As International Women’s Day approaches, our minds naturally turn to some of our role models whose courage, determination and achievements have inspired us to push ourselves further.
And nowadays we can’t help but feel such inspirational figures are more important than ever.
WHY?
In early March of 2025 – just before International Women’s Day, UN Women released a report that definitively stated that women’s rights have regressed: from the data provided by 159 governments, one in four reported a backlash against women’s rights in 2024.
As of time of publication, the 2025 statistics have not yet been published – but based on raw data, the situation would only have deteriorated further.
While there has been important progress, the world has registered a 50% increase in the number of women and girls living in conflict. Defenders confront daily harassment, personal attacks and even death.
WHAT ABOUT SINGAPORE?
In Singapore, there has been legislative and political progress with strengthened social safeguards – but, according to Paris-based market research and consulting firm Ipsos, there are plenty of societal tensions that mirror global backlash. For instance, 68% of Singaporean men think that they are expected to do too much to support gender equality.
Part of this is undoubtedly because of the “manosphere” and their misogynistic ideologies that has slowly filtered into mainstream thinking. The increasing ease of creating online communities also facilitates the building of spaces where certain types of “incels” – some of whom self-identify thus! – feel safe to dispense their radicalising rhetoric.
Image Credit weforum.org
There are also the older prevailing issues such as the gender pay gap and other workplace discrimination issues.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Well, in our opinion, it means that trailblazers and role models are more important than ever.
“Seeing is believing” may be an old quote; but its truth cannot be denied. Visibility provides inspiration through concrete representation of what is possible and accelerates learning.
Luckily there are many of those “someones” who inspire and lead through thought, word and deed.
Image Credit positive.news
Here, we honour and share the stories of just a few of the ladies we respect and admire.
PS: If you’re inspired and would like to speak to these ladies, interviews can be arranged. Their bios and press kits can be accessed through their sub-headers :)
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Janet Sim, International Director of Sales & Events, 1-Host, 1-Group
In 2026, Janet will be celebrating her 19th year with the company – a long time by any count. And outside of sheer longevity, Janet’s career path will inspire every young woman out there who’s been advised to not be “too soft” when working. Her gentle, soothing manner belies her sharp perception, quick wits and indomitable will.
Janet Sim, 1-Group
When 1-Host was first created in 2005, it was a small department led and run by one – and only one! – planner: Janet Sim. She made up for youth and inexperience with determination, diligence and an innate empathy for her clients; that empathy, that drive led Janet to create unique events that fulfilled her clients’ every dream.
Wedding by wedding, event by event, Janet built the business from ground up until it was strong enough to stand on its own as an entirely new business arm. Today, 1-Host can be considered a behemoth of 1-Group. Having successfully hosted over 18,000 weddings, and events, it is the region’s largest wedding and events planning company.
Her pivotal role in 1-Host’s growth is recognised both internally and externally. For instance, in 2019, Janet was recognised by the industry for her work in CMO Asia’s Global MICE Congress with an Award for Excellence in Wedding Planning.
Today, the pioneering trailblazer continues to reach for the stars, determined to continue to push 1-Host to the next level – on the international stage.
Shirley Tan, Head Sommelier, 67 Pall Mall
Shirley’s career path will show every young woman that the road may be winding but you’ll get there in the end. Shirley’s first spark of interest in wine was piqued in university with the oenology class – part of her degree in hospitality. But her first venture into sommelier service came about later in the iconic Galaxy Macau. She was originally stationed at The Macallan Whisky Bar where she sharpened her palate and dove into flavour structure, eventually earning accreditation as a Whisky Ambassador. She was later exposed to wine service at Galaxy Macau’s leading restaurants where she continued to refine her palate and technical expertise which culminated in her managing the 1000-bottle cellar of three Michelin-starred 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA.
Shirley Tan, 67 Pall Mall Singapore
Though she is now Head Sommelier of 67 Pall Mall – a key role in a wine club, she’s never stopped pushing herself to become better. For instance, just a few years ago, she was certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers at the Advanced level – one of the most intense wine-oriented exams in the world, representing the pinnacle of wine expertise and service. The multi-day, three part exams includes rigorous testing of theory, blind tastings and high-stakes service; the pass rate is very low and is considered the “final gate” before taking the even tougher Master Sommelier Diploma.
