Women’s Voices in a Man’s World - My Lessons from the Boardroom

Note: This article was originally written for Mind Body Soul Magazine (Malaysia, 2018) and is reproduced here in blog format.

In 2018, I was invited to join the Board of Directors of a company owned by a Muslim organization in Singapore, and I continue to serve on this Board today. At my first meeting, it hit me: I was the only woman at the table. Everyone else was Malay-Muslim (I am ethnic Chinese), much older, and already knew each other well.

From being part of the majority race in Singapore, I suddenly found myself both a racial and gender minority. I wondered if I could stand my ground, contribute meaningfully, or whether I’d be bulldozed over.

Many women can relate. Despite the progress we’ve made in the last half-century, positions of power are still largely dominated by men. Being seen, heard, and respected often takes more effort when you’re a woman.

From this experience, I learned a few lessons on how to have your voice heard and make an impact in male-dominated spaces. I share them here for my sisters navigating the same journey.

One thing I’m deeply grateful for: the men I work with are extremely respectful of women. They make space for my views. If I speak up while a lively conversation is happening, the Chairman will often call for quiet so everyone listens. And they do.

Lesson: Choose to work with men who respect your voice. When you’ve experienced being honoured, you can recognize it more easily—and you’ll naturally attract others who treat you the same way.

A friend once asked, “Do you feel excluded when the Board switches into speaking the Malay language (which I don’t understand)?”

I thought about it and replied, “Not really. As long as the vibe is positive, I don’t feel excluded—even if I don’t understand every word.”

The truth is, I make an effort to include myself. When I don’t understand, I ask. Often, someone explains. Over time, the men became more sensitive and would proactively translate.

Lesson: Inclusion is partly mindset. Don’t exclude yourself before others do. Show up, ask to be included, and eventually you will be.

Some acquaintances couldn’t believe I was working with a Muslim group in leadership. They assumed Muslim men must dismiss women’s voices. Strangely, these comments often came from Europeans or Americans.

In my experience, it wasn’t true. Yes, the men were religious—we opened with prayers, paused meetings for worship, and avoided pork at meals. But they valued my contributions equally.

Decisions were made by consensus. Respect was mutual.

It helps that many of them are highly educated—doctors, executives, managers—accustomed to working with women in their professional lives. Like every culture, there’s diversity: some conservative, some liberal, some traditional in appearance, others modern.

Lesson: Don’t stereotype how you’ll be received. Observe and evaluate each situation as it is, not as you assume it will be. If you notice yourself reacting, explore where that comes from—and do the work to heal it if needed.

We are all part of a global rebalancing of masculine and feminine energies on Earth. As women, we’ll encounter more and more situations where we’re called to step fully into our voice, power, and impact.

Play with these lessons. Cherish your experiences. And here’s to your empowerment and success in a man’s world.