Tag: Women Empowerment

Auckland, New Zealand – New Zealand has a legacy of incredible female athletes, but women’s sport still doesn’t get the recognition or support it deserves. Less media coverage, lower funding, and fewer resources mean that at a grassroots level, girls are twice as likely as boys to drop out of sports. 

This year, 2degrees is scaling up its sponsorship of women’s sport as part of its ‘Fighting for Fair’ commitment. Off the back of the revolutionary Aupiki TikTok final in 2024, TBWA developed the SupportHER Club, designed to champion women and girls in sports at every level and encourage young women to stay in the game. 

At the heart of the campaign is an emotional, powerful AV piece that captures a young girl’s first-day playing team sport. The poignant story highlights the importance of belonging, growing, and creating strong, supportive communities. It’s a reminder that sport isn’t just about winning, it’s about inspiring the next generation to build confidence, resilience, and lifelong friendships. Rugby star, Katelyn Vaha’akolo provides the voice over. 

The SupportHER Club will be a go-to hub for information on 2degrees’ sponsorships and partnerships with women’s sports teams and organisations. It will also offer practical tools for those playing a role in shaping the future of women’s sport, whether they’re coaching, cheering from the sidelines, or leading the next generation of female athletes.

The campaign will hit screens and streets throughout March, rolling out across TV, VOD, digital, social media, and OOH advertising to ensure the message reaches and inspires as many people as possible.

Anna Gorman, senior sponsorship & community manager at 2degrees, said, “At 2degrees, we believe fairness should extend to every aspect of life – including sport. Women’s sport deserves equal recognition, support, and investment, and the SupportHER Club is about taking real action to drive change. By backing women and girls at every level, we’re helping to create a future where talent, passion, and dedication are what matter most – not gender.”

Meanwhile, Shane Bradnick, chief creative officer at TBWA\NZ, commented, “This campaign is designed to flip the script and give women and girls in sport the backing they need to thrive. Sport is so much more than competition. It’s about finding your people, growing your confidence, and experiencing the pure joy of the game. With the SupportHER Club, we see this as a rich territory to ensure every girl feels they have that chance.”

MARKETECH APAC and UpTech Media’s Empowered Women Awards 2025, the latest collaborative initiative celebrating the contributions of women leaders in marketing and technology, has officially announced the first lineup of its distinguished jury panel.

Comprising a diverse group of accomplished professionals across the Asia-Pacific region, the panel brings a wealth of expertise and industry insight to assess nominations across all categories meticulously. These esteemed judges will play a pivotal role in recognising and honouring visionary women who are driving innovation and excellence in the ever-evolving marketing and technology landscape.

The first lineup of jury members includes: 

  • Danielle Eleazar-Ocampo, Head of Consumer & Brand Development at Angkas Philippines
  • Priyanka Bisen Shah, Head of Digital Marketing at Bajaj Auto Pvt Ltd.
  • Simone Tam, Group & Creative CEO, Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong at dentsu
  • Linda Hassan, Chief Marketing Officer- MSK at Domino’s Pizza Malaysia and Singapore
  • Reiko Kwok, Executive Vice President, Marketing Asia & General Manager Hong Kong at Exinity Group
  • Syahriza Badron, Managing Director at FCB SHOUT
  • Brenda Maderazo, Deputy Director, Marketing at Health Promotion Board
  • Rochelle Chhaya, CEO of Hearts & Science Asia Pacific and Omnicom Media Group Thailand
  • Evangeline Leong, Founder and CEO at Kobe
  • Raushida Vasaiwala, Strategic Advisor | Martech & SaaS Sales
  • Munas van Boonstra, Managing Director, Southeast Asia at Monks
  • Patricia Saez, Managing Director at NuWorks Interactive Labs, Inc.
  • Lavina Tauro, Vice President, Marketing & Country Manager, Myanmar at Viu

Set to conclude with an esteemed in-person awards ceremony on June 26, 2025, in Manila, this event will serve as a tribute to innovation, leadership, and the fearless women who are breaking new ground in their industries.

The Empowered Women Awards 2025 will feature 46 distinct categories, spanning individual achievements, marketing excellence, technological advancements, special honours, and the prestigious grand prix. Each category will recognise three outstanding winners, who will receive Bronze, Silver, and Gold accolades.

