2017 has been the year of women speaking up and standing up for themselves. And while there's definitely a long way to go in terms of gender equality, especially in Asia, it's inspiring to learn about AKIN ASIA in the Big Mango that seeks to empower and connect women from different walks of life. Hosting events like social dinners, workshops and panels, AKIN ASIA creates opportunities for networking and a space for women to share and discuss ideas. Guru spoke to Nicola Jones-Crossley, founder of AKIN ASIA, about the inspiring work she is doing.
Could you tell us what AKIN ASIA is and what it does?
AKIN ASIA is a community organisation that promotes and celebrates female leadership. We do this by running events -- panel discussions, workshops, trainings and networking mornings -- that provide the space and opportunity to hear from female leaders across diverse industries.
What made you start AKIN ASIA?
When I first arrived in Bangkok, I found it hard to meet other women who were living and working professionally in the city. I attended a lot of events to meet new people but there was nothing that brought together Bangkok's female professionals. I decided to start a small informal group that over the years led to what I am doing now with AKIN ASIA.
AKIN ASIA celebrates and empowers women. How exactly?
AKIN ASIA seeks to inspire confidence by shining a spotlight on female leaders and providing a platform for women to connect, share and learn from each other. By having female voices lead conversations and comment on industry on topics, we hope to inspire other women to have the confidence to add their voice to the conversation and stand up for what they believe in.
What are some of the events that you organise?
AKIN ASIA holds many different types of events from panel discussions, to workshops and trainings, to social morning gatherings called the Bangkok Breakfast Network.
Who are the inspiring women you invite to your events and what field of work do they come from?
The women we invite to speak at AKIN ASIA's events are thought leaders in their fields. They come from varying backgrounds and industries but something that connects them all is a passion for the work they do and the willingness to share their experience with others. Recently we invited Jayne Harvey, former managing director of Diageo Moet Hennessy Thailand, now social entrepreneur and founder of Lily & Mortimer, to share her experience with a small gathering at our Bangkok Breakfast Network. Earlier in the year, we spoke with Sally Holloway, the founding head of KIS International School, on her experiences of working in the education industry in Thailand and across Southeast Asia. At a panel discussion with leading Bangkok based artists, Karma Sirikogar spoke about how she balances the business side of her creative work.
How does it feel seeing all these women from different walks of life come together to empower and connect with each other?
I love it! It's why I do what I do. Bringing women together from varying backgrounds to talk, share and learn from each other is such a powerful thing, I really have no words for it. There's a unique strength, power and energy that happens when women support other women and it's this that AKIN ASIA helps cultivate.
What are some of the major problems women face in Bangkok today?
Not only in Bangkok but globally, I think one of the main issues that holds women back is confidence. Confidence to voice their ideas, confidence to take risks, confidence to demand what is fair. Often women fear the backlash or consequences of speaking out and this has hampered women for centuries. The incredible thing that we are seeing with movements such as the Women's March and the #MeToo campaign is that women are finding the confidence to speak out and make themselves heard collectively. And the world is listening.
Do you think things are getting better for women in society today?
I think things are slowly changing. Whether it's for 'better' I'm not sure I can say. I do think that a new-found awareness for gender equality is being felt particularly in the wake of the recent Harvey Weinstein scandal. All over the world conversations are being had about workplace harassment and men are reconsidering what is and what is not appropriate behaviour. I think that these conversations are a positive step towards reaching a gender equal world, however there is still lots of work to be done. In many countries the percentage of women in executive leadership positions is actually falling and the World Economic Forum has just added an additional 47 years to its initial estimate for the time it will take to close the gender pay gap and achieve equal pay, increasing the estimate to a total of 217 years.
What advice do you have for our male readers on empowering women?
Listen. It's simple but effective. Listen to what women are saying. Give them the space to talk and be receptive and open when they put forth their ideas. Don't shut them down. Instead, ask follow up questions to make sure you truly understand what she is trying to tell you. For gender equality to exist and for women to feel confident in taking their active role at the table, they need to have the space to do so, so move over, make room and listen to her thoughts and opinions. Having diversity, not just in terms of gender but also ethnicity, experience, age and background is key to helping move the world forward.
What's the best way to stay updated with AKIN ASIA's events?
The best way to stay up to date with everything that's going on is to like and follow our Facebook Page here: fb.com/akinasia16, and to subscribe to our email newsletter on our website, akinasia.com. We have some exciting things planned for 2018 -- we'll let you know when we have set some dates! Watch our Facebook page for first announcements!
