Introducing the Remarkable Women in Leadership series
AS we celebrate the achievements of women in various fields, it’s essential to recognize the critical role that women play in leadership positions. Women have been breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings in various industries, from technology to finance and beyond.
There are many remarkable women leaders who have made significant contributions to their fields and communities. Some examples include:
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the former Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court who fought tirelessly for gender equality and women’s rights.
Oprah Winfrey, a media mogul and philanthropist who has used her platform to promote social justice and equality.
Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook who has been a vocal advocate for women’s leadership and empowerment.
The Remarkable Women Leaders series of articles aims to highlight the contributions of women leaders and provide insights into their experiences, challenges, and successes.
Throughout this series, we will explore how women have overcome gender biases and stereotypes to achieve greatness and become inspiring role models for generations to come. Join us as we dive into the stories of these incredible women and celebrate their remarkable achievements.
Remarkable women leaders are those who have made significant contributions to their fields and communities, breaking down barriers and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
One such leader is Sim Cher Whee, Vice President for Global Talent Acquisitions, Immigrations and Mobility at Micron Technology. Her career journey and leadership experiences offer valuable insights for women and minorities who aspire to leadership positions.
In this article, we will explore the lessons we can learn from her experiences, as a remarkable woman in leadership.
What is a remarkable woman leader?
Remarkable women leaders are those who have achieved success in their fields despite facing significant obstacles. They are women who have broken down barriers, shattered glass ceilings, and paved the way for others to follow in their footsteps. They are trailblazers, innovators, and change-makers who have made a significant impact on their communities and the world.
Sim Cher Whee, Vice President for Global Talent Acquisitions, Immigrations, and Mobility at Micron Technology, is one such remarkable woman leader who has navigated the complex and constantly evolving landscape of the semiconductor industry with determination and vision.
Becoming a change-maker
Cher Whee’s journey as a woman leader in the STEM industry is marked by various challenges and obstacles, but she has risen to become a true change-maker in the industry – with a story of resilience, perseverance, and growth.
As a minority engineer in a male-dominated industry, Cher Whee faced significant obstacles early in her career. She was one of only five women in a cohort of 100 engineers, which made it difficult for her voice to be heard and her views to be valued. However, she recognized that this problem extended beyond her own experience and was a systemic issue in the industry. She vowed to change it.
She overcame these challenges through hard work and dedication. She recognized the importance of setting and achieving goals and worked tirelessly to achieve them. She also developed a growth mindset, recognizing that failure is an essential part of the learning process.
Her commitment to diversity and inclusion also played a significant role in her success, as she recognized the importance of creating an inclusive work environment where people can bring their whole selves to work.
Leadership style
Leadership is a complex and dynamic field, requiring a combination of skills, experience, and a deep understanding of human behaviour. Women have been making their mark in the world of leadership for years, bringing their unique perspectives and experiences to the table.
Cher Whee’s leadership style is defined by her strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. She believes that diversity is essential in creating an inclusive work environment where people can bring their whole selves to work.
Her commitment to asking questions is also integral to her leadership style. She encourages her team to ask clarifying questions and not to get comfortable with quick answers. She believes that asking questions is a trainable business skill that can be developed with practice.
We can learn several lessons from Cher Whee’s leadership style. First, we can learn the importance of diversity and inclusion in creating an inclusive work environment. Second, we can learn the importance of asking questions and not getting comfortable with quick answers. Finally, we can learn the value of developing a growth mindset and recognizing that failure is an essential part of the learning process.
Leadership is not about me, it’s about the team
One of the first lessons this remarkable woman learned in her career is that leadership is not about the individual, but about the team. She believes that only by harnessing the strength of every individual can the organizations bring out the best performance.
In my career, I learned that it’s not about me in leadership. It’s about the team. It’s about inclusiveness, whether it’s male, female, whatever background
Having great mentors in her early career played a significant role in her growth as a leader. They not only opened doors for her and empowered her but also gave her the space to fail. This allowed her to develop her own leadership style, which was to observe and reflect on her actions as a leader. She also had a powerful role model and mentor who was a woman leader. Seeing her successfully balance her career and family life was a source of inspiration and motivation for this remarkable woman.
The importance of mentorship
Mentorship can come from anyone and take many forms. Cher Whee’s adult children have also become mentors to her, providing insight into the thoughts and attitudes of the younger workforce. She notes that as a mentor, it’s important to understand the challenges faced by the mentee and to contextualize your experience within that connection.
One of her mentors, a Vice President, took the time to fly to Singapore to meet with her in person. This meeting proved to be a turning point in her career as he helped her adjust to working in a big company with a global lens. He mentored her and shared his experiences, which allowed her to maximize her intentions for collaborating globally and bringing different perspectives together.
Contextualizing advice is also crucial, as she explains, “Contextualizing advice is important. One of my mentors said that as a woman you need to be twice or three times better than a man. I was very overwhelmed by the unfairness of this advice, but I knew I was probably not alone in feeling this. But to bring about equality, when a woman is as good as a man, she deserves the same opportunity to try different things, expand her scope, tackle new responsibilities.
Respect for the person receiving advice
The core fundamental of mentorship, according to Cher Whee, is to be respectful of the person receiving advice. As a woman leader, she doesn’t just stand for the agenda of women but also needs to align with men and avoid unconscious bias that doesn’t give equal opportunities to males and females.
Cher Whee also emphasizes the importance of mentorship in a holistic way. Some mentors may provide siloed coaching or mentoring, but it’s important to provide a complete picture.
Mentoring in a holistic way is also important. If you only show one part of the elephant and much later another, you never see the whole elephant. It’s important to provide a holistic picture
The importance of diversity
The importance of diversity in the workplace cannot be overstated, especially in industries like STEM that rely on innovation and problem solving to drive growth and progress. Cher Whee believes that diversity influences the voice, the ideas, and the way that we go about doing things.
She adds, “For example, in problem solving. In Kepner-Tregoe Problem Analysis, we go through brainstorming the IS and the IS NOT in describing a problem. I always felt that when the room has a more diverse view, it provides a richness in understanding the data that helps to really accelerate problem solving.”
Cher Whee’s commitment to increasing female representation is not just a personal goal but also a strategic imperative for Micron Technology. She states, “Just last year, when we looked at every hundred new hires, at least 40 were from an underrepresented group. This includes women and people with disabilities. It’s important to set goals. When you look at talent, if you just look at those you know and who apply, you might not be able to get that diversity right.”
According to Cher Whee, building diverse teams is essential for success in today’s global marketplace. By bringing together individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, you can generate new ideas and perspectives that can help drive innovation and creativity.
Diversity is extremely important because it influences the voice, the ideas, the way that we go about doing things,” she says. Cher Whee also emphasizes the importance of setting diversity goals and measuring progress to ensure that you are making progress toward building a more diverse and inclusive workplace.
Power of persistence
Cher Whee’s story is a testament to the power of persistence, determination, and resilience. Despite facing numerous obstacles throughout her career, she never gave up on her dreams and continued to push forward. Her unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion has also made her a remarkable leader, inspiring many to follow in her footsteps.
As more and more women take on leadership roles in various industries, it is essential to celebrate their achievements and learn from their experiences. By embracing the key concepts discussed in this article and asking the right questions, we can continue to foster a more inclusive and equitable workplace for all.