The judging criteria for the awards are as follows:

  • People Categories
    • Business Contributions (30%)
    • Leadership (30%)
    • Industry Influence (40%)
    • Women Empowerment (Bonus Point – 5%)
  • Marketing Campaign Categories
    • Problem (20%)
    • Strategy (25%)
    • Execution (25%)
    • Results (30%)
  • Tech Innovation Categories
    • Objective (30%)
    • Tech Implementation (30%)
    • Business Impact (40%)
  • Special Awards
    • Best Women-Centric Campaign
      • Societal Impact (20%)
      • Industry Influence (20%)
      • Strategic Impact (30%)
      • Business Growth and Effectiveness (30%)
    • Best Women Leader of the Year
      • Business Accomplishments (20%)
      • Leadership (20%)
      • Industry and Community Contributions (30%)
      • Women Empowerment (30%)

Key dates related to the awards ceremony this 2025 are as follows:

  • Early Bird Deadline – 4 June 2025
  • Entries Deadline – 4 July 2025
  • Judging Period – 14-25 July 2025
  • Finalists Announcement – 5 August 2025
  • Awards Night – 26 September 2025

To find out how to participate in this prestigious award series, click HERE to learn more about the Empowered Women Awards 2025.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Joven Barceñas ([email protected]); for judging opportunities, please contact Ivy Alamo ([email protected]); and for nominations, please contact Denise Obispado ([email protected]). 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – As part of its ongoing collaboration with regional super-app Grab, The Clan created a docuseries dedicated to telling deeply personal stories of the women who work as drivers and delivery partners. 

For the agency, the series features the ‘Motivation Meter?’ which serves as the measure of what drives the women to drive for Grab.

Based on Grab’s commitment to creating opportunities and helping individuals realise their ambitions, the agency highlighted three unique stories across Three Pillars: Caregiver, Safety Net, and Savings Goal. 

These included a single mother who gained the flexibility to work while raising an autistic child, a writer who was retrenched from a publishing firm yet managed to self-publish her first book, and an exercise instructor who nearly lost her home to debt.

Through the narrative device of a “Motivation Meter” the audience got to witness what made these women tick, and what saw them through their most difficult times. 

Sam Lai, head of art at The Clan explained, “We wanted a storytelling approach that diverged from the conventional talking-heads-in-cars type of interviews. So by adding this element of the Motivation Meter, it provided a unique angle for these inspiring women to share their deepest motivations. This offered a more intimate and authentic glimpse into their world and what inspires them to go the extra mile every day.”

The campaign debuted in mid-November, and has since garnered over 5.9million views on YouTube alone. It also aired on national television, drawing even more substantial viewing numbers. 

Manila, Philippines – TikTok Shop and cosmetics brand L’Oréal are joining forces to advance the ‘Digital Beauty Academy,’ an initiative designed to empower aspiring beauty entrepreneurs across the Philippines. This collaboration integrates L’Oréal’s extensive beauty education with TikTok Shop’s dynamic social commerce platform, creating new opportunities for participants.

Now in its second year, the program builds on the successes of its inaugural run in Quezon City, with this year’s expansion to Makati City. 

Running from August to December, the ‘Digital Beauty Academy’ will conduct six sessions focused on content creation, social commerce strategies, and the effective use of TikTok Shop to market and sell beauty products.

The ‘Digital Beauty Academy’ provides comprehensive beauty training and social commerce education, equipping participants with essential skills in beauty, grooming, and personal care while integrating effective strategies for leveraging TikTok and TikTok Shop for business growth. 

Said initiative is designed to empower women from diverse backgrounds, enhancing their socio-economic status and creating opportunities for growth and success within the beauty industry.

Included in the curriculum is an introduction to TikTok and TikTok Shop, livestreaming essentials, and best practices in content creation. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with TikTok creators and industry experts, gaining valuable insights and practical skills to enhance their entrepreneurial endeavours.

Yannick Raynaud, managing director at L’Oréal Philippines, said, “L’Oréal together with TikTok Shop Philippines recognises the transformative power of beauty in driving positive societal transformations. The expansion of L’Oréal Digital Beauty Academy in Makati and Quezon City, amongst the bustling cities in the Philippines, signifies a significant step towards a more inclusive future. By the end of the year, over 1800 Makati residents are set to gain access to fundamental beauty and digital commerce tools, aving the way for enhanced economic opportunities through beauty among Filipinos.”

Meanwhile, Paolo David, country head for brand growth and partnerships at TikTok, commented, “We are thrilled to partner with L’Oréal to bring the Digital Beauty Academy to life. This initiative perfectly aligns with TikTok’s mission to democratise access to digital platforms and provide opportunities for growth and empowerment. Through this program, we aim to equip participants with the skills and tools they need to thrive in the digital economy, while also supporting local communities and fostering inclusive growth.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – ‘She Speaks Power,’ an initiative by NagaDDB Tribal, to create a platform for female collaboration and learning, has announced the launch of its latest endeavor, the ‘IMPACT Mentorship Program.’ This program is specifically designed to support female founders of new and small businesses, providing them with essential tools and strategies to thrive in the competitive social media space. 

