International Women's Day
2023
In-Person | Kuala Lumpur | 1st - 31st March 2023
Join our #EmbraceEquity Festival Finale!
Join us in the various sessions offered throughout the year to celebrate women's achievements, raise awareness about discrimination and take action to drive gender parity.
Collectively, we can #EmbraceEquity for a harmonious and united Malaysia.
What is International Women's Day?
International Women’s Day began as an idea proposed by Clara Zetkin in 1910 at the International Conference of Working Women. Today, it is a worldwide celebration that acknowledges the accomplishments of women across different time periods, fields, and sectors.
LeadWomen has organised numerous events over the years to commemorate this day, using it as an opportunity to spark crucial conversations about gender equity and promote inclusion in the workplace. We are thrilled to bring this event back this year, now as a month-long celebration of women’s empowerment and resilience!

#EmbraceEquity

The theme for the International Women’s Day 2023 is #EmbraceEquity.
This year, we’re creating a collaborative space where we can join forces with various stakeholders as Equity Partners. By forming these partnerships, we’re able to bring together diverse groups to co-create impactful engagement opportunities, learning experiences, and drive progress towards gender equity in multitude of areas that impacts our daily lives.
According to many sources, including UN Women, “COVID-19 has increased the unpaid care and domestic workload, and women are bearing the heaviest burden. This is on top of evidence showing that in the Asia-Pacific region, women were already spending four times as much time as men on unpaid care work prior to the crisis.” (Source: UN Women (2020) Rapid Assessment Surveys on the Consequences of COVID-19 in Asia and the Pacific.)
Hence, more than ever the call for women and all allies across industries, spaces, strata and spectrum are in need to come together for a more equitable world. We would like to indulge you to delve deeper with us in 2023 in and from Malaysia and beyond, to nurture a world that #EmbraceEquity.
Festival Tracks
Women in Peace
Women in Marketing
Women in Film
Women in Sports
Women in Healthcare
Women in STEAM
Festival Finale
Why Attend?
Festival Programme
- 7th March 2023, Wednesday (2pm – 3pm) :
Documentary Screening, “Rasa & Asa” (Online Screening)
Join us for a powerful and moving documentary screening, ‘Rasa dan Asa’, as we follow the journey of Indonesian domestic workers, Ningrum and Binti, who find strength and resilience in the face of adversity. As the Covid-19 pandemic upends their lives, they join forces with PERTIMIG to document their experiences and advocate for their rights. This film celebrates their solidarity and the hope they find through their struggles. A must-see for anyone interested in human rights and the migrant worker experience.
- 8th March 2023, Wednesday (1:15pm – 2:45pm | Khazanah Auditorium, Asia School of Business, Kuala Lumpur) :
Panel Session: Women In Peace – The Equity Factor in Peace Development
Join us for a dynamic and inspiring panel session on Women in Peace, where we will hear from leading women in various spaces about their experiences and contributions towards peace development.
From politicians to corporate leaders, peace development experts to civil society leaders, and youth community leaders, this session is set to unpack the complexities and challenges of peace development work. Be inspired by these trailblazing women as they share their journeys and insights, moderated by Anne Abraham, Founder & Chair of LeadWomen and Co-Founder of the 30% Club. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation about women’s leadership in creating a more peaceful world.
- 14th March 2023, Tuesday (9am – 11am) :
Knowledge Session on Gender-Responsive Marketing
The Knowledge Session on Gender-Responsive Marketing is a must-attend session for marketers and professionals looking to drive change and impact in the industry. This session provides valuable insights, knowledge, tools, and case studies on how to apply the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) by UN Women to create gender-responsive marketing strategies. Gain a deeper understanding of the importance of considering gender in marketing and leave with the tools to make a difference in your work and industry.
- 14th March 2023, Tuesday (2pm – 4pm) :
Panel Session
Join a panel of industry leaders as they share their knowledge and experience on embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion in their marketing campaigns. Learn about the policies, processes, and methodologies that top leaders in the industry are using to drive change and impact. Hear about best practices and get inspired to make a difference in your own work and community. This panel session provides valuable insights for anyone looking to advance their understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion in marketing.