Inside and outside of her job, Shirley continues to immerse herself in all things wine alongside the most extensive wine list in Southeast Asia: participating in global sommelier competitions, leading masterclasses in the Club, and exploring her own vinous interests and unique food and wine pairings.
Akane Eno, Executive Chef, Ichigo Ichie
Akane’s story is a showcase of love and perspective. As a child, Akane’s attention was all on art and culture. She stepped on the road to chef-dom only after an epiphany that cooking was also a form of art. The sheer strength of her convictions powered her through parental scepticism and the difficulty of forging her way through an industry dominated by men and shaped by intransigent rules and a fiercely enforced hierarchy.
The 21-year-old embarked on an intense culinary school programme that condensed everything into one short year, and worked for an izakaya between school hours. Upon graduation, she secured a one-year apprenticeship in a kappo restaurant where her talent, her firm dedication and her resilience was seen by Master Chef Masaru Furusawa.
Akane Eno, Ichigo Ichie
Unexpectedly, Master Chef Masaru closed a blind eye to the unspoken rules of the time and allowed the young yet extremely serious and diligent Akane to stay next to him observing, watching and learning. She worked with her mentor for 15 years, accumulating experience and learning about every aspect of kappo – until 2015 when Chef Masaru shared an opportunity to work in Singapore. She took the opportunity and worked there for 2 years when she was recruited by Chef Tomoo Kimura as head chef.
Ichigo Ichie began as a pop-up in Sushi Kimura in 2019, and was unveiled as a full-fledged restaurant in Feb 2020, fully helmed by Chef Akane Eno. Ichigo Ichie under Chef Akane continues to push boundaries today; creating highlights in the local F&B landscape such as the four-hands collaboration with Vasunthara where they seamlessly melded Japanese and Indian flavours into exciting and delicious new forms.
Chai Karim, Principal, Gaia Lifestyle Group (Loca Niru)
To us, this is a life story that shows that one shouldn’t panic even if you took the scenic route. Chai’s route to F&B did indeed take a few detours – her passion in school had been science, and she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Information and UI/UX Design from the University of Michigan. Her first steps as a working adult was as a product manager in a big tech company. It all pointed to a glorious future in the science and tech industry.
Chai Karim, Gaia Lifestyle Group
But, in truth, she had always wanted to work alongside her siblings, in F&B. In 2023, when a crossroad came before her, she firmly turned her steps to fulfilling this dream. Her first step? Overseeing the Casual Dining Portfolio in the Gaia Lifestyle Group where she spearheaded the launch of KOKO Cafe & Patisserie the group’s first café and patisserie concept. She slowly took on more responsibilities as she gained more experience and exposure.
Most recently, Chai led the transformation and opening of gazetted National Monument, The House of Tan Yeok Nee, as a lifestyle destination; and the opening of Loca Niru, one of the most highly commended new fine dining destinations in Singapore this year.
Jasmine Wu, General Manager, Restaurant Born
At just 37 years of age, Jasmine Wu can already boast of 16 years’ experience in F&B service – all of which were spent in some of Singapore’s most celebrated restaurants such as Jaan par Andre and Joel Robuchon Singapore [now defunct] and Vianney Massot [now defunct].
In fact, her most memorable work experience, she confesses, was with Joel Robuchon Singapore: she was part of its opening team and its closing team. She was with them when they opened, when they made history as the country’s first and only three Michelin-starred restaurant, and she was there when they served their last guest and closed its doors for the last time.
Today she runs the Restaurant Borns’ front-of-house operations where she has to plan ahead operationally while also taking care of everyday service – indulging guests with service as phenomenal as the food. She has to simultaneously nurture each and every team member, learning their strengths and bringing out their best to create a supportive work environment and a close-knit team.
Jasmine Wu, Restaurant BORN
But it’s all in a day’s work for Jasmine – whose career in F&B service caught even herself by surprise. She had only accompanied a friend for an interview but got shortlisted and eventually hired! The rest is, as the saying goes, history.