The She Speaks Power IMPACT Mentorship Program aims to empower participants by focusing on three key areas, namely business development, impactful content creation, and social media growth.

This mentorship helps women entrepreneurs effectively launch and grow their businesses. Participants will receive guidance on best practices and personalised 3-month mentorship to ensure their business success and sustainability. 

One of the programme’s first mentee–Puan Hasnah–is a single mother caring for her four sons, two of whom have special needs under the autism spectrum while her 32 year old second son has just been diagnosed with mild ADHD and general anxiety disorder. Her eldest son, who is a speech and drama teacher, stays in another state and whatever emotional or financial support he can offer can only be done remotely. 

For 15 years, she helmed her own communications company but had to give it up to focus on Ziqri, one of her neurodiverse sons. With her youngest son Aidel’s diagnosis of high-functioning Asperger’s, she decided to provide consultancy services to boutique PR firms and corporate organizations. 

Today, she co-leads and serves as the editor-In-chief of New Malaysia Herald, an Australian-based, self-funding online news portal dedicated to opinion pieces and leader articles on Malaysia and Australia. Additionally, she benefits from Project Impian, an initiative by Santapan that supports selected small F&B operators by providing the necessary support, knowledge, capital, and facilities to launch their own products in the Ready-to-Eat Meals segment for commercialisation. 

“As a one-woman show, the help of this IMPACT Mentorship Program will be incredibly valuable. I look forward to learning from experienced mentors and applying their insights to grow my business,” Hasnah said.

She added, “For the past 10 years, I’ve been cooking for clients from my small home kitchen. I realised that food is what is going to put food on the table. Until William, founder of Kembara Kitchen, who manages Santapan REMS (Ready-To-Eat-Meals), took me by the hand and encouraged me to become a beneficiary of Projek Impian. And here we are.”

Hajar Yusof, head of digital experience at Naga DDB Tribal, said, “At She Speaks Power, we are dedicated to making a real impact in our community and providing a platform for collaboration. This program is not just lip service; it’s a tangible effort to support and uplift female entrepreneurs who need the help the most.” 

Meanwhile, Farrah Harith McPherson, chief growth officer at Naga DDB Tribal, commented, “As experience makers, Naga DDB Tribal believes in putting our services to a greater cause. The IMPACT Mentorship Program is a perfect example of how we can leverage our expertise to empower and support women in business and celebrate women entrepreneurship.” 

Shenzhen, China – Global technology company TCL has launched a new campaign in commemoration of International Women’s Day, encouraging women to go after their dreams, transform them into a reality, and inspire others along the way.

The campaign, titled #EchoesOfGreatness, pays homage to renowned silent film actress Dorothy Cumming, who travelled from Australia to the United States in mid-1916 to follow her ambition of establishing a career in Hollywood.

Moreover, the campaign is also based on real-life interviews with Cumming’s family, news clippings and film studies, the legendary actress’ inspiring story was brought to life in #EchoesOfGreatness to honor her legacy and encourage women to keep the momentum going as the director of their own dreams. 

As part of the campaign, they are invited to share their stories and journey of turning dreams into reality – whether it was starting a business, pursuing a passion, or overcoming obstacles – on social media. Selected stories will be made into a movie by TCL to inspire others.

Yuki Wei, vice president of TCL Technology and chairman of the TCL Charity Foundation, said, “When those before us dream big, it inspires us to do the same and make our dreams come true. Over the years, TCL has been spotlighting women that are making a difference every day through #TCLforHer. We look forward to continuing this celebration of the strength and limitless potential of every girl and woman to dream big and live even bigger.”

To underscore the role of technology in facilitating women’s empowerment, TCL is also set to kick off #TechForHer, an accompanying social media campaign that highlights the functions and potential of the company’s innovative technology in impacting lives, including girls’ and women’s. The campaign will also see online users interacting with TCL through various interactive polls.

Singapore – Skincare brand Olay has partnered with Publicis Groupe One Singapore for the launch of its newest campaign that targets the gender disparity in India’s STEM field. 

The campaign is part of the latest instalment of its #STEMTheGap initiative and aims to shed light on the glaring absence of female mentors and role models in India’s STEM workforce.

