Jakarta, 3 December 2024 — BINUS University hosted the transformative panel discussion titled Empowering Women in Business Leadership as part of the Team Canada Trade Mission, which brought over 300 representatives for Canada’s largest trade mission to date.

With innovation and inclusivity at its core, the mission aimed to foster collaboration and open doors for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in international markets through the lenses of Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Honourable Mary Ng, Lastiana Yuliandari, Founder and Director of Aliet Green, and Elin Waty, President Commissioner and Executive Chair of SunLife Indonesia.

These influential leaders engaged in a dynamic conversation on the following key topics: barriers to leadership, essential skills for success, and cross-cultural perspectives.

“Women offer unique strengths and skills yet remain underrepresented in leadership. Today, we explore their barriers, share success stories, and inspire future leaders,” the Honourable Mary Ng expressed.

Panelists highlighted challenges such as systemic biases, work-life balance struggles, and limited access to leadership opportunities. They shared insights on the importance of resilience, adaptability, and networking to thrive in international business environments while exploring common challenges women face globally and shedding light on unique cultural contexts in Indonesia and Canada.

“What’s important is to show what you can bring. The time is now,” said Elin Waty, President Commissioner and Executive Chair of SunLife Indonesia.

The panel concluded with a call to action to empower the next generation of women leaders. By fostering inclusive spaces and amplifying women’s voices in business, events like these demonstrate that collaboration between academia and government can drive meaningful change.

“These accomplished leaders have broken barriers in their respective fields and championed inclusive policies and practices to strengthen women’s leadership skills and competencies in navigating challenges within the global market,” added Dr. Rini Setiowati, Vice-Rector for Collaboration & Global Engagement at BINUS University.

As a hub of innovation and education, the university continues to champion initiatives that inspire progress and shape the leaders of tomorrow to continue the mission in fostering and empowering society in building the nation.