The number of women in formal employment has grown steadily in the past 50 years. Today, women form 36 percent of the workforce and this figure is growing. Malaysian women also continue to push into new frontiers, taking on challenging leadership and management roles, becoming entrepreneurs, and showing their mettle in international postings.

However, with exciting opportunities, women inevitably face conflicts between building a successful career and ensuring the well-being of their families. To provide a personal perspective on striving for this elusive work-life balance, Summit participants had the opportunity to hear from two high achieving women to share what being a Merdeka Woman has meant for them, and what they have done to try to achieve the right balance between work and home.

Ar. Nafisah Radin, the principal of NR Architect and NR Interior Design has distinguished herself within a male dominated industry and has done so as the sole proprietor of her own medium-sized design firm. In the last six years, she has led a diverse range of architectural and interior design projects worth over RM1.5 billion.

Nafisah, who was born just three years after Merdeka, shared how her life’s journey had been influenced by the opportunities for women to obtain higher education. As a young girl, Nafisah shone at school and received a scholarship to study architecture in the UK. Beginning her career in the civil service, she contributed to several prestigious embassy projects. After some years, she stepped out of her comfort zone to head up the Penang Branch of Veritas Architects.

In 2000, she established her own consultancy. With quality, professionalism and integrity as her hallmark, Nafisah’s team has secured several competitive tenders including an innovative low energy bungalow housing project in Putrajaya and the upcoming Energy High Commission headquarters.

Nafisah spoke candidly about some of the difficulties of juggling work and family. In the early days of building her career in the private sector, she had to spend long periods away from home, and even had to bring her youngest to meetings in a baby carrier. Those years were a necessary part of building her dream. In recent years, the accolades have begun to roll in. Nafisah was honoured by NAWEM in 2004, and was chosen as the Ernst and Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006.

“I have been deeply honoured to have gained recognition in my career. These awards have given me a sense of a fulfilment and achievement.” Nafisah credits her husband and her supportive family for all she has managed to accomplish. In the days leading up to the Summit, she worked up the courage to ask her children how they felt about her not always being able to be around for them. They assured her that they appreciated all the hard work and sacrifices she had made, and they understood that she simply wanted the best for them. They told her that she was their inspiration and were deeply proud of her. Nafisah is now able to say without reservation that all that she has achieved has been worth the sacrifice.

Anusoorya Themudu, who is in her mid-30s, was is the Human Resources Director – Corporate of GE Malaysia. She has more than 12 years of experience as a Human Resources professional having worked in numerous posting throughout Asia. She recounted how she is often struck by the stark contrast between her life today and that of the women of her mother’s generation.

Growing up in rural Kepong, Soorya found few role models of powerful and successful women. Most of the women in her family were seen merely as homemakers in spite of their working in rubber processing or other jobs to supplement the family income. Their days started well before dawn and there was rarely time to rest. Yet, women in her community were rarely consulted in decision-making. Girls were taught their place was in the kitchen. However, Soorya wanted a different future and knew that education was the only way to break free.

Her determination was rewarded with a scholarship to pursue a university degree. She became the first person in her family to obtain a tertiary qualification. In her mid-20s, her corporate career went from strength to strength as she took on challenging international postings. Her confidence grew as the scope of her experience widened and she racked up achievements that included setting up operations in eight Asian countries and worked to raise the profile of HR management and championing the Gender and Diversity initiative. Her career soared, but she was growing weary of living out of suitcases and spending more time in airplanes and airports than with her husband and young son.

“When my father passed away, I told myself that life is not simply about working. I needed to strive for a better balance.” Today Soorya says she has found just this in her position as HR Director of GE Malaysia, a role that matches her career aspirations while still allowing her to tuck her children into bed most nights!

From her experience in Human Resources, Soorya had some nuggets of advice to share with the women assembled for the 2007 Summit.

“Women should feel fulfilled if they are able to give quality time to their children and at the same time contribute financially to the well-being of the family. In the current age, firmly believe that both parents should be financially independent, complement each other, and share the responsibilities of taking care of home and family”.

“Asian women need to work harder to move away from always being in the background. Women need to be bold, network and build relationships. Although we have always been taught to share our successes, in today’s competitive world, branding is critical.”

Soorya has a unique perspective on work-life balance. Acknowledging that women never have enough time to do everything, she advises women to allocate time for self care and not to run themselves ragged. She also advised women not to waste energy
by being too self-critical.

“Don’t be a perfectionist. Negotiate a work schedule that fits your life. Get help from
others – outsource everything but love,” she said emphatically.

“Finally, get support from your life partner. Remember, a relationship is not just about
staying connected; it’s about sharing the load”