Photo Credit: Fortune FB
By Dr Rahim Said
When Fortune released its 100 Most Powerful Women in Asia 2025, the world applauded — and so did Malaysia, proudly noticing that four of its own made the cut.
But perhaps somewhere in the country’s many boardrooms, a few men quietly adjusted their ties, wondering how the balance of power slipped so decisively across the gender line.
The list — featuring Ng Wei Wei of UOB Malaysia, Teh Mun Hui of Capital A, Joanne Rodrigues of Affin Bank, and
Nurul A’in Abdul Latif of PwC Malaysia isn’t just about corporate achievements. It’s a snapshot of a regional reality: women are no longer waiting for permission to lead. They’ve taken the corner offices once guarded like family heirlooms by their male counterparts.
Take Ng Wei Wei, the first female CEO of UOB Malaysia. She didn’t just walk through the glass ceiling — she probably reinforced it with tempered glass to keep the old boys’ club from crawling back in. Her 16% jump in pre-tax profit last year wasn’t a fluke; it was a demonstration that leadership isn’t about testosterone levels, but competence.
Then there’s Teh Mun Hui, the calm in Capital A’s storm. When the airline’s books looked like a bad flight plan, she helped steer it back from turbulence. Her restructuring work proved what many already suspected — that when things fall apart, it’s often the women who quietly fix the mess the men left behind.
Joanne Rodrigues, at Affin Bank, is reshaping the financial landscape with precision and foresight. No grand speeches or chest-thumping pronouncements — just performance. While some male executives are still perfecting their golf swing, Rodrigues is perfecting digital transformation.
And Nurul A’in Abdul Latif of PwC Malaysia — the firm’s first female Executive Chair — has shown that governance and empathy can co-exist. She’s not only leading audits and strategy but also leading the 30% Club Malaysia, reminding corporations that diversity isn’t a CSR project; it’s good business.
Collectively, these women prove that Malaysia’s so-called glass ceiling is less of a barrier and more of a mirror — one that reflects who’s actually putting in the work. The men, meanwhile, continue debating whether women can “balance” leadership and family, a question few ever thought to ask of themselves.
In truth, the success of these women isn’t just a victory for gender equality — it’s an indictment of how long it took.
For decades, men held meetings about inclusion, drafted policy frameworks, and launched mentorship programs — all while keeping their hands firmly on the promotion ladder. The women, it seems, just climbed it anyway.
Now, as Malaysia’s daughters lead banks, airlines, and global firms, it’s time the sons take notes. Because while the men were busy talking about “empowerment,” the women went ahead and got powerful.
Perhaps the glass ceiling didn’t shatter after all. The women simply outgrew the room.
WE