BY GLORIA KELBIN
KUCHING: The Woman Power Club’s recent inaugural talk show ‘Smashing Stereotypes’ in conjunction with International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8 was a real smasher.
The one-hour session moderated by Gloria Kelbin lasted an hour. It received thunderous applause and praise from the 50-odd participants, and the message was loud and clear – stay united and forge women’s equality and collectively it can be achieved.
The talk show featured several successful and inspiring Sarawakian women from different backgrounds.
They were X-Fab Sarawak HR director Maureen Labarge, lawyer and lecturer Donna Barclay, Kenanga Investment Bank regional director MK Tan and Creative Cities Network Kuching strategic director Karen Shepherd.
Topics centred around IWD 2022 campaign theme, #BreaktheBias.
“The main objective of the talk show was to discuss ways of identifying challenges that are faced by the women of our society in today’s day of age and how they can be empowered to move forward and unlock their full potential,” the club said in a statement yesterday (Mar 15).
Topics included boosting career prospects and personal growth in the workplace and how women collectively can contribute and become the engines of global economic growth.
Shepherd drove home the importance of raising awareness, creating change and transforming society.
Talking from her own working experience, she highlighted the change that women were leading in the creative
industry, and the limitless potential that they could have within the ecosystem.
On women equality, she highlighted that the backbone of a successful and thriving society was where difference was valued and celebrated, not where one’s rights were suppressed.
The talk show included performances by renowned local artists singer-songwriter Steff Fleur alongside guitarist Nigel Maverick.
“The event was a full house, attended by both men and women who
were engaged and captivated throughout the night by the speakers and performers,” said the club.
A member of the audience, Dennis Chang, said this was one of the best talk shows that he had attended.
Another participant, Sasha Bella, who is a committee member of the club, said she felt empowered after the event.
“Salute to courageous women whose grit and generosity are setting new milestones in our society. Women play a key role in crafting lives with their love, commitment and dedication and I take this opportunity to applaud their endeavours in every field as none can replace them.”
The Woman Power Club is a non-profit organisation from Kuching.
Details about the club are obtainable from Woman Power Club via Facebook at Woman Power Club or Instagram @wmnpwr.club.
