First-ever Women Chief Executives Summit spotlights Hong Kong’s edge in diversity and innovation
- Over two hundred finance leaders gathered in Hong Kong for the first Women Chief Executives Hong Kong (WCE) Summit.
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Diversity in financial services leadership is increasingly a defining element of long-term success. More than two hundred leaders in finance around the world gathered in Hong Kong as The Women Chief Executives Hong Kong (WCE) hosted its first Women Chief Executives Summit to advance the dialogue on women’s leadership and reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a global financial hub committed to progress and diversity.
Hong Kong’s progress in gender diversity is no accident, but the result of a unique and supportive ecosystem. Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan emphasised in his opening keynote that achieving gender-diverse leadership requires a “whole-of-society commitment,” adding that “Today, nearly all listed companies in Hong Kong have at least one female board member. But this should not be a matter of checking boxes. It must be a recognition that diversity is strength, instrumental to sound governance, innovation and resilience.”
The survey co-authored by WCE, The Women’s Foundation, and KPMG echoes with this progress, as it reveals that women in Hong Kong now hold 45% of senior leadership positions and 37% of board director roles in the financial sector – double-digit increases since 2018.
The report titled “Tipping the Scale – Hong Kong’s Leading Role in Advancing Gender Leadership Opportunities in Financial Services” provides a current snapshot of gender diversity in Hong Kong’s financial services industry.
As the city’s largest event of its kind, the Women Chief Executives Summit is co-organised by HKEX, Standard Chartered Bank and UBS. Founded in 2018 by current and former women chief executives in finance in Hong Kong, WCE is dedicated to empowering female talent through initiatives led by its four workstreams: advocacy, mentorship, education, and strategic partnerships.
“At WCE, our mission is to position Hong Kong as a global benchmark for a gender-diverse finance industry. We believe amplifying our collective voice is essential to advancing women’s leadership,” said Amy Lo, Chairman of UBS Global Wealth Management Asia and Head and Chief Executive of UBS Hong Kong during the opening remarks.
Mary Huen, CEO of Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia at Standard Chartered also quoted the KPMG report that “70% of women feel encouraged to lead,” adding that “building on this, we aim to further promote an open and inclusive corporate culture across all sectors, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds to maximise their potential.”
“HKEX represents far more than a marketplace -- it is a platform for progress and innovation. By co-organising the first Women Chief Executives Summit, we are emphasising that diverse and balanced leadership is vital for good governance and a resilient, competitive market,” said Bonnie Y Chan, CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited.
Forging the path: Journeys of modern leadership
The Summit brought together distinguished speakers from around the world including global c-suite leaders, asset managers to Olympic athlete and cultural pioneer, delving into the personal and professional journeys that define modern leadership.
This sentiment was echoed in a discussion on enabling the next generation as panellists advised future leaders to “make plans but don’t stick to them,” adding that success often comes from adapting to unforeseen circumstances. They also reminded emerging talent to be brave and vocal in pursuing ambitions, find purpose in work, and embrace the entire process of learning and growth – failures included.
The innovation frontier: Reshaping finance with AI
The Summit also dived into how AI is reshaping the financial industry across decision-making, product execution, and operational resilience, featuring Jenny Johnson, CEO, Franklin Templeton; Laura M Cha, former Chairman, HKEX; Trustee, Rockefeller Foundation and Director of the Board, Bretton Woods Committee and Daniel Pinto, Vice Chairman, JPMorgan Chase.
A collective vision for a diverse future
The first WCE Summit underscored that Hong Kong, with its unique blend of institutional strength and a growing cadre of influential female leaders, is not merely participating in the global conversation on diversity – it is actively shaping its trajectory.