Deloitte Malaysia Launches Board-Ready Women Program

KUALA LUMPUR, 6 September 2023 – Deloitte Malaysia launched its inaugural Board-Ready Women Program 2023 today, in partnership with the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM), Boardroom Malaysia, and the 30% Club Malaysia, with an MOU signing ceremony, which kickstarted the first module of the program.

The program welcomed its first cohort of 26 aspiring female board members across various industries, from both public and private organisations. Comprising of a series of four interactive modules, held over two months, the program will cover key areas of governance, personal attributes, live boardroom simulation, and leadership qualities. Participants will gain valuable insights into the latest industry trends, technical thought leadership, and essential soft skills for women leaders to excel in the boardroom, as well as networking and knowledge sharing opportunities with senior board members, industry experts, and seasoned professionals.

“At Deloitte, we are champions for gender diversity in the boardroom as it is an integral element of good corporate governance. Together with our partners, we’ve curated a special program, just for women looking to take a seat in the Boardroom. We hope that through this program, participants will be able to hear, gain valuable insights, and connect with senior board members, industry experts and seasoned professionals on the latest industry trends and technical thought leadership among others,” shared Yee Wing Peng, CEO, Deloitte Malaysia.

“Women now hold slightly more than 30% of board seats of the top 100 public listed companies on Bursa Malaysia. This accomplishment underscores a pivotal milestone towards gender parity, which the 30% Club is aiming for, and the increasing recognition of the value of diversity. I laud Deloitte’s initiative to launch a Board-Ready Women Program to promote diverse boardrooms and greater corporate governance. Collectively, Corporate Malaysia can be a force for good to create a more cohesive society, as envisaged by the MADANI Economy, where every individual has equitable opportunities to contribute and thrive,” said Dato’ Ami Moris, Chair, 30% Club Malaysia.

Echoing similar sentiments is Michele Kythe Lim, President and CEO of ICDM, “Diversity enhances decision-making. Board-ready women, armed with their unique perspectives, experiences, and skillsets, enrich discussions, driving innovation and better governance. Through this program, we can actively break down barriers that hinder the progress of getting women board-ready. Mentorship, sponsorship, and tailored development programs are all vital to nurturing talent and providing opportunities for growth. It is therefore incumbent upon us to create an environment where talent knows no gender boundaries.”

“BoardRoom is dedicated to promoting and supporting our clients in adopting robust corporate governance frameworks. We have observed the impact of diversity, particularly from a female perspective, in corporate boardrooms. Initiatives like the Board-Ready Women Program are seen as a catalyst for change, providing training, knowledge, and confidence to excel in board positions. We look forward to helping bridge the gender gap in corporate leadership and empowering women to become not just board members but influential decision-makers who can drive positive change within their organisations,” added Samantha Tai, CEO of BoardRoom Malaysia.

In line with the government’s aim, Deloitte remains committed to support the drive towards 30% women representation on all Malaysian boards, working collaboratively with our partners to empower board-ready women to thrive in the constantly evolving corporate world.

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.

To learn more about the Board-Ready Women Program, click here