The 11th Wanita MyWira Cohort gathered 300 participants from various industries such as advanced manufacturing, green energy, big data and engineering.
Wanita MyWira Cohort 2025 gathers 300 participants to bridge gender workforce gap
MALAYSIA’S mission to achieve a female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) of 60% by 2030 received a boost as 300 women graduated from the Women-Industry Network (WIN): Wanita MyWira Cohort 2025.
The five-week intensive programme concluded at IDCC Shah Alam on Nov 29, marking the most technically focused cohort to date.
Organised by Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp), in collaboration with Project Girls for Girls (G4G) Malaysia, with ParagonCorp Malaysia as the strategic sponsor, this national mentoring initiative directly tackles the persistent problem of the underrepresentation of women in high-demand, high-growth sectors.
These include industries related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and digital and green economies.
‘This programme helps women find their voice and expand their sense of what is possible for them,’ said Ria Angel Jasri.
Despite women making up over 60% of tertiary graduates, their participation in fields such as engineering, data science, artificial intelligence (AI) and green technology remains disproportionately low.
Gender pay gaps, caregiving burdens and limited flexible job options remain key structural barriers.
Although the current FLFPR, which stands at 56.5% as of 2024, is above the Asean average of 56.2%, it is still short of the national goal under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
Bridging the gap
Wanita MyWira Cohort 2025 is the 11th iteration of the WIN programme, focused on equipping young women with the necessary skills and industry exposure to chart successful careers.
WIN is a network of professional women created through a structured mentoring approach, connecting them with mentors and providing access to career opportunities and upskilling.
Since its inception in 2021, WIN has targeted women across various career stages, from university students to professionals and career returnees, equipping them with mentoring access, skills training and leadership exposure.
'All of us here are going through similar problems, and just knowing that gives you strength to move forward because you are not alone,” said Heng.
The mentees for this year’s cohort represented disciplines ranging from advanced manufacturing and green energy to big data and engineering, highlighting the commitment to closing the technical gender gap.
The programme, which ran throughout the month of November, gathered 300 mentees, aged 18 to 25, from 25 universities and vocational institutions across the country, alongside professional mentors from 10 high-demand sectors.
More than just career advice
The programme’s strength lies in its powerful network, with 41 industry-leading mentors and guest speakers.
These include prominent figures such as TalentCorp chairman Wong Shu Qi, Foreign Affairs Ministry deputy secretary-general of the Asean Political-Security Community Datuk Astanah Abdul Aziz, Microsoft director of legal, corporate and government affairs for Asean and New Markets Dr Jasmine Begum, TV anchor Nadia Azmi, CTOS chief operating officer Lee Shin Mei, Ambition Malaysia’s former managing director Bong Siew Yong and KPJ Healthcare Bhd group marketing head Aina Nadzir.
“The courses help you develop confidence and be clear about your decisions,” said Nur Khairiyah Mohd Yazid.
These role models, boasting 10 to 30 years of experience, provided crucial, real-life insights into navigating complex corporate landscapes.
They shared candid stories on issues often considered taboo in professional settings, such as navigating failure and the importance of communication, overcoming imposter syndrome, negotiating pay and promotions, making ethical decisions in tough situations, and leading with empathy and integrity.
The curriculum was built on six core leadership and development modules, designed to forge courageous and ethical leaders, including:
> Building trust: Creating safe, inclusive spaces for mentorship; the foundation of effective learning;
> Courageous leadership: Encouraging mentees to own their identity and lead from any position;
> Effective communication: Building confidence in public speaking, active listening and persuasive messaging;
> Negotiation and self-advocacy: Empowering young women to assert their value and ask for what they deserve;
> Public service and purposeful leadership: Exploring civic responsibility and societal contribution through leadership; and
> Ethics in decision-making: Understanding the importance of values-driven leadership.
The core message from mentors centred on empowering young women to shed self-doubt and embrace their authentic selves as they chart their career paths.
G4G International co-founder and global president Izzana Salleh explained that the goal is to help mentees reach their fullest potential.
“We’re not expecting to be something they’re not by telling them: You must be A, B or C to be successful. We want each woman to reach their full and best potential—to bring out what they have in themselves and let it shine,” she said.