As part of the campaign, Olay India collaborated with filmmaker Anand Gandhi to launch a digital film that delves into India’s rich history of remarkable women in STEM. The digital film will pay homage to and showcase the inspiring stories of luminaries like Dr. Anandibai Joshi, Kamala Sohonie, Dr. Janaki Ammal, and Kalpana Chawla, among others.

The film will highlight the urgent need for more female role models in STEM today and will also shed light on the societal biases deterring young girls from pursuing STEM careers by emphasising the crucial role of female mentors in the field.

Aside from the digital film, Olay also launched the beta version of a web-based virtual chat mentor that will offer guidance and information to aspiring young girls seeking to enter the world of STEM.

The virtual chat mentor, a supplement to Olay’s mentorship programme,will provide the user with knowledge, resources, and encouragement on their journeys. It was created with the help of successful women in different STEM fields in India, such as Shannon Olsson, founder and global director at Echo Network; Swarna Manjari, communication designer; Dr. Vandana Prasad, community paediatrician and public health professional; and Tarunima Prabhakar, tech and policy research at Tattle Civic Tech and Carnegie India, to name a few.

Olay’s campaign is crafted based on the results of their commissioned survey, which found a huge gap between female STEM graduates and those who actually made it into the workforce in India. A staggering number of its respondents also mentioned the need for female role models in STEM as a way to influence them to pursue their careers.

To encourage future women in STEM, Olay also continues to partner with LEAD, a school EdTech provider in India, to sponsor STEM scholarships for 250+ underprivileged girls. These scholarships aim to empower girls across India by providing them with financial support for STEM education and career development.

Priyali Kamath, senior vice president of skin and personal care at Procter & Gamble (P&G) Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, explained, “For decades, Procter & Gamble’s legacy skincare brand Olay has maintained a deep understanding of women’s changing needs through science. At Olay, we understand the critical importance of female role models in the STEM field, and our commitment to bridging the gender gap is unparalleled. This year’s theme, centred on the significance of role models and the introduction of mentorship initiatives, highlights our commitment to ensuring every young girl knows that she can be the next leader in her field.”

She added, “Through initiatives like #STEMTheGap and our commitment to gender equality, we are working hard to double the number of women in STEM by 2030 and create a more inclusive and equitable future. We’re proud to recognise and support the next generation of women in STEM who will one day be making history in their respective fields and become role models for young girls in the future.”

Ajay Vikram, chief creative officer for Southeast Asia at Publicis Groupe, also commented, “There are many accomplished women leaders in STEM in India today. Yet, a ‘lack of mentors’ is often cited as a big reason why so few women make a career in STEM. This got us thinking. How do we not just celebrate the achievements of women in STEM but actually be useful—to be there at the very moment when needed, a friend and guide to any girl or woman looking for answers as they stand at the crossroads of choosing their path forward. Technology came in handy as a way to help, but  we can’t wait to see how much more Ai-shu can do to help women find their way to a future of their choosing.”

Singapore – Global communications agency Redhill has teamed up with the Geylang International Football Club (GIFC) to drive women’s football in Singapore by boosting its visibility in the country and highlighting the players and their achievements, as well as promoting a positive image of the sport. 

Through this partnership, Redhill will provide sponsorship in addition to strategic communications support to help promote the Women’s Premier League team, its talented players within GIFC, and to connect with a wider audience.

Said partnership is expected to bring greater visibility and recognition to women’s football. The Women’s Premier League is an opportunity to showcase the talent, dedication, and hard work of the players within GIFC and other clubs in Singapore.

For Redhill CEO Jacob Puthenparambil, they are proud of supporting the organisation, stating that said partnership will serve as an inspiration for young women to join the team and fuel their commitment to strengthening community outreach efforts.

“We are confident that our partnership will help promote women’s football in Singapore and showcase the exceptional players within the Women’s Premier League.Our shared commitment to excellence and diversity will undoubtedly create a positive impact on women’s football in Singapore and beyond. We are excited to embark on this journey with GIFC and look forward to the upcoming season of the Women’s Premier League,” he said.

Meanwhile, Thomas Gay, chairman of Geylang International, commented, “As a global communications agency, their support towards promoting women’s football in Singapore and showcase our talented athletes within our club will be invaluable. We believe this partnership will help us to raise the profile of women’s football in Singapore and encourage more women to take up the sport.”

Redhill has recently ventured into supporting programmes and strengthening their offerings. In December 2022, the agency launched Redhill Lancers, a programme aimed at supporting early-stage startups. It has also acquired VS Story in September 2022 to bolster the agency’s sustainability offerings.

Singapore – Wunderman Thompson has announced the expansion of Magpie, its own peer-to-peer mentoring app for women, across Asia-Pacific. This follows after the launch of said app in the United Kingdom during International Women’s Day.

