA rebranded in 2019 towards a newer and more impactful direction. Women Empowered Impact (WEImpact), as the name suggests, is about empowering women both professionally and personally for sustainable development. We are currently working on a survey and a piece on financial literacy – the recommendations will go towards a consultation paper that the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has been working on regarding gender issues in Singapore. We are very excited to be providing our views to MSF on where the pitfalls and weaknesses are in terms of women getting that backing of financial literacy and preparedness for today, as well as for the future.
For that matter, change has to happen at all levels, on all fronts. It has to happen at home, in workplaces, and in education. As a mother, I want to pass on this message to my newborn son as well. I want to impress upon him to be respectful from young, and that being a boy does not make him a candidate for preferential treatment.
As women, we need to support and mentor each other as well, and not compare or compete with others and become victims of imposter syndrome. We have to be the drivers of change. That’s crucial.
“Change has to happen at all levels and all fronts. It has to happen at home, in workplaces, and in education.”