“We actively encourage a concept of ‘no perfection’, because perfection is the enemy of getting things done, and the enemy of growth. It’s okay to slip up along the way, mistakes and failures are just stepping stones to success, provided you get up and rise to the challenge.”
‘Every year, we have grown, and this is our largest cohort to date. Just imagine if we can recreate this through more cohorts across multiple states,’ said Izzana.
She added that the impact in the past four years has been clear, as more young women are joining the programme.
“We see and feel the impact. Every year, we have grown, and this is our largest cohort to date. Just imagine if we can recreate this through more cohorts across multiple states,” said Izzana.
Programme mentor Komathy K. echoed this sentiment, emphasising the value of shared support that was missing from previous generations.
“Every year when I meet the mentees, I realise how ready they are to face the world, but at the same time, are seeking this kind of support and backing,” she noted.
“During my time, we were focused on our studies and getting a degree, but we did not have this kind of support system once we entered the workforce. I always believe in the phrase ‘together we are stronger’.
‘Many of the mentees feel that everyone around them is doing so much better than they are.... But through this programme, we encourage them not to have this self-limiting belief,’ said Pang.
“What we have here in our mentor circle is a treasure box for mentees, as we help them with whatever we can and try to give them as many opportunities to succeed.”
For programme mentor Amy Pang, a successful graduate of TalentCorp’s Career Comeback Programme, the key takeaway for mentees is to confront internal barriers.
Having overcome the challenges of reintegration herself, after previously taking a break from her 20-year career, Pang said young women should face their fears and not shy away from them.
“Many of the mentees feel that everyone around them is doing so much better than they are. Instead of addressing it, they suppress those fears, leading them to feel discouraged or not have the drive to push forward in their careers,” she said.
“But, through this programme, we encourage them not to have this self-limiting belief, and try to get them to open up about the issues they face, and give them different perspectives, transforming their lives by helping them make better-informed decisions in their careers.”
Building a sustainable ecosystem
The ecosystem of peer support and long-term networking built within WIN is designed to continue encouraging and providing access to opportunities, even after the conclusion of the programme.
Mentees from this year’s cohort shared that the sense of community and structured modules have had a tangible impact on their professional and personal confidence.
Nur Khairiyah Mohd Yazid, an associate consultant and business development executive for a consulting firm in Petaling Jaya, found the modules to be immediately applicable.
“All the modules have been very helpful and applicable in my professional and personal lives,” she said.
“The courses help you develop confidence and be clear about your decisions. Once you are clear in your communication, you know what you are doing and have to do, and it’s easier to chart the path for future growth.”
‘What we have here in our mentor circle is a treasure box for mentees, as we help them with whatever we can and try to give them as many opportunities to succeed,’ said Komathy.
For Ria Angel Jasri, a career and talent ambassador at Universiti Malaya, the programme provided crucial exposure.
“In Malaysia, many women grow up with an unspoken life path: finish school, get a degree, then get married and have kids. There’s nothing wrong with that, but this expectation exists partly because we are not exposed to programmes like this that show us alternative paths,” she said.
“This programme helps women find their voice and expand their sense of what is possible for them—opening doors, building confidence and encouraging women to step into spaces they may never have imagined for themselves.”
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Eileen Heng, a finance sector recruiter, highlighted the immense value of peer support.
“Initiatives like this make you feel like you are not alone; that you’re supported by women of all ages and are not the only one struggling with these issues. All of us here are going through similar problems, and just knowing that gives you strength to move forward because you are not alone,” she said.
Wanita MyWira
The Wanita MyWira Cohort 2025 provides a blueprint for how public-private partnerships could drive meaningful, scalable change in the journey towards gender parity.
It is also aligned with the Madani Economy framework, National Women’s Policy, World Economic Forum’s Gender Parity Accelerator and Women’s Empowerment Principles Corporate Action Lab.
Since 2021, WIN under Wanita MyWira has mentored more than 1,000 women nationwide. The programme is expected to expand to Sabah, Sarawak and the east coast, paving pathways for women in high-impact sectors including STEM, TVET and technical fields, simultaneously boosting the nation’s FLFPR.
For more information, visit talentcorp.com.my/women.