- 21st March 2023, Tuesday (3pm – 5pm | MBO Cinema, Atria Mall, Petaling Jaya) :
Film Screening, “Barbarian Invasion”
Join us for an unforgettable evening as we showcase the captivating Malaysian film “Barbarian Invasion” by female director Tan Chui Mui. This 1hr 46min film follows the journey of a divorced and retired actress, Moon Lee, as she faces a life-changing opportunity for a comeback in the lead role of a do-your-own stunts martial arts film. Be transported into the world of filmmaking and witness the courage and determination of a woman overcoming challenges in a male-dominated industry.
- 21st March 2023, Tuesday (5pm -7pm | MBO Cinema, Atria Mall, Petaling Jaya) :
Panel Session
Narratives in film are a reflection of ourselves – even if showcases just a part of who we are. Embodying female voices in film is to present women with the right to their own narrative, empowering them in their identities and breaking free from one-dimensional, cookie-cutter roles.
Gain insights, share your own experiences, and be a part of the conversation to drive positive motion in the film industry.
Panel Speakers:
- Director/Actress, Tan Chui Mui
- Producer, Educator, Nor Hazlin Salam
- Actress, Sofia Jane
- Filmmaker, Writer, Theater Practitioner, MokaMocha Ink, Ridwan Saidi
Collective International Women’s Day 2023 Panel
This session aims to address the key challenges faced by women across various industries and discuss strategies for closing the gender gap. Hear from a diverse panel of experts representing each track, including 3 more tracks planned as an extension to the festival and will take place over 2023 (Healthcare, Sports, and STEAM).
The session will be moderated by Anne Abraham, Founder & Chair of LeadWomen and Co-Founder of the 30% Club. Don’t miss this important conversation on empowering women in the workforce.
Call for Action from the People of Malaysia
Join us for a collaborative session where we tackle key issues discussed in our panel through interactive breakout groups. Each group will be focused on one of three tracks and work towards creating a manifesto of solutions. These ideas will be shared with the entire audience and distributed widely to promote impactful change. We will wrap the session with an exciting finale and a closing speech.
*For corporate/bulk registrations, please contact Archana at archana@lead-women.com.
Speakers
More will be announced soon!
Anne Abraham
Founder and Chairperson, LeadWomen
Sessions:
- Panel Session: Women in Peace
- Collective Panel
Dr. Choy Tsee Leng
Director of Research and Content, LeadWomen
Sessions:
- Knowledge Session on Gender-Responsive Marketing
Archana Pillai
Festival Programmer, LeadWomen
Session:
- Panel Session: Women in Film
Shi Shuen Lok
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant, LeadWomen
Session:
- Knowledge Session on Gender-Responsive Marketing
Kasthuri Patto
Politician, Advocate of Justice, Equality & Freedom
Session:
- Panel Session: Women in Peace
Dr. Aqsa Isa
Senior Lecturer, Dept of English Language, Universiti Malaya
Session:
- Panel Session: Women in Peace
Tan Chui Mui
Filmmaker, film producer and director
Sessions:
- Film Screening: Barbarian Invasion
- Panel Session: Women in Film
Dina Zaman
Co-Founder, IMAN Research, SEA Peace Network
Session:
- Panel Session: Women in Peace
Nizwani Shahar
Vice President, Malaysia 4As | Ex-Chief Executive, Ogilvy | Malaysia Women To Watch, Campaign Brief Asia
Session:
- Panel Session: Women in Marketing
Yee Hui Tsin
Chief Executive Officer, TBWA \ KL
Session:
- Panel Session: Women in Marketing
Sofia Jane
Actress
Session:
- Panel Session: Women in Film
Nor Hazlin Salam
Actors Emergence Project
Session:
- Panel Session: Women in Film
Ridhwan Saidi
Filmmaker, Writer, Theatre Practitioner, MokaMocha Ink
Session:
- Panel Session: Women In Film
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