We’ve just held our first HK Equal Pay Day, an annual event!

Equal Pay Day [EPD] is an event held around the world, on a different date in each location, to highlight gender disparity. The date, determined by formula used to calculate the number of working days, according to the gender-based wage inequality in a given area, that women are essentially ‘working for free’ each year. Women wear red, or red and black, at EPD events to indicate their having gone from ‘being in the red’ to ‘being in the black’ — i.e., beginning to ‘earn’ for that calendar year.

In Hong Kong, the pay disparity is currently 16.7% [i.e., women are paid, on average, 16.7% less than men for comparable work], rendering the EPD 02 March — in other words, for the first two months of the year, women work ‘without pay’.

Of particular note in Hong Kong: although a 16.7% wage gap is smaller than that of many places in the world — this disparity has actually been widening since 2011, rather than decreasing.

For our 2016 EPD event, BPWHK members and guests conducted a focus group on the topic of gender disparity in Hong Kong, analysing both problem and solutions. Our EPD project leader, Sindy Leung, will also provide a public presentation on this topic at our upcoming International Women’s Day Forum on Saturday, 05 March, as well as a followup report to be sent to the Women’s Commission of HK government.

Please join us at next year’s EPD event, which takes a different form each year!

New Year Greetings, Hong Kong -style!

As we begin the Year of the Monkey, our members are celebrating the holiday with family, travel, or much-needed relaxation. And then, just in time for spring: we have many upcoming events!

The new year kicks off with the first of our Young Leaders Forum Series, under the direction of Project Leader Judy Tam: “Business Startups” will take place on Wednesday, 17 February, held at HKBU. Speakers include our own Quin Thong of Ana by Karma, Anita Cheung of i-Detox, and Mary Barbara Hanna of Look Left.

Then on 02 March, we hold our annual HK Equal Pay Day event, to bring awareness to gender disparity (in Hong Kong, at 16.7%). Under Project Leader Sindy Leung, we will hold 3 simultaneous focus groups on the topic of equal pay, and generate a followup report to be delivered to HK Women’s Commission. In Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Causeway Bay.

International Women’s Day is observed annually on 08 March; guided by Project Leader Devi Novianti, our IWD Forum takes place on 05/03 at Preston Training Center in North Point. We’ve 6 speakers on a variety of innovative topics related to improving the status of women, including business and pay, empowerment of girls, the connection of gender and environment, and more.

On the 19th of March, we offer our first Global Skills Training Programme [Basic Level]. This training includes 3 tracks — Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Intercultural — and, under the guidance of Global Skills Taskforce Chair Dorothy Tsui, has been developed / reviewed by 8 of our members, all of whom have professional training experience. In this age of globalisation, we can all benefit from this training programme.

And, of course, for our members: we will hold our MONTHLY MEETING on Wednesday, 09 March, the theme of which is “The Power of Mentoring” led by Mentoring Taskforce Chair Nora Hussin who is joined by her team. This is the official launch of our mentoring programme, so if you are interested in becoming a mentor and/or mentee –> be sure to attend!

We have 57 members now — 21 of them Young BPW-HK — and we encourage everyone to recommend our organisation to your friends and colleagues!

Kung Hei Fat Choi — Happy and Prosperous Year of the clever, resourceful, and playful Monkey to all!

Happy New Year

from BPW Hong Kong!

We ‘accomplished greatness’ in 2014 with the renewal of BPW in Hong Kong, following a year’s hard work. Now, our 50 members — including 17 Young BPW, 9 ExCo, and 12 additional leaders plus 3 advisors — are busily preparing our projects and programmes!

Highlights for 2016:

We will hold an International Womens’ Day Forum, open to the public, on Saturday 05 March;

Our Girl Power Hong Kong! project-to-programme, funded by the HK government Women’s Commission and in collaboration with the HK Education Bureau, will be launched in February;

We will have our first Global Skills training session, designed by our own BPW Hong Kong Global Skills Taskforce, on Saturday March 19;

Young BPW-HK will hold a Young Professionals Forum Series, 5-6 times during the year;

We’re developing both our Women Invest and our Mother Earth taskforces, as well as our Mentoring programme — including, Reverse Mentoring;

AND, We’ll twin with 6 BPW clubs on 5 continents!

