WiB Woman Of The Month is a first- person column series that highlights the powerhouse of a woman we've had the pleasure to talk to, their individual journeys, how they broke through gender related barriers and their advice on a variety of business and personal issues!
It was mid- April and after a fulfilling Zoom conversation with Karen See and our members the night before, I found that she had kindly let us interview her for our blog. Thrilled as I was, I started doing my research. Some things about Karen See I was clear about- she was an advocate and one of the most prominent voices of the #MeToo movement in Hong Kong.
She has been a Curation Member and Speaker Coach for TED x TinHauWomen and is currently the Co- Founder of {embrace} worldwide- an organisation committed to developing happier, confident and successful people through their leadership- centric workshops.
On the day of the interview, she quickly called a last- minute change of restaurants to eat at, and very kindly kept tabs on how to get to the location. The venue was closer to the address in which she had to deliver a workshop and it was evident that she led a very busy lifestyle!
After having the privilege to speak to her, I can now say that it was an absolutely refreshing conversation that makes one feel well- guided and ready to go about with the rest of their plans! Here are some of the highlights of what we talked about:
How did you know that developing leadership in others was something that you wanted to focus on?
"Leadership is how you present yourself something that you have inside you. You guys in Women In Business are already leaders, given how you have established and are running this society. But my background has always been communications and branding, which started in my early 20s. I moved up quite quickly, and in that position you can't really know whether this is a responsibility that you want to take on- you just do! I wanted to be an Executive Coach when I realised that the best part of my job as Chief Communications Officer (DDB Group, APAC) was the networking and I knew what helped me thrive and kept me energised was actually supporting other people to be successful. I took what I learnt from the communications field into this area."
Do you believe that women seek more sources of leadership training from the outside because of what society imposes on them?
"I think they should seek more! I've had professors say that women are not leaders, and ask why are you ({embrace}) doing this leadership course. If you're supporting students to put people on the moon, then this is a matter of your perspective and how you see each student. What women don't realise is that there's so many male role models and it's easy to find one but there's not enough catered to women specifically. That's why you have women's societies, clubs and initiatives- because we definitely need a leg up!"
What according to you is one thing that all female leaders seem to have in common?
"Maybe rather than calling it 'female leaders' we can just call them leaders who happen to be female. When you change the vernacular like that, it's just leaders who happen to be female! But, Kamala Harris wouldn't be able to do what she's done if she didn't believe in herself, or had the support of her mother. So it's primarily having self belief but the community and network around you also influences it."
You have worked in Sydney, London, New York and are now based in Hong Kong. Does the workplace gender discrimination change from place to place? Is it more severe in some places?
"I wouldn't say severe. I think the UK is a little bit more forward than the other (countries) I've been to. People claim that is the case in Australia as well but in my experience it is one of the worst countries when it comes to this issue. I find that when a country has had a history of female leaders, it tends to be less discriminating towards women even at the ground level."
How did the #MeToo Movement capture your attention?
"It captured my attention when I realised that women don't really
think of it as harmful when it's happening to them. What I learnt supporting the movement was as long as you're feeling uncomfortable about the way you're being treated then that is a form of harassment. One must realise that they are never alone and keep asking the question- 'is this harassment?' I just had to do it- I got into closed door meetings with the Equality Commission, the police etc. and got involved."
After wrapping up the interview and finishing our meals she (very kindly) offered to pay for our meals and clicked a couple of pictures with us despite having a pressing workshop appointment to attend.
WiB President 2020- 2o21, Gillian Del Mundo
and I kept reminiscing about our conversation with her well after it had taken place :)
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