When intention turns into impact

 “When women lift women, organisations rise.” – Monica Chia is Vice-President, Human Resources, East Asia and Japan, Schneider Electric

Six years ago, we asked ourselves a simple but powerful question: What would it take to truly move the needle for women in leadership – not just talk about it?

The answer was clear. It would take intention, discipline, courage and collective commitment.

From aspiration to action

We began by looking at how leaders are hired and promoted. We are committed to balanced gender candidate slates, ensuring women are not just present in the pipeline but seriously considered, supported and selected based on merit and potential.

At the same time, we are strengthening our approach to identifying and developing female talent. Succession discussions have become more intentional. High-potential women are given stretch roles, visibility and sponsorship.

We are not leaving progression to chance, because diversity is not accidental. It is designed.

A community that lifts

Six years ago, we also launched our female resource group, How Women Rise, drawing inspiration from the book written by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith. Today, it continues to grow as a vibrant community of women and male allies. What makes How Women Rise special is its authenticity. It is not just a programme. It is a movement within our organisation.

Through candid panel discussions with female executives, mentoring circles and peer networking, we talk openly about career and life journeys – the challenges, the setbacks, the pivots and the breakthroughs.

We learn from one another. We encourage one another. And we remind one another that ambition and authenticity can coexist. We do this because we believe that when women support and uplift one another with vulnerability and openness, something powerful happens: possibility multiples.

Investing early, building the future

Sustainable progress requires long-term thinking. That is why we continue to strengthen female representation in our Graduate Trainee Programme, ensuring young women enter our organisation with equal opportunity from day one.

In South Korea, our partnership with the Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology allows us to mentor female undergraduates in the fields of science, technology engineering and mathematics. We engage them early, supporting their development and creating a strong early-career pipeline into our organisation. This is how ecosystems are built. This is how leadership pipelines are sustained.

The results speak, but the stores matter more

Today, 40% of our East Asia leadership team consists of women. Also, 67% of all business vice-presidents in Singapore are women. These numbers matter. They represent progress. They represent access. They represent change.

Behind every percentage, however, is a story: a woman who stepped forward, a sponsor who advocated, a manager who believed and a team that embraced inclusive leadership.

My personal commitment: Women lifting women

For me, this journey is deeply personal. I have always believed that when women lift women, organisations rise.

Mentorship is not a checkbox. It is a responsibility. It is a legacy. It is an impact.

Today, I personally mentor five talents: four women and one male ally. I invest my time not just to advise them, but to sponsor them. To advocate for them when opportunities arise. To challenge them to think bigger. To help them navigate complexity. And to role model the kind of balanced, purposeful leadership our next generation deserves.

This is how I put my commitment into action.

Leadership, to me, is not about driving business results. It is about building people. It is about creating space at the table – and ensuring more chairs are added.

The work continues

On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate progress, but we do not pause.

We continue to:

• Strengthen our diverse succession pipelines,
• Develop women intentionally and visibly,
• Engage male allies as partners in progress, and
• Build ecosystems that support women from university to executive leadership.

True inclusion is not a one-year campaign. It is a sustained commitment.

Six years ago, we chose intention. Today, we see impact. Tomorrow, we continue to rise – together.

About the Author: Monica Chia is Vice-President, Human Resources, East Asia and Japan, Schneider Electric.