Friday Beyond Spotlights - Fiona Nott: Advancing Gender Equality

Friday Beyond Spotlights is a captivating and engaging talk show airing every Friday at 8:30pm on HOY International Business Channel (HOY IBC). Co-hosted by Patrick Tsang On-yip, and Nick Chan Hiu-fung, this English-language program brings together some influential guests who share their stories, insights, and unique journeys in the realms of current affairs, business, innovation, sports and culture. Through their unwavering determination and unique perspectives, these guests inspire viewers with their passion, ingenuity, and resilience.

Hosted by Patrick Tsang, Episode 12 of Season 3 features Ms Fiona Nott. Fiona is the CEO of The Women’s Foundation. As a former lawyer and Hang Seng Index company secretary, she has resided in Hong Kong for nearly two decades, working as a senior legal professional and advisor to several prominent corporations in Hong Kong and throughout Asia. Driven by her enduring passion for social equality, particularly improving the lives of women and girls in Hong Kong, Fiona joined The Women’s Foundation as CEO in 2017 and is leveraging the full breadth of her legal career in her current role.

Have you heard of The Women’s Foundation in HK?

“The Women’s Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of women and girls here in Hong Kong,” said Fiona. The organization has three primary objectives: first, challenging gender stereotypes; second, empowering women in poverty; and third, advancing women leaders. To achieve these goals, the organization conducts groundbreaking research, develops innovative and impactful community programs, and engages in education and advocacy efforts. Fiona added, “We take a comprehensive, ecosystem-wide approach, working with individuals, corporations, academia, government, and schools to drive meaningful change for women in Hong Kong. Our efforts span from the classroom to the boardroom, ensuring a holistic impact.”

As a steadfast supporter of Hong Kong’s younger generation, The Women’s Foundation is dedicated to empowering marginalized young women. Its key initiatives include ‘Girls Go Tech’, a program which cultivates these girls’ interest, self-efficacy, and confidence in STEM fields, and a tutoring and mentoring program that pairs underprivileged participants with business leader mentors. “We’ve seen incredible impact in bolstering the self-confidence and learning journeys of these girls,” remarked Fiona, highlighting the success of the mentorship program.

What are women in HK facing?

Reflecting on her career journey, Fiona recalled often being the sole woman in the room during past business endeavors, such as board meetings, negotiations, and industry events. “As the only woman present, there would frequently be assumptions made about my gender. I would be asked to perform tasks like making tea for colleagues, or people would comment that I don’t fit the mold of a typical company secretary.”

Eventually, Fiona developed strategies to navigate these situations, seeking out mentors among her peers and superiors. However, she believed the landscape is now shifting. Fiona noted that more structured mentoring programs are currently available, and there is growing support for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the business community.

Looking ahead, Fiona believed that various stakeholders, including the government, businesses, and communities, can further contribute to advancing gender equality in the workplace. For instance, she pointed out that women currently occupy only 19% of all board seats on the Hang Seng Index companies, lagging behind markets like Singapore, the UK, and the US in this regard. “I believe this is an opportune and pivotal moment for businesses to truly go the extra mile. We should be striving for gender parity, with a goal of 50% women on boards. At the very least, we should be setting intermediary targets of 30%,” Fiona stressed. She also emphasized the importance of implementing gender-inclusive initiatives, such as sponsorship programs, mentorship opportunities, flexible work arrangements, and gender-neutral parental leave policies.

Overcoming roadblocks

A persistent concern for her is whether their efforts are truly driving progress towards gender parity. “When we look at how far we still have to go, the statistics can be disheartening. Estimates suggest it will take over 130 years to achieve full gender equality. Seeing that, it’s easy to feel like the change isn’t happening quickly enough,” she said.

However, Fiona found inspiration in the words of trailblazers like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was the second woman and first Jewish woman to break gender barriers and serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. She also took a step back to reflect on the progress made in recent years. “If I focus on just the last five years, the changes are incredible. The increase in gender-diverse board representation, for example, is something we’ve worked on for over a decade - and that’s thanks to so many individuals showing up every day to advocate.” This broader perspective reenergizes Fiona’s commitment to the cause.

To watch the video, visit Friday Everyday YouTube Channel – Friday Beyond Spotlights Season 3 Ep.12 | Fiona Nott
Episode 12: https://youtu.be/8XhJ4t9772M