Hi Dora, I am very interested in being in the same industry as you are but I realise that there isn't many power women like yourself in this male-dominated industry. Why do you think this is the case?

Hi Dora,

Yours is an inspiring story for the young women out there hoping to make their mark in this industry. As you have rightly pointed out the field is still male dominated so it must have taken you many extra miles to emerge to a leadership position. Oftentime, a lady boss is typecast as one who excessively micromanage, is obsessed with control, fickle yet insistent on her way of doing things.

Drawing from your experience, what advise would you have for mid-level managers like myself to overcome these unfortunate sterotype?

On the contrary, I think we’re very lucky to be living in Singapore where equal opportunities have been given to us far more than in some other parts of the world. Many peers of mine, leading the Singapore or Asia businesses for their respective firms, are women – and I respect them enormously as they are strong leaders of powerful organisations.

Perhaps it is in the field of investment activity itself, ie. Investment fund managers, that might see a prevalence of males over females but this is certainly changing. We see plenty of women in the financial services industry these days and in fact, studies have shown that female fund managers tend to outperform male fund managers!

It’s also a privilege to be working for Franklin Templeton, where they do value diversity of minds, calibre and ideas. That’s what counts.