How to get women to step up

SINGAPORE - There has been a spate of reports on women leaders at the board level ("Why women in Singapore don't 'lean in' at work"; last Monday).

There are three key things that need to happen before we can see many more women leaders in Singapore.

First, board chairs should insist that gender diversity is a "must have" instead of a "nice to have".

Second, appropriately qualified women should ask for senior leadership roles to be given to them. In life, sometimes we have to ask before we can get.

Third, husbands need to acknowledge that they are now living in the 21st century, when gender equality is the norm, and play their role of "co-chief executive" in the household more effectively.

- Paul Heng

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