Women have surpassed the opportunities and broken traditional stereotypes, especially in today's startup world, where there is no shortage of amazing entrepreneurs to recognize and celebrate.
However, there is still a long way to go to fill this gap, as only 26.3 percent of all business owners in Singapore are women.
But among them are founders who are taking their place hard and making a bold difference, and we are sure that they will pave the way for more women to get into the business.
On this International Women's Day, we hear eight founders share their inspiration, hopes, and advice with other aspiring women entrepreneurs.
Elizabeth Wu, Co-founder of Trehaus
Elizabeth and her co-founders had first hand difficulty in starting a business without wanting to miss out on the growing years of their children.
To solve this problem and empower many other working mothers and fathers, they created Trehaus, a family-friendly coworking space with a pre-school on site, where parents can stay close to their children while they are trying.
Elizabeth Wu, co-founder and COO of Trehaus / Photo credit: Trehaus
Are you struggling to be a woman in the startup scene?
Many women founders like me start families, are committed to the early years of our children and at the same time build our businesses.
I get people who ask, "What about the kids? Can you juggle starting and raising children? "Because they don't think about the concept of shared parenting. Sometimes society still sees parenting primarily as the responsibility of the mother.
Which female character do you look up to?
My mother, who keeps the family together on her own and is in good hands.
And my tribe of women, whom I call friends and family, including my co-founder and business partner Elaine Kim and my team of passionate employees and educators at Trehaus who believe in educating change.
What do you hope to see for women in business in the next few years?
I hope that more women-led companies take the lead by being the makers of our generation, solving problems and giving something back to the community.
What advice do you have for aspiring women founders?
Life is short, do things that are important. Find your purpose and explore the possibilities!
Nikki Chua, co-founder of Retail market
As owners of the second generation of their parents' business, which has served the retail scene since the 1990s, sisters Nikki and Alison Chua founded the retail market to deepen their support for local retail companies in today's challenging environment.
They have helped transform the company from a mannequin supplier to an agency that helps retailers design their store layouts and create new shopping experiences.
Alison Chua (left) and Nikki Chua (right), co-founders of Retailers & # 39; Market / Image Credit: Vulcan Post
Are you struggling to be a woman in the startup scene?
I was very blessed to not feel undermined, be it by gender or age. I generally think that if you learn respectfully and diligently, my industry is pretty nourishing.
I've heard horror stories where women are closed because of their ideas and contributions, but I think it happens a lot less now, thanks to women who assert themselves and speak out.
Which female character do you look up to?
Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx. She doesn't apologize for not knowing everything she needs to know in the business. She also believes in putting herself in uncomfortable situations to push her limits. I think it's great how she always encourages entrepreneurs to bravely face fear.
What do you hope to see for women in business in the next few years?
More support in childcare and less judgment by society towards working mothers. I hope that women receive less thoughtless comments that unnecessarily make them feel guilty when they reconcile motherhood and business.
What advice do you have for aspiring women founders?
Don't expect handouts based on our gender only. If we want to be treated as the same, we also have to deal with situations without expecting any special concessions.
Hazel Kweh, founder of BloomBack
Hazel grew up in a single-parent family with a partially disabled sister and is now helping disadvantaged women to gain a foothold in the workforce through her online flower shop BloomBack.
BloomBack is a beneficiary of DBS's Social Enterprise Support Program, which offers mentoring, funding opportunities and courses for social entrepreneurs.
Hazel Kweh, founder and CEO of BloomBack / Image Credit: Youth.sg
Are you struggling to be a woman in the startup scene?
In the area of social companies, everyone supported my work very much, because regardless of gender, everyone is fully focused on making an impact in society.
Which female character do you look up to?
Queen Esther in the Bible. She was a Jewish orphan who became a Persian queen because she never allowed her difficult circumstances to make her bitter.
She was humble to seek wise advice. She knew where to find her strength. She waited and trusted the perfect timing. She loved her people more than her own life.
