Talk of the Town

To celebrate and to inspire women in the future

In celebration of International Women's Day, we have invited 5 inspiring women to share and discuss with us female role models who have inspired them, while also opening up about encountering difficulties in managing a team, especially as a woman in a leading position.

These powerful women have proven that gender is not a deciding factor when it comes to talent and dedication and, most importantly, they show us that we should not abide by the traditional gender roles that society expects from us.

The women that we have interviewed are Sandra Wong, Andrea Fessler, Silvia Pezzini, Priscilla Dell'Orto and Jennifer Chan. They all respectively hold high positions in prestigious companies that focus on different industries.

In their interviews, they discuss female role models who have inspired them, while also opening up about encountering difficulties in managing a team, especially as a woman in a leading position.

The struggles of being a woman in power can be many, such as having a stable work-life balance and also going against stereotypes that go against the concept of a woman having an authoritative role.

Our hope with this article is to inspire future women to strive for their best and not to be scared to be in charge. Thanks to these women's experiences, we can all work towards a more equal future where women will not feel embarrassed to be in charge while also lifting some pressure from the expectations we have on men to always take the lead and be assertive.

Priscilla Dell'Orto

Partner and Head of Marketing and Customer Experience Practice in APAC, Bain & Company

Tell us about a woman who inspire you.

My biggest source of inspiration is my younger sister, Nausicaa, because she is both the fiercest and kindest person I know. Several years ago, Nausicaa developed a passion for American football and was desperate to play but there were no female teams in Italy at the time. People kept asking her: “won’t you get hurt?” My sister didn’t give up and instead, she transformed her frustration into unstoppable energy. Fast forward a few years and Nausicaa’s list of accomplishments is starting to get too long to keep up with. She founded the first female American Football league in Italy and is still the star of her team, the Sirene Milano. From there onwards and upwards: captain of Italy’s award-winning female American football national team, Air Jordan ambassador, Producer at NFL Films, Forbes 30 under 30 and the list continues. Nausicaa or “Pinni” as we call her affectionately at home, is a force of nature. Her smile and infinite kindness are her superpowers and I just can’t wait to see what she will achieve next.

What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership?

It’s often difficult to generalize and easy to blame history or society overall. In my personal experience, what has held me back has often been a combination of my own insecurity and guilt. Speaking to female Bain colleagues, female clients and other women in positions of power, I’ve noticed that many of us suffer from “impostor syndrome” and our first instinct when presented with an opportunity to advance professionally is to question whether we are good enough to get to the next level. Do we have what it takes? Will the new role put even more pressure on our work-life balance? As a working mom, I’m constantly feeling guilty for missing out on my kids’ lives when I’m at work and equally guilty for rushing out of the office leaving my team behind to make bedtime. Over the last 15 years, I’ve had the fortune to work with a handful of truly supportive mentors – both male and female – who have pushed and encouraged me while acknowledging the mental load and complexities that come with being a working mom in a dual career household. I’ve learnt that I don’t have to be perfect all the time and it’s OK to ask for help – it really does take a village.

What are some of the traits that you admire the most amongst the leaders you’ve worked with?

Clear and inspiring vision. Passion, curiosity and relentless energy to lead by example and “walk the talk”. Empathy and humility. The ability to connect the dots in complex situations and chart the right path for the team. A proven commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.

Jennifer Chan

Chairman, DT Capital Limited

Have you ever been in a situation that made you think “women” and “power” are two incompatible concepts?

In the early days of my banking career in the early ‘90, I have faced many occasions that “women” and “power” were two incompatible concepts. Despite the western lifestyle, most women were brought up with deep-rooted Chinese thinking that has not much room for the word “power”. Throughout the years, I adjusted “power” in this context into ability, energy and influence. Female leaders in 2022 must be able to use these qualities to create impact and initiate change.

How important is it for women to empower, support and lift each other up, and what does that mean to you?

I cannot repeat enough, it is of vital importance for women to empower, support and lift each other up, particularly in a business setting. In the past decade, I am been advocating to get more female executives in the board rooms and I am a supporter of the 30% quota. There is more room for determination and a sense of urgency among the female executives to make this happen.

What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?

The biggest challenge for the generation of women behind me is to break the glass ceiling, be bold, join hands and make it happen. With the ESG (includes gender diversity) being the top priority in most board rooms, there is a window of opportunity. The challenge is to grasp the chance and show what most studies already indicate: companies with gender diversity perform better.

Silvia Pezzini

Senior Manager, Hong Kong Monetary Authority

Chair of the Board of Governors, Kellett School

Tell us about a few women who inspire you.

I love Christine Lagarde. With her grey-haired charm, she says that a career can be a marathon rather than a sprint and you may reach your career high point at well over 60. In the context of today’s “100-year life”, it is going to be so fulfilling to have milestones and ambitions lined up for every stage of our life.

How important is it for women to empower, support and lift each other up, and what does that mean to you?

To empower, support and lift each other up – they are accelerators. They build confidence and take us more quickly to our target. They are important for everyone, not only for women. Some do these actions to others as natural acts of generosity. Some do it to pay forward what they received. When reciprocal, something magic occurs and it propels everyone ahead.

What are some of the traits that you admire the most amongst the leaders you’ve worked with?

I admire their sense of moving forward and keeping their eyes on a strategic prize while connecting and making time for their staff.

Andrea D.Fessler

Founder & Executive Director, Premiere Performances of Hong Kong

Tell us about a few women who inspire you.

I am always inspired by the women in my book club. These talented women are award-winning leaders of non-profits, senior corporate executives, or successful entrepreneurs, while raising (several) children. We have supported and learned from each other through major life milestones including children, promotions, college admissions, divorce and menopause. Plus we have read over 125 books together! My life in Hong Kong has been infinitely enriched by this wonderful group of women.

As a leader in your business, how do you set the tone for the team?

People work in arts administration not for the money, but because they are passionate about arts & culture. I try to set a tone that is very inclusive, where everyone is encouraged to voice their opinions and share their ideas. To that end, we have weekly meetings where we discuss ongoing projects, issues that have arisen and future plans. Although it is clear that I am the ultimate decision-maker, I want to make sure that the most junior to the most senior team member feels like they have a voice and are being heard.

Have you ever been in a situation that made you think “women” and “power” are two incompatible concepts?

Absolutely not! In fact, I would say the opposite. My experience is that women are strong and are not afraid to make difficult decisions. Women have courage, compassion, and integrity – as well as soft skills like emotional intelligence, problem-solving and communication – which make them excellent leaders.

Sandra Wong

CEO, Kitchen Infinity

Tell us about a few women who inspire you.

Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel is one of the foremost figureheads in global politics. She made Germany so strong and outmanoeuvred other strong world leaders. Merkel demonstrated that a woman can lead a country and do so successfully.

Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel

The most legendary fashion icon I admired. Her trials of growing up, her extraordinary character, her talent and her business sense proved that females could rebel against the aesthetic world. She still remains an inspiration for all women.

Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid

There is always a myth about gender roles in architecture, women do interior and men do architecture, but Hadid challenged this with her tremendous contributions to architecture, featuring many world-renowned and award-winning architectural works and designs. She was the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004.

As a leader in your business, how do you set the tone for the team?

To treat every single kitchen sold as your own one. Have passions in your role and industry and strive to be the very best in order to accomplish the goal with no regret.

What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?

Though the world has become increasingly progressive, there’s still a long way to go. The future generations of women must continue to combat the societal and cultural norms put in place by the people of the past.