Said app aims to empower and connect women across the business using a matchmaking style app based on each individual mentor’s expertise and knowledge. 

Complimenting longer-term mentoring schemes available in the industry, Magpie connects women for peer mentorship on specific/individual needs, featuring 15 themes ranging from maternity and motherhood, leadership, building your personal brand, and managing stress.

Originally launched in the UK on International Women’s Day in 2022, the app was created by RISE, Wunderman Thompson UK’s women’s network, and was born from a desire to create a self-serve platform to form connections and support Wunderman Thompson’s women who account for half of the agency’s workforce.

After a successful pilot scheme across the agency’s APAC offices, Magpie will launch the app across the region’s talent on 8th March, supporting their women’s network Ladybirds, which aims to strengthen representation and gender parity across the region through networking, mentoring, events. and knowledge sharing. 

Lindsay Shirley, chief people officer for Wunderman Thompson APAC, said, “As senior leaders, we have an obligation to mentor and support women to build their careers and thrive at Wunderman Thompson. Many women have wanted a mentor but not known where to find one, Magpie has helped us bridge that gap and we’re thankful to RISE UK for it.” 

Meanwhile, Supria Dutta, head of talent for Wunderman Thompson APAC and Ladybirds member, commented, “We are excited to bring Magpie to our region on International Women’s Day. This unique peer mentorship app has the potential to build bridges between women on all levels and potentially open doors for active sponsorship.”

Singapore – Unilever’s global beauty brand LUX has been consistent in exercising its platform to rally against sexism, and this time, it augments its support by launching a new global training resource. The Allies e-learning programme is a learning tool targeted at the workplace setting, aiming to impart how to call out and stop bad behaviour in the workplace. 

Led by Wunderman Thompson, the communications are rooted in real-life insights relevant to the audience in developing and emerging markets that LUX serves. The new course called ‘LUX Allies Against Workplace Sexism’ is said to have been designed together with a DE&I behaviour change expert to help counter sexism in the workplace. Furthermore, it was created specifically for emerging markets where patriarchal values and the traditional mindset about gender roles are entrenched in society. 

Severine Vauleon, global brand lead at LUX, said, “Beauty can be a powerful source of strength and self-confidence for women. At the workplace in particular, confidence and self-belief can make a huge difference in a woman’s job satisfaction and career trajectory.” 

“As a brand that touches the lives of millions of women worldwide, we want to be an enabler that supports women’s confidence and authenticity to thrive, rather than see them self-edit and wither. As such, we will continue to help women everywhere fight casual sexism especially related to their experience, at home, in the workplace and in wider society.”

The ‘LUX Allies Against Workplace Sexism’ programme is structured as three module pillars – AWARE, ACT, and ALLY. It confronts participants with everyday scenarios in the workplace where women may face casual sexist remarks from colleagues – whether male or female – and gives simple yet effective actions to call out these belittling comments. 

To further drive home the agenda, LUX worked with organisational and behavioural scientist and indigenous rights advocate, Matthew J Yazzie, who specialises in workplace discrimination. Yazzie played a pivotal role in creating the content schedule for the modules. Part of them is him shedding light on casual sexism. 

The modules use short-form videos to highlight seemingly casual remarks that disempower individuals based on gender stereotypes and share how simple yet effective actions to call out belittling comments can make a difference. 

Nicolas Tran Dinh, global digital & masterbrand lead at LUX, shares, “Women, just like men, want to live in a world where they have equal opportunities to be their best selves. The first step in reducing the pressures of everyday sexism that women face starts with us. We must be more aware of our actions and be allies rather than bystanders to support women to rise above daily judgements. This is how we can build a world where men and women are celebrated equally and why we are providing this training as a free resource for all companies.” 

Echoing his comments, Hinoti Joshi, global business director from Wunderman Thompson, Singapore, who leads LUX communications, adds, “This is the next step in our Purpose journey towards our end goal of putting an end to everyday sexism. WT APAC and Unilever staff will be actively using it as part of our training to help empower and inspire a community of women and allies to speak up and hold their truth for their beliefs.” 

Anyone can access the Allies programme at no charge via LUX’s website and complete the modules to be a certified ‘ally’ against sexism.

Previously, LUX launched campaigns under its social inclusivity advocacy, the “In Her Shoes” and ‘UNSTOPPABLE” campaigns. In the past, the brand also released the ‘Finding Strength in Beauty’ 2021 whitepaper which shared data showing how discrimination against women continues to be prevalent in different forms.