What do you hope to see for women in business in the next few years?
I hope women get back to basics and learn how to take care of their time and invest in relationships.
If you really care about others and think in their shoes, you will often find that problems are easier to solve. Companies are run by and for people. If you put people first, things will change for the better.
What advice do you have for aspiring women founders?
Bloom step by step and trust the trip even if you don't understand it. Focus on relationships and character building.
Ankiti Bose, co-founder of Zilingo
Ankiti Bose was only 23 when she co-founded Zilingo in 2015 to give small fashion companies access to technologies and solutions that help them scale in the e-commerce space.
At the age of 27, she built her startup with offices in eight countries and approached unicorn status with a valuation of $ 970 million.
Ankiti Bose, co-founder and CEO of Zilingo / Image Credit: Zilingo
Are you struggling to be a woman in the startup scene?
I think the biggest struggle to be a woman in an industry is that the competitive conditions are not even.
Women are still expected to be less ambitious and to settle for less. And although this is slowly changing, we definitely still have a long way to go to achieve gender equality at work.
Which female character do you look up to?
Whitney Wolfe, founder and CEO of Bumble, is one of my role models because she fearlessly took over her former employer, never gave up her aspirations, and built a company that has become America's fastest growing dating app.
Michelle Obama is another incredibly inspiring character for me. Your Becoming memoirs have had such an impact on how I see myself as a woman and a colored woman who really has a voice and can use it.
What do you hope to see for women in business in the next few years?
I hope to see more female role models for young girls and more recognition for the work of women.
There are not enough women in key leadership roles, so I think it is important to create equal opportunities for men and women to get mentoring and coaching.
What advice do you have for aspiring women founders?
Look actively for coaching, mentoring and every opportunity to develop. Never let someone feel guilty when you dream big, and do not tell them that you are "good enough" for a woman.
Bandana Kaur, co-founder of Inspired Snacks
Last year, Bandana and her co-founder created a new snack that preserves the traditional You Tiao that many Singaporeans love.
Within two months of their launch, their You-Tiao chips were distributed to 50 locations in Singapore. 300 online and offline touchpoints are to be reached by mid-2020.
Bandana Kaur, co-founder of Inspired Snacks / Image Credit: Inspired Snacks
Are you struggling to be a woman in the startup scene?
Every entrepreneur or newcomer to a company faces the challenge of building credibility.
However, it is even more difficult for women to build such credibility in industries that are largely managed by men. I often have the feeling that I have to prove myself ten times more than a male colleague or entrepreneur.
Which female character do you look up to?
Oprah Winfrey has been my idol since childhood. It is a literal manifestation of what sheer determination and strength can achieve.
I grew up in Singapore as a minority and remember how I saw her stand out in the sea of whites and thought: "Wow, she is a colorful woman and just as successful!"
If she could direct all her pain and suffering to help others find her voice, what is stopping me?
What do you hope to see for women in business in the next few years?
I hope that more women dare to become entrepreneurs! And not only in sectors such as makeup and fashion in which we were classified.
I think women bring a unique perspective to problems, and this can add a lot of value or even disrupt very traditional markets.
A good example is Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand – her very powerful and empathetic approach to the New Zealand terrorist attacks is just a look at how much influence a woman in a position of power can have.
What advice do you have for aspiring women founders?
With all the advice, feedback, and criticism, rate not only what people say, but who says it.
Is that person someone you respect and appreciate? If so, take what you say seriously. If not, just listen to them without listening. Don't let noise define you or your product.
Caecilia Chu, co-founder of YouTrip
In 2018, Caecilia Chu led a new, unknown fintech player to challenge the big banks and launch Singapore's first multi-currency travel card and mobile wallet.
YouTrip then secured $ 25.5 million in funding within a year and soon expanded to Thailand.
