Entrepreneurship key to achieving gender parity: Claire Chiang

Breaking the glass ceiling and making policy changes that suit the needs of women can be accomplished through entrepreneurship, which can achieve gender equality and empower women, says Claire Chiang, this year's Dayawati Modi Stree Shakti Centenary award.
Singapore-based Chiang, the co-founder of Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, a leading developer and manager of premium resorts, urban hotels and destination spas globally, received the award here late last evening.
"Entrepreneurship can provide a solution for gender equality and empowerment of women, because you are your own boss. To break the glass ceiling you don't have to be put into restrictions because you are your own boss, you can set the norms the way you wish to and design the management system in such a structure that provides equality," Chiang said.

Chiang, who was a teacher of sociology and had taught at Singapore and Hong Kong University besides pursuing a doctorate has been awarded for leadership qualities.
Being a teacher for 16 years and then an entrepreneur, Chiang says she feels a need for a change in global laws to ensure that interests of both men and women are safeguarded and bring about gender parity.
"I think we need to regulate policies in order to encourage equality. I think there should be laws that safeguard the interest of both men and women which should be a priority in all countries. Having set the law does not necessarily mean that you guarantee equality it's up to men and women to also mutually learn to work together to achieve that possibility," Chiang said.

With more Asian women aspiring to be entrepreneurs, Chiang says the generation of the 80s is set to bring about a change in the status of women in the society both economically and politically.

"... The world is as it is a patriarchal society and that's why women feel intimidated. But this is going to change with the millennial becoming 30 years old. The generation of the 80s who grew up as the click generation, who have technology as an enabler, who work at home travel and are exposed to world ideas they will change the world," she said.
Chiang said she sees the next 20 years to be one of change at all levels.

Chiang's said her journey as an entrepreneur has been
incidental and her career decisions changed after meeting an Indian woman in Singapore.
"I met a wonderful Indian woman called Shiren Foster who was fighting prostitution in Asia. It is through her I learnt the power of responsible business. So, it in during this incident encounter with her that she asked me to buy cushions which would support one girl to go to school," Chiang said.
"So, I thought maybe I can buy 2000 and help a village. It was that power and the possibility of giving girls a chance to learn that made me decide to leave the academia and together with my husband we decided to establish Banyan Tree and Banyan Tree Gallery," Chiang said.

Her journey of being an entrepreneur led her to establish the Banyan Tree Global foundation which supports communities across the world, especially women and children.
"We have supported more than 80 communities across the world by supporting and selling products made by women and children like handicrafts, ceramics and other products across our 80 retail outlets across the world," Chiang said.
Along with Chiang, Ruma Roka has been awarded the Dayawati Modi Stree Shakti Samman award for her work for underprivileged deaf children in India. She has established the Noida Deaf Society and have impacted the lives of 4500 deaf youth.