Why the STEM industry needs Bold, Courageous and Resilient Women?

“There is nothing more inspiring for young girls than to see a passionate professional, who  happens to be a woman; share her story of trials and tribulations she has faced”. 

Natasha Zulkifli, Founder-Director, Women in Rail Malaysia

Since 2017, Women in Rail Malaysia have been celebrating International Women and Girls Day  in Science, celebrated by the United Nations on 11th February every year. This year we partnered  with YTL Construction and Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur for a hybrid panel discussion to  expose young women to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) space  and to get them to consider a career in this field. 

With the theme ‘Why the STEM industry needs Bold, Courageous and Resilient Women’, this  session featured 3 amazing female speakers: Ir. Prof. Leong Wai Yie (VP of The Institution of  Engineers Malaysia) and our very own members: An-Nuura Rasnatrazia and Natasha Zulkifli, who  is also the Stakeholder Director of YTL Construction. 

In this hour and a half discussion, the speakers shared their professional journey as leaders in  male dominated industries, the challenges they faced and how they remain positive despite the  many challenges that come their way. 

They also shared a little bit about their everyday lives at home and asserted the importance of  work-life balance, regardless of how busy one’s schedule gets.  

Special thanks to all our members, employees of YTL Construction as well as local and Australian  university students who attended and tuned in to the session.  

And to all the many amazing ladies in the STEM space and to those considering pursuing a career  in this field, keep challenging yourself to think better, do better and be better, because we ladies  can do anything we choose to do!

Silvia is most definitely living proof of how women can thrive in the rail and engineering field.  Being the Construction Director for a national rail project is no mean feat and Women in Rail  Malaysia was so grateful to have been able to learn and grow from Silvia’s massive experience.