International Women’s Day 2023: 8 Self-Made Women in Asia Girl-Bossing Their Way To The Top

PUBLISHED March 8th, 2023 05:00 am | UPDATED March 18th, 2023 04:24 pm

At City Nomads, we like to appreciate and support women all year round. However, we pull out all stops for International Women’s Day! This year, we talk the good, the bad and the necessary with self-made women in Asia girl-bossing their way to the top. We speak music with the renowned Churen Li, fashion & wellness with Elena Petroni and Aien Moktar, F&B with Ezra Star and Narisa Pokunchanan, and photography with Shwe Wutt Hmon. Plus, with this year’s theme of “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, we hear from Dr Loretta Chen and Surabhi Malani on the tech scene. 

Churen Li, Singapore

Classically trained, musical artist Churen Li is not one to shy away from improvisation and experimentation – from publishing her own original compositions, to collaborating with beatboxers like Dharni and using her pianistic skills to amalgamate pop, jazz and other genres of music. “Experiencing music together is a deeply powerful experience – transcendental, even – and being able to connect with and enable others to connect is the most powerful thing about music,” shares Churen. She believes that femininity is powerful and encourages her audience to tune into it as a source of creativity, and to use it wisely. Catch Churen live at her upcoming show, MOONRISE, presented with music producer evanturetime and digital effects artist Prako for an unforgettable immersive visual/music experience.

Connect with Churen here.

Elena Petroni, Indonesia

After years in copywriting, advertising, and PR gigs, Elena Petroni found herself on a path to personal growth and creative consciousness with a move to Bali. Today, Elena owns and operates jewellery brand tredici.zerodue jewels, which she uses as a form of personal storytelling, translating thoughts, concepts and feelings into aesthetic elements. “We should never stop ourselves from reaching our goals due to insecurity or the belief that we are not “ready” enough,” Elena elaborates, “the process of striving to do something itself teaches us the lessons we need to be ready.” Her message this International Women’s Day is to amplify women’s voices and uplift women from various backgrounds. She also suggests making donations to organisations focusing on women’s rights issues.

Connect with Elena and her brand here.   

Ezra Star, Hong Kong

Ezra Star started her first company at the age of 13, selling packaged chilli peppers from local farms. Now residing in Hong Kong with her wife, Beckaly Franks, the couple works their magic behind F&B concepts like Mostly Harmless, CALL ME AL, Ponty CAFé, Artifact Counter and Bar to create safe spaces for everyone to feel at home, away from home. But after 20 years in the industry, what’s her secret to managing it all? “The number one thing, aside from pouring your passion and heart into what you do, is set it up to work without you. I was once given a great piece of advice: your job as a manager is to make it so your job is no longer needed and I’ve kind of stuck by that as a business owner as well,” says Ezra. This year, Ezra encourages women out there to push hard. “Doing what you want and believe in, is not easy, but it is possible, so push.” 

Connect with Ezra here.  

Narisa Pokunchanan, Thailand

Also in the food & lifestyle industry, Narisa Pokunchanan stands tall as a force to be reckoned with. According to Narisa, all the steps she took, tried, and failed have given her the invaluable lessons she could never have experienced in classes. “It’s a long way and a lot of sleepless nights, but all those led me to building LITA, CHAND, and Proper [in Bangkok]”. If you’re also on your path to making your dreams reality, Narisa suggests to work in little steps and do what you can first. “When you combine these little things altogether, it becomes bigger, it becomes the reality,” she shares. Her message to all women this International Women’s Day is to get lost, stay curious, listen to your instinct, fall in love, but most importantly, don’t anyone stop you from reaching your full potential or achieving your dreams.

Connect with Narisa here.

Loretta Chen, Singapore

A firebrand theatre director with high profile productions, a radio personality, an impeccable author, a professor, and a creative consultant, Dr. Loretta Chen is a master of many trades. This has led her to co-found Smobler Studios, a metaverse architecture firm that bring brands, and communities closer together on a global scale, whilst conjuring up fantastical, out-of-the-box designs. Needless to say, the firm has been quite the success garnering high-profile clients like DBS, The Food Bank,1-Group and Mighty Jaxx. The creator and futurist also recognises the tech industry’s longstanding issue with diversity and inclusion, but opts to see this as an opportunity rather than a challenge, working with LGBTQIA groups as well as women entrepreneurs to make the change she can. Her advice to women just starting out in the industry? “Don’t compete. Collaborate. We really are stronger together.”  

Connect with Dr. Chen here. 

Shwe Wutt Hmon, Myanmar 

Leaving her corporate development job in 2017, Burmese artist Shwe Wutt Hmon started her artistic journey at a workshop at the Angkor Photo Festival in Siem Reap. She believes that an artist’s work is most useful in creating conversation, awareness and engagement, as well as keeping us exploring, reflecting and questioning. One of her key photo series, titled Dharmatā, speaks about womanhood within the context of Burmese society, based on her conversations with females who shared their menstrual experiences and stories. Growing up in a military regime, the artist reflects, “I cannot change the world. I resort to imagination and empathy and curiosity to negotiate my position. I would like to believe many of us are trying, through efforts no matter how minor, to change.”  She hopes female photographers in her country stay focused and determined in their craft, regardless of the limited market and financial struggle in the industry.

Connect with Shwe Wutt Hmon here.

Surabhi Malani, Singapore

Working her way up in the tech industry, Surabhi Malani is a 24-year old who already sees top companies like Grab and Shopee on her resume. Recognised as one of the SG100WIT Girls in Tech 2021, Surabhi is known for her leading role in creating the first student-led initiative of Women In Tech@NTU (WiT@NTU), where she organised collaborative female-focused tech events, workshops, and mentorship programs. As one of the young female voices of tech, she elates her excitement for the ever-evolving industry and can’t wait to see what the future holds. For ladies just entering the workforce, Surabhi encourages them to “find role models and mentors who inspire you and drive your passion for your career. And step up, pay it forward, and inspire the next generation.” 

Connect with Surabhi here.

Aien Mokhtar, Malaysia

For Aien Mokhtar, Founder & Chief Perfumer at Olfac3 Perfumes, travel, exploration and adventure has always been a passion. In an industry mostly dominated by European companies, her award-winning Asian perfumery that creates its own original fragrances and perfumes stands out. The independent self-taught perfumer struggled with self-doubt initially, though her persistence and the support of customers kept her at it. Her advice for women looking to make their big break and starting their own businesses is to get to know their audience and keep an open mind to criticism and what others are doing well. Believing that every woman is born with a special talent that is unique, Aien’s message to women all around the world is to “learn to do what you love so well that people can’t help but take notice and pay you for it.“

Connect with Aien here. 

Wishing a happy International Women’s Day To All The Ladies Out There!