Diversity

South Asia is in some ways a better place for women bankers than almost anywhere else in the region. But there are still serious problems.

From Malaysia’s central bank to its largest commercial bank, women are at the helm — and they are actively working to promote the next crop of female leaders.

Transaction banking has long appeared a male-dominated industry. But things have started to change.

Private banking and wealth management, where it is common for the majority of the workforce to be women, is the only area of banking with anything like equality of representation. But women are often in junior relationship manager positions and thin out at the higher levels of management. Those women who have reached the top explain why their corner of the industry looks different to the rest and what can be done to make it better.

The results are in and the signs are good. Asia’s banking industry appears to be making some progress on gender balance in the workforce.

It was Chairman Mao who said Chinese women should play an equal role, working in the fields and factories: decades later, women are evident in the upper ranks of the financial sector, but seldom make it to the very top.

Sexism, gruelling hours and a drinking culture are among the hurdles that senior female investment bankers in Asia have had to clear. The barriers are starting to come down – but not fast enough.

Japan’s banking system is a tough place to work for ambitious women. But Kathy Matsui shows it is possible to rise to the top.

Angel Ng has spent more than two decades working at Citi. She has now become a key role model for women in Hong Kong.