And Much More! Come Join the Excitement! Become Empowered, with BPW Hong Kong!

Hong Kong is proving a popular destination for our global BPW sisterhood!

Then in January, Carol Hanlon [BPW Australia – Perth] returns to HK (some members will recall that she spoke at our July formative meeting); and, a small group of BPW Korea – Jeju Island members will visit us!

We’re traveling, too: our Twinning Taskforce Chair, Liza Yew, will visit Kathmandu in December and will represent us when hosted by BPW Nepal; Project Leader and Young BPW-HK member Sindy Leung will be hosted by BPW Singapore.

A global sisterhood! If you’re a member of BPW-HK and want to meet our guests, watch for our news bulletins (or check the Members-Only section of our website); if you’re traveling and wish to connect with BPW in other areas, please let ExCo know and we’ll arrange contact. After all: BPW has members in more than 100 countries over 5 continents!

Last night we held our first Annual General Meeting, followed by the BPW candle-lighting ceremony and our Gala Dinner. What a night!

For those who couldn’t be there, if you’re a member you’ll receive the minutes in the next week, and the Annual Report by year’s end.

Here’s a glimpse:

For more photos, go to the Gallery Page (members-only), or to our Facebook page (public)!

Ladies,

Apologies for my late contribution here,  but I have been busy trying to get settled back in the US after 12 years in Asia, 10 of which were in Hong Kong.

As the previous past president of BPW Hong Kong,  I am so excited to see the infectious passion,  drive and determination of Dr. Anne Hilty and all of the current ExCo committee members to establish BPWHK as the ONLY truly international business women’s organisation in Hong Kong.   I  look forward to my advisory role within the organisation and I wish you continued success in growing the organisation in Hong Kong as the prestigious,  international organisation it is famous for around the world.

Best Regards,

Kathleen

Welcome to BPW. I’m Anna Robb. I’m Australian and I live in Macau. I am looking forward to working with you all.

I have worked my whole career in the arts and I’m looking to combine the skills I have alongside the other BPW women to be effective in Hong Kong and Macau. Beyond the arts, I am particularly passionate about young women growing up fearless, confident and free-thinking and I want a sustainable planet for them to be this way.

~Anna

Dear BPW members,

Thank you for appointing me the Chief Happiness officer. It’s an honor and a privilege and I look forward to serving you in the best way I can.

One of my teachers once told me, “Be the person that walks into the room and the room lights up, and not the one who walks out and the room lights up.” I have since then made it my mission to leave the room a little brighter and happier.

Happiness is not a pursuit, it’s an awakening. It’s something that lies within all of us but just as a musk deer runs wild looking for the musk that lies within, we too run amok looking for happiness. It is my sincerest endeavor to help you unveil this intrinsic quality that lies within all of us.

Let’s all SMILE – (support, motivate, inspire, love, encourage) in the knowledge that we have each other to depend on.

I look forward to meeting all of you in person and continuing on this journey together.

Much love and happiness.

Shveitta Sethi Sharma

Warm welcome to BPW Hong Kong!

It has been an amazing experience for me to meet dedicated professional women at BPW Hong Kong. I am an experienced management consultant and have a consultancy firm specializing in people and organization development. My vision is to facilitate flourishing growth in individuals, relationships, organizations, and communities through bringing out the best in people.

My role as the Chair of the Global Skills Taskforce of BPW Hong Kong oversees the development and delivery of training programs for our BPW members in Hong Kong, and later in other twinning clubs and eventually to be made available to the BPW International community.

We are launching our pilot programs soon: early next year. Looking forward to seeing you in our future meetings and sharing my excitement with you!

All the best,

Dorothy Tsui