Women in Tech: It’s Time to Reframe the Conversation

Why It Matters

The piece spotlights how inclusive leadership drives sustainable digital transformation while addressing the gender gap that hampers innovation and economic growth in the region.

Key Takeaways

• Teh founded CHN in 2012, offering DaaS solutions
• Apple named CHN Top Apple Enterprise Partner Malaysia 2013
• DaaS reduces e‑waste by extending device lifecycles
• Women still face bias in ASEAN digital economy
• Advocacy urges women to speak, stand, show up

Pulse Analysis

The technology sector’s rapid evolution has amplified calls for diversity, yet women remain under‑represented, especially in Southeast Asia’s digital economy. Recent research from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia shows women have significantly less access to digital‑economy opportunities, limiting talent pipelines and stifling innovation. Addressing this imbalance is not merely a social imperative; diverse teams consistently outperform homogeneous ones, delivering higher revenue growth and better problem‑solving capabilities.

Teh Chai Peng’s journey illustrates how female leadership can merge profitability with sustainability. By founding Complete Human Network in 2012, she introduced a Device‑as‑a‑Service model that refurbishes and re‑allocates smartphones and tablets, cutting e‑waste while delivering cost‑effective mobility solutions. The partnership with Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft—and the 2013 Apple Top Enterprise Partner accolade—demonstrates that eco‑focused services can achieve mainstream market acceptance, offering enterprises a viable path to digital transformation without the environmental trade‑offs of traditional device turnover.

For the broader industry, Teh’s advocacy underscores the need for structural change: mentorship programs, bias‑free hiring practices, and corporate policies that support flexible work environments. Policymakers and investors should also prioritize funding for women‑led tech ventures, recognizing their potential to drive both economic and environmental outcomes. By reframing the conversation around empowerment, sustainability, and measurable impact, the tech ecosystem can unlock a more resilient and inclusive future.