International Women’s Day (IWD) is a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to foster inclusivity, amplify every voice, and empower girls and women to reach their full potential.
The QI Group’s IWD celebration seamlessly echoed this essential message while embracing the year’s overarching theme, “Inspire Inclusion.” The week-long event was organised by RYTHM Foundation, QI’s social impact initiative.
A meaningful precursor to the commemoration was the launch of Maharani Learning Lab 2.0 – RYTHM’s dedicated space for empowering underprivileged adolescent girls. This initiative underscores our enduring commitment to empowerment and inclusion from an early age.
Next, we hosted two health events at QI Tower dedicated to enhancing the overall well-being of all employees, explicitly supporting women facing time constraints. These were a thorough health screening and an informative heart and kidney health session.
Elements of fun were also infused into the celebration. The programme included a colour analysis workshop to help employees embrace their personal style and a traditional games competition to foster unity and solidarity.
“These events aimed not only to spotlight women’s accomplishments but also create spaces where everyone is included, seen, heard, and valued,” said Santhi Periasamy, the Head of RYTHM Foundation.
“The power of inclusion lies in our ability to recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of each individual, fostering an environment where diversity becomes our strength,” she added.
Encouraging Women’s Potential
The finale – a cultural fashion show, inspiring speeches, and awards for exemplary women leaders – reaffirmed QI’s commitment to a supportive, diverse workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute to its success.
The event was attended by QI Group Founder and Executive Chairman, Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran, RYTHM Foundation Chairperson, Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran, members of the QI Board of Directors, senior executives, and employees.
The show, spotlighting designs that celebrate our employees’ diverse cultures and individuality, was a vibrant homage to the essence of IWD. It showcased the creativity and talent within our community and emphasised their strength and distinctive contributions.
In her speech, Datin Sri Umayal emphasised individual agency and empowerment for the women of QI. “It is up to you to recognise your potential. We can only open the door for you. Whether you walk through or shut the door is entirely up to you. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are not worth it.
Dato’ Sri Vijay also highlighted the inherent potential within each woman, encouraging them to cultivate a mindset of determination and belief in their capabilities.
“Remove from your mind the inhibitions that may have led you to believe you cannot achieve anything. You are all super, and let no one tell you anything different.”
Watch Dato’ Sri Vijay chat with Gen Z QI members on bias, opportunity, and empowerment in the video below:
Inclusive Excellence
RYTHM also honoured three exceptional women leaders with the ‘Exemplary Female Role Models for Excellence’ awards. They were Boey Kho, Director of Human Resources and Administration; Cathy Zhou, Director of Finance and Planning; and Pushpam Appalanaidu, Director of Internal Audit.
The awards underscored their invaluable contributions to QI, epitomising leadership defined by integrity and unwavering commitment to success.
As we celebrated the women of QI, we reaffirmed our commitment to fostering a culture honouring and elevating their voices, talents, and aspirations.
