On International Women’s Day, we delve into foodpanda Malaysia’s commitment to inclusivity with Interim CEO Pichaya Thongthua. She highlights the company’s strides in gender equality, like their purple-themed celebration and fair pay practices, and discusses the role of diversity and inclusion in driving foodpanda’s success.
How does foodpanda Malaysia incorporate International Women’s Day into its corporate culture and employee engagement activities?
This International Women’s Day, we are embracing purple as our theme colour to symbolise achievements gained and accomplishments yet to come. All employees are encouraged to dress in purple to honour the occasion. Additionally, to recognize the invaluable contributions of women across our workforce, including employees, riders, and vendors, we’ll issue a special IWD edition newsletter featuring their achievements and inspiring stories. As the culmination of our celebration, we will also host a forum led by male employees to spotlight and celebrate our female colleagues, showcasing stories of the inspiring women who make a difference in their daily lives.
At its core, foodpanda has always been championing gender equality through a robust no-gender pay gap policy. This means that roles are never tailored to be gender-specific, and there is no disparity in salaries based on gender, regardless of whether a man or a woman holds the position. The amount earned by all team members across the board is commensurate and reflective of their roles and responsibilities. We also make a consistent effort to regularly review gender distribution for ratings and promotions and strive for equitable pay structures.
Moreover, our Women at foodpanda employee resource group actively fosters support and empowerment among women within our organisation.
Can Ms. Thongthua share a moment in her career where she felt her gender played a role, positively or negatively, in her professional development?
Having had the privilege of working at a company that truly embodies its commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) for over four years now, I’ve seen firsthand the remarkable strides foodpanda has taken in advancing gender parity and fostering a gender-diverse workforce across the region. We strongly believe that when gender is taken out of the equation for job opportunities and career advancement, employees are more likely to achieve higher levels of job satisfaction and demonstrate more commitment to their work.
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From a personal standpoint, I advocate for the inclusion of women from the ground up and across all levels. This isn’t merely about achieving gender diversity; it’s about harnessing a wealth of diverse perspectives that can drive innovation and success. It’s also crucial to recognize and leverage the unique strengths that both men and women bring to the table, empowering them to reach their fullest potential. For instance, men demonstrate proficiency in visual memory tasks, while women often excel in auditory memory tasks and are more detail-oriented. This is also the exact reason why I am able to capture even the smallest intricacies in conversations and retain them for future reference, contributing to my team’s effectiveness in decision-making and problem-solving discussions.
In your opinion, what are the most significant barriers to female leadership in the tech industry, and how does foodpanda Malaysia work to overcome these challenges?
As the tech industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds, the need for higher female representation within it becomes increasingly apparent to cultivate a more inclusive working culture. However, amidst this growth, we are still grappling with persisting challenges rooted in long-established gender stereotypes. For generations, women have been pigeonholed into specific roles or departments based solely on their gender, hindering their ability to explore and leverage their talents across the industry.
At foodpanda, our commitment to gender equality extends across all facets of our operations. We actively strive to foster open communication and nurture a culture of continuous learning to empower individuals to progress vertically or laterally within the organisation. By doing so, we aim to create a level playing field for all individuals while cultivating a more inclusive and resilient environment where individuals of all genders have equal opportunities to thrive and succeed.
Could Ms. Thongthua share a personal mantra or quote that has inspired her journey as a woman in leadership? How does this reflect her views on the importance of International Women’s Day?
John C. Maxwell’s quote, “Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing,” has been a guiding principle for me from the start of my career journey. It resonates deeply with my beliefs and influences how I lead my team at foodpanda to encourage them to reach greater heights in both personal and professional aspects. However, it’s not just about motivation and discipline; it’s also about trusting the process and knowing that consistent effort will eventually lead to outcomes that validate our dedication.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I hope this quote will also serve as a reminder for all individuals, regardless of gender and demographics, to keep their heads high and remain steadfast in their pursuit of success.
Wrapping up our insightful dialogue with Ms. Pichaya Thongthua, foodpanda Malaysia’s dedication to International Women’s Day is evident in its year-round initiatives for gender inclusivity. Thongthua’s personal leadership mantra of discipline and consistent effort is a testament to the company’s commitment to creating an equitable workplace every day.
