Deloitte Graduates First Cohort of Board-Ready Women Program

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 November 2023 – Deloitte Malaysia concluded its inaugural Board-Ready Women (BRW) Program today with a celebratory lunch. In partnership with Boardroom Malaysia, Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM), and 30% Club Malaysia, the program comprised four interactive sessions held from September to November which provided participants with valuable insights and knowledge in various areas of corporate governance and personal branding through engaging discussions, live boardroom simulation and interview sessions.

The program’s first cohort welcomed 26 senior women executives from public and private organisations across various industries. The luncheon was graced by Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, Auditor General of the National Audit Department.

“The Board-Ready Women Program aims to complement the current efforts of the government in building a strong pipeline of future women leaders for the boardroom. The program aims to prepare and position aspiring women for board placements, equipping them to be effective in their roles.” – Yee Wing Peng, CEO, Deloitte Malaysia

An initiative under the Deloitte Global Boardroom Program, BRW aims to support the drive towards 30% women representation on boards and equip them to be effective in their roles to promote good corporate governance. BRW graduates received valuable industry insights into the latest industry trends, technical thought leadership, and essential soft skills to excel in the boardroom as well as exclusive networking opportunities with prominent board members, industry experts, and knowledge partners.

“With the right exposure, a robust network, and a commitment to learning from best practices, women should feel more confident in making a meaningful impact in corporate boardrooms.” – Samantha Tai, CEO, BoardRoom Malaysia

“Diversity enhances decision-making. Mentorship, sponsorship, and tailored development programs are all vital to nurturing talent and providing growth opportunities.” – Michele Kythe Lim, President & CEO, ICDM

“As a champion of diversity and inclusion, the 30% Club is pleased to embark on this inaugural collaboration with Deloitte to drive boardroom diversity and excellence. This program provides opportunities for women to consider board opportunities and to inspire them to take action.” - Dato’ Ami Moris, Chair, 30% Club Malaysia.

A gender diverse board will become an increasingly essential element of good corporate governance, and organisations will need to continue taking proactive steps in addressing sustainability risk and opportunities to ensure relevance and resilience in today’s evolving landscape.

About Deloitte’s Global Boardroom Program

Board-Ready Women Program is an initiative by the Deloitte Global Boardroom Program, which brings together the knowledge and experience of Deloitte member firms around the world to address critical topics of universal interest to company boards and senior management. The program has been launched in 70 countries and aims to create a local and global network of board members to promote dialogue on critical issues and topics relevant to boards and C-suites. The Malaysia Global Boardroom Program combines the knowledge and experience from Deloitte Global with local expertise to address pertinent matters of concern for the 21st century board, offering insights, tools, networks and learning opportunities to help board members stay ahead of the curve.