Caecilia Chu, co-founder and CEO of YouTrip / Image Credit: YouTrip
Are you struggling to be a woman in the startup scene?
Starting a business from scratch is undoubtedly hard work, but being a founder doesn't affect how I tackle these challenges. In today's society, I feel that women are equal to men to address their ambitions.
Which female character do you look up to?
My mother. She is the strongest woman I know. She always carries her moral compass, no matter what situation she gets into.
I would even say that she is my secret weapon on my entrepreneurial journey because I know that she would always believe in me through thick and thin.
What do you hope to see for women in business in the next few years?
I hope to see significantly more women who exude a high level of trust and conviction in the business world. Especially in the context of Asia, where we are brought up to present ourselves as humble individuals.
What advice do you have for aspiring women founders?
My biggest advice for budding women founders is to immerse themselves in a supportive environment. Find not only the most talented people you can work with, but also those who prefer an inclusive and collaborative mindset.
Cheryl Ou, co-founder of The Nail Social
Cheryl runs a socially conscious nail salon that trains and employs disadvantaged women with high employment barriers.
The nail salon is a beneficiary of DBS's Social Enterprise Support Program, which offers mentoring, funding opportunities and courses for social entrepreneurs.
Cheryl Ou (left) and Germaine Monteiro (right), co-founders of The Nail Social / Image Credit: LadyBoss
Are you struggling to be a woman in the startup scene?
It is definitely difficult to be an entrepreneur, but I don't think gender has anything to do with it.
I am surrounded by amazing, passionate and accomplished women entrepreneurs who all stand up and show the world that this is possible.
Which female character do you look up to?
I have the greatest respect for my employees – these women have joined my social enterprise as a "beneficiary", but they have really taught me more than I could ever teach them.
For example, some of them are women who have found the courage to leave an abusive husband and raise their children on their own. or women who look after children with special needs.
They are some of the strongest women I know and they inspire me every day.
What do you hope to see for women in business in the next few years?
I hope that women recognize the importance of their own voice and power and use that power to build the less fortunate and make an impact in their community.
What advice do you have for aspiring women founders?
The road to entrepreneurship is a hard road for those who create their own opportunities. The only limits are those that you impose on yourself.
Anna Gong, Founder of Perx Technologies
When Anna joined Perx Technologies, the previously consumer-oriented loyalty app struggled to stand out in its crowded market.
Anna led the company to evolve as a provider of corporate loyalty platforms, and Perx now supports brands like HSBC, Prudential, UOB and Digi.
Anna Gong, founder and CEO of Perx Technologies / Image Credit: Perx Technologies
Are you struggling to be a woman in the startup scene?
One of the few gender challenges I encountered was in my early career when I was denied promotion just because I was female and young.
In the past 20+ years that I have worked in the predominantly male-dominated technology sector, the challenges I have faced have not been gender related.
Challenges came from other factors, such as being bullied as immigrants in the U.S. or fighting to rescue failed startups.
Which female character do you look up to?
There are a number of great female role models I am inspired by, such as Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Lady Gaga, Zhang Xin and Indra Nooyi.
These women have made themselves and yet are assignable, brave and yet vulnerable, resilient and yet compassionate, and they have all found their own way.
What do you hope to see for women in business in the next few years?
I hope that women in business will cross borders in the next few years and question the status quo even more.
I would like to see more women in STEM areas, women who are less critical of each other, ask what they deserve, learn to negotiate better and help raise the bar for all of us.
What advice do you have for aspiring women founders?
Learn to be a compassionate but resilient leader. Be vulnerable and acknowledge mistakes so that you can become someone your employees can identify with.
Find a network of like-minded founders with whom you can exchange ideas and reduce stress, as well as mentors who can provide constructive instructions.
Vulcan Post is hiring full-time writers from Singapore! Candidates must have at least 2 years of writing experience and show strong interests and curiosity in the tech and startup scene. Please write to team@vulcanpost.com to submit your resume.
