(Kuala Lumpur, 22nd) Gender is not an obstacle; as long as one dares to break through self-imposed limitations, women can equally shine in male-dominated fields.
Chen Su-Xin, Director of Tools Management, Asia-Pacific Field Services, GE Vernova Gas Power, pointed out that most multinational companies value gender balance and equal promotion opportunities, especially in male-dominated industries. In fact, women are more welcomed to help balance gender ratios.
She said that although the proportion of female employees at the tool center she supervises remains low, with only a few women, the ratio of women for the entire team has reached 15%.
She believes that often women limit themselves and dare not step into male-dominated industries, but in reality, even in mechanical operations or jobs that require strength, there are still positions suitable for women.
“When I was on a business trip to a tool center in the United States, I discovered there was a female employee operating the tool equipment. This made me realize that gender should not be an obstacle to career development in the tools industry.”
Born in Sarawak, Chen Su-Xin hesitated 20 years ago when a headhunter recommended her for a supply chain manager position in an oilfield company, once worrying if she could handle it. However, she decided to seize the opportunity and served in the oilfield industry for 14 years. In 2020, she further transitioned to the energy sector, reaching a new career high in this male-dominated industry.
“My work requires me to visit worksites. Sometimes at power plant sites with hundreds of employees, fewer than five are women. But at GE Vernova, I have never felt uncomfortable or unsafe. On the contrary, colleagues thoughtfully remind me to use the office restroom rather than the outside portable toilets, which reflects mutual trust and respect,” she said.
She also mentioned that if a company has clear policies for handling and reporting harassment cases, it will help reduce workplace harassment. She shared that she recently served as a member of the company’s internal investigation committee and conducted a hearing for an employee accused of verbal harassment, providing a fair investigative opportunity for all involved.
As an executive in a multinational corporation, she said that in addition to working to eliminate gender discrimination, she must also pay special attention to misunderstandings caused by different cultural backgrounds in language, which can potentially lead to discrimination issues.
She shared that her company strives to foster an open reporting culture to ensure employees can voice concerns, ask questions, and report any potential violations without fearing retaliation. For example, at a recent Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) discussion at the tool center, an employee made an inappropriate joke to a Thai colleague. She immediately informed the relevant supervisor, after which the employee proactively apologized to the Thai colleague.
She believes that only with candid, direct feedback and mutual respect among team members can a highly efficient collaborative work atmosphere be built, promoting team cohesion.
Chen Su-Xin, Director of Tools Management, Asia-Pacific Field Services, GE Vernova Gas Power, pointed out that most multinational companies value gender balance and equal promotion opportunities, especially in male-dominated industries. In fact, women are more welcomed to help balance gender ratios.
She said that although the proportion of female employees at the tool center she supervises remains low, with only a few women, the ratio of women for the entire team has reached 15%.
She believes that often women limit themselves and dare not step into male-dominated industries, but in reality, even in mechanical operations or jobs that require strength, there are still positions suitable for women.
“When I was on a business trip to a tool center in the United States, I discovered there was a female employee operating the tool equipment. This made me realize that gender should not be an obstacle to career development in the tools industry.”
Born in Sarawak, Chen Su-Xin hesitated 20 years ago when a headhunter recommended her for a supply chain manager position in an oilfield company, once worrying if she could handle it. However, she decided to seize the opportunity and served in the oilfield industry for 14 years. In 2020, she further transitioned to the energy sector, reaching a new career high in this male-dominated industry.
“My work requires me to visit worksites. Sometimes at power plant sites with hundreds of employees, fewer than five are women. But at GE Vernova, I have never felt uncomfortable or unsafe. On the contrary, colleagues thoughtfully remind me to use the office restroom rather than the outside portable toilets, which reflects mutual trust and respect,” she said.
She also mentioned that if a company has clear policies for handling and reporting harassment cases, it will help reduce workplace harassment. She shared that she recently served as a member of the company’s internal investigation committee and conducted a hearing for an employee accused of verbal harassment, providing a fair investigative opportunity for all involved.
As an executive in a multinational corporation, she said that in addition to working to eliminate gender discrimination, she must also pay special attention to misunderstandings caused by different cultural backgrounds in language, which can potentially lead to discrimination issues.
She shared that her company strives to foster an open reporting culture to ensure employees can voice concerns, ask questions, and report any potential violations without fearing retaliation. For example, at a recent Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) discussion at the tool center, an employee made an inappropriate joke to a Thai colleague. She immediately informed the relevant supervisor, after which the employee proactively apologized to the Thai colleague.
She believes that only with candid, direct feedback and mutual respect among team members can a highly efficient collaborative work atmosphere be built, promoting team cohesion.