KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 – As International Women’s Day highlights the urgent need for gender equity, Verena Siow, President and Managing Director of SAP Southeast Asia, calls for decisive action to accelerate progress. At SAP, nearly 50% of the workforce and 43.3% of leadership roles are held by women, with a target to achieve 50% female leadership representation. However, systemic biases and leadership barriers persist.
Siow emphasizes the importance of sponsorship over mentorship, equal access to leadership tracks, and redefining leadership to prioritize inclusivity. With the World Economic Forum estimating gender parity is still 134 years away, she urges businesses to act swiftly—because innovation and progress demand immediate change.
