RBC Wealth Management in Asia marks International Women's Day with events to celebrate the drive toward gender equality and our commitment to supporting the advancement of all women, at all levels. Here are a few highlights from Hong Kong and Singapore.
From participating in regional panels that spotlight women’s leadership and gender equality in the workplace to supporting a local non-profit in Singapore, RBC Wealth Management in Asia is committed to gender diversity in the workplace, and empowering women to attain their professional goals.
In Singapore, RBC Wealth Management is proud to be the official partner for the annual CNA Leadership Summit: Women Inspiring Change. This year’s event, titled “Women Inspiring Change,” was held on International Women’s Day, March 8, and focused on the social, economic and political achievements of women.
Tay Hwee Leng, head of Business Strategy, Risk & Governance at RBC Wealth Management in Asia, participated in a panel with top women executives from Google and BMW to discuss best practices and hiring policies that may improve gender equality and promote women leadership in the region.
To show support of the advancement of women, RBC Wealth Management has committed S$10,000 to United Women Singapore (UWS), a local non-profit organization that advances women’s empowerment and gender equality and builds a pipeline of women leaders and influencers in Singapore.
Donations from RBC Wealth Management will be directed to support UWS’ flagship program: Girls2Pioneers. The local program reaches out to girls ages 10–20, particularly those from underserved communities, to encourage them to take science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in their higher education and pursue those fields in their careers, thus paving the way for a more gender-equal society.
“Putting diversity into action, Royal Bank of Canada is committed to supporting initiatives that enable progress and help communities thrive,” says Tay. “We believe diversity and inclusion is an engine for innovation and growth. And progress can only be achieved when everyone has the opportunity to reaching their fullest potential. RBC is committed to accelerating the pace of change.”
Georgette Tan, president of UWS adds, “We are thankful for the support from partners like Royal Bank of Canada who are invested in our cause, enabling us to continue our work in closing the gender-equality gap in Singapore, and especially in the STEM field.”
In Hong Kong, Jasmine Duan, investment strategist at RBC Wealth Management in Asia, shared her insights with Adrian Lee, senior vice president, Marketing and Events, Audience Growth, at South China Morning Post’s 2022 Women of Our Time conference, in a wide-ranging fireside chat about her career journey and how organizations can become better engaged in women’s empowerment.
Duan believes that women are not held back because of the proverbial “glass ceiling,” but because of the cumulative effect of the micro-issues they face day after day.
“For example, unconscious bias, long working hours, being unable to take leave when kids are sick and difficulties faced when returning to work after maternity leave. It is all of these micro-issues women face day after day that slow their journey and stop them from moving to the top,” she says.
What can we do? Duan suggests small actions can go a long way and highlights the importance of helping younger colleagues and professionals. “We can engage in discussions with women staff about their career aspirations early on, make flexible work the norm rather than the exception, and ensure there are role models or mentors there to help.”