Empowered Women, Stronger Organizations
Happy International Women’s Day! - ‘Women alone create wonders, Women together create a world’
International Women’s Day honours the roles of women in all areas from the workplace, communities, cultures and families. This year’s theme of ‘Give to Gain” promotes the spirit of giving , team oriented culture and importance of support. Recent years we have seen support for women rise and most have stepped out to show great calibre on their own.
Women are now seen and mostly given equal opportunity and advocating change in all fields, they are encouraged at the workplace, supported through resources and their voices are amplified through their opinions and voices.
Lets have a look at some numbers on Women representation in Malaysia. Women in Malaysia are also considered one of the main contributors and their roles have been increasingly prominent in recent years. In this time and era, women are great contributors through family, community and society, thus contributing to the development of the country.
Statistics from Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) shows that the current total population is estimated at 34.4 million (current fourth quarter in 2025 numbers) Out of this 90.1% are citizens and the remaining balance are non-citizens at 9.9%. Based on the above percentage, the current gender ratio is recorded at 111 males per 100 females. Which makes up to 52.5% of populations are males versus females at 47.5%.
According to the 13th Malaysia Plan it states that the female labour force participation rate reached 56.5%, so this denotes that more than 50% of the women population have reached or are contributing in one way or another to the overall GDP of the country.
In Malaysia alone, many government departments and NGO’s are looking at efforts from all angles to support women in the workforce. One example is the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) where they reach out to women and support them through many avenues, from childcare support to health and education. Even the Human Resources Department has efforts in place for women to reenter the workforce. Malaysia has achieved 30% in leadership roles within the public sector and corporate , and there is an aim to increase this to a target of 50% in the coming years.
Why should women be empowered at their organizations ?
Women bring a unique dimension to every organization they are part of. Their presence often introduces a different balance of perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking that enrich the workplace in meaningful ways. When women are empowered to lead, contribute, and grow, they strengthen the overall dynamics of a team by bringing thoughtful insights and a wider lens to decision-making.
Women’s emotional intelligence and natural ability to understand people and relationships often allow them to navigate challenges with empathy and clarity. They tend to consider multiple viewpoints, leading to more thoughtful problem-solving and sustainable outcomes for the organization.
This balance of perspectives does not replace existing leadership approaches — it complements them.
A woman’s soft approach — often rooted in empathy, active listening, and collaboration — adds a unique strength to an organization. It fosters a supportive culture where team members feel valued and understood,
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate not only the achievements of women, but the powerful impact they create when they are given the space to lead and thrive.
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