The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 states that gender equality is a fundamental human right and a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. There has been progress over the last decades, but the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.

As an equal opportunity employer, the QI Group is proud to have an almost equal gender representation in our workforce. We believe empowering women and closing gender gaps are crucial to reducing inequalities.

RYTHM Foundation, our social impact initiative, recently organised a Dialogue with Women in Leadership: Shaping an Environment that Empowers Women for our female employees in Malaysia, which featured an exceptional panel of women leaders who shared their courageous stories and inspirational insights on creating an environment that empowers women.

Hosted by Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran, Chairperson of RYTHM Foundation, the event featured Madiha (Maddy) Fuad, Founder & CEO of PlusVibes, Serene Chaw, Global Programme Director at Catalyst Coach and Natasha Zulkifli, Founder & Director of Women in Rail Malaysia & Women in Rail Connect.

These women leaders, change-makers in their respective industries, shared their powerful stories on gender discrimination and workplace challenges in climbing up the ranks. Their inspiring journey touched on the disparity they faced and how they had to steel themselves to soldier on to break the proverbial glass ceiling.

Their message of empowerment rang clear for the nearly 200-strong crowd of QI women (in Malaysia) who attended the dialogue: women have a voice and the ability to rise up the ranks and stand head and shoulders with men. Women need to dig deeper within themselves to find the courage, strength, belief and resilience to go the distance and to never be afraid to seek help, mentorship and guidance.

Empowering women in the economy and closing gender gaps in the working world are key to achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5, to achieve gender equality; and Goal 8, to promote full and productive employment and decent work for all; also Goal 1 on ending poverty, Goal 2 on food security, Goal 3 on ensuring health and Goal 10 on reducing inequalities.

This event is part of the QI Group’s 25^th anniversary celebration series in 2023.