^{- L-R: Nadia Azmi, Moderator & TV news Anchor, Nura Samsuddin, Co-Founder of Supagene Asia, Izatul Arini, Chief Finance Officer, Cyberview Sdn Bhd, Datuk Dr. Yasmin Mahmood, Chairman of Skymind, Nuown Zainal, Head of Operation & Experience of Durioo+, Lilyana Abdul Latiff, CEO & Co-Founder, BETA Foundation, Shafinaz Salim, Head of Technology Hub Development Division of Cyberview Sdn Bhd}



CYBERJAYA, March 10 (Bernama) -- Global tech hub developer Cyberview continued to push for the tech sector to embrace equity, in line with this year's International Women's Day theme, by hosting a panel of women tech leaders sharing their thoughts across generations at RekaScape on March 8.
 
The panel discussion started with opening remarks from Cyberview Head of Technology Hub Division Shafinaz Salim, who noted that the tech sector has a global equity issue when it comes to women, particularly in representations in senior positions. She quoted the 30% Club statistic that women in Malaysia made up 28.2 percent of the top 100 publicly listed boards in Malaysia. The 30% Club is one of Cyberview's ESG strategic partners.
 
Commenting on this statistic, Skymind Chairman Datuk Dr. Yasmin Mahmood said Malaysia had come a long way from the 30 percent board room target set in 2013.
 
"Equity means we are allowed to do what we want to do to the best of our ability, to be given a chance and acknowledge the differences we are having, to be embraced for the challenges as a woman," she said.
 
Supagene Asia co-founder Nura Samsuddin seconded this.
 
"Embracing equity is embracing the differences. You will have the aim to go forward, but understanding your differences and getting the support as well as needs to help you to move towards the direction regardless of where your starting point is," she said.
 
When asked if all-women boards were a step forward, Datuk Dr. Yasmin said that corporations having a great mixture of men and women on their boards is not about their gender but about diversity and richness of thinking.
 
"It is not about championing women as if we want to become Amazons. It is because we want diversity and equity," she added.
 
BETA Foundation CEO and co-founder Lilyana Abdul Latif supported this, adding that the corporate world needed equitable rules in measuring performance.
 
"As a woman leader, we always think about diversifying the team, we would insist on having males in the team, but it would never be the same the other way round. Also, the measures of work performance in the corporate world according to gender must be equitable and not equal, as women have more responsibilities beyond the job," she added.
 
Nura agreed, adding that women in the corporate world were always made to decide between life, work, and family.
 
"As a woman, we have many roles to play. I always ask my employees to prioritise two things- their family and their health. Remember, you can never simultaneously be the best corporate person, mum, or wife. If you've made the choices, you are the best," she added.
 
This thought was also voiced by Durioo+ Head of Operations and Experience Nuown Zainal, who added that there were companies who discriminated against mothers who stopped working for a few years and wished to return to the workforce.
 
"There's no specific formula to achieve work-life balance. We can do our best when playing different roles, but when we need a break, we need to be able to stop and take a break," she added.
 
When asked what their advice to women in tech was today, Nuown said it was essential to develop themselves to be indispensable and support other women in the sector. Meanwhile, Lilyana said it was okay to say women were emotional because that is what is brought in terms of diversity.
 
Meanwhile, Nura believed women in the workforce needed to stop being shy and apologetic for being different.
 
"You need to focus on your strength and embrace your weakness. Then, move towards your goals without holding back," Nura added.
 
The final piece of advice was from Datuk Dr. Yasmin.
 
"Don't be too hard on yourself. Just do the best you can. Just be the best version of you, and you do you," she said.
 
About Cyberview Sdn Bhd

Cyberview has been at the forefront of Malaysia’s development as a technological hub since its inception in 1996. Starting out as the landowner of Cyberjaya, it has grown from strength to strength, until maturing into its current role as the tech hub developer of Cyberjaya. For more information, please visit http://www.cyberview.com.my.

SOURCE: Cyberview Sdn Bhd

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Iza Sofia Kasbi
Tel: +6012 2872288
Email: iza@cyberview.com.my

--BERNAMA