On 8 May 2026, Women in Rail Malaysia hosted a small, closed-door dinner at Busaba in BSC with Cheryl Goh, Group Head of Marketing, Sustainability, Loyalty and Support at Grab.
The session brought together nine senior women leaders, including Cheryl, as part of the RAIL Leadership Accelerator, a six-month initiative designed to support and develop women in the rail industry through honest conversations and shared experiences with leaders across sectors.
Kept intentionally small, the dinner allowed for open and candid conversation. Without a formal panel, the discussion moved naturally between leadership, career decisions and personal experiences. It reflected the realities many leaders face but do not always talk about.
Cheryl shared her journey across different industries, as well as her role on the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) Board. More importantly, she spoke openly about the personal side of leadership. She talked about moments of uncertainty, navigating change and learning to move forward even without full clarity.
One key takeaway from the evening was the importance of maintaining a beginner’s mindset. Cheryl emphasised the need to continuously learn, unlearn and relearn, especially when stepping into new roles or leading teams in unfamiliar spaces. Leadership is not about having all the answers, but about staying curious enough to understand what your team needs in order to guide them well.
The conversation also touched on the need for leaders to keep evolving. Experience alone is not enough. It requires a willingness to adapt, challenge assumptions and stay open to new perspectives.
While the setting was informal, the conversations were thoughtful and grounded. It was a reminder that leadership is rarely linear, and that growth often comes from navigating complexity with openness.
Women in Rail Malaysia continues to drive initiatives like the RAIL Leadership Accelerator to create meaningful platforms for connection, reflection and leadership development within the industry.
We would like to thank our sponsors and partners, Huawei Malaysia, ARUP, Asia Infra Solutions, MRT Corp and Nippon Koei, for their continued support.
