KUALA LUMPUR, 7th March 2024 - International Women's Day approaches, AS Watson, the world's largest international health and beauty retailer, proudly announces that it’s the first health and beauty retailer to be a signatory of the Women's Empowerment Principles, a global movement under UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment) dedicated to advancing gender equity and women's empowerment. In support of this movement, AS Watson strengthens its commitment to fostering a workplace, marketplace, and community that promotes inclusivity and opportunities for women.
Malina Ngai, CEO of AS Watson (Asia & Europe) says, "At AS Watson, we are dedicated to empowering women to be more beautiful and confident. With over 80% of our 160 million members and over 70% of our 130,000 colleagues being women, our top priority is to inspire and support every woman to become the best version of themselves.
We are also proud to create an inclusive work culture where women are valued and offered equal opportunities for career growth. AS Watson aspires to leverage our scale for good and inspire every woman to radiate beauty from the inside out. We believe in The New Beautiful - a new kind of beauty that exists within everyone."
# Nurturing Women in Medicine and Healthcare
AS Watson’s commitment to women's empowerment is demonstrated through its partnership with Operation Smile in the Women in Medicine programme, which empowers women in the medical and healthcare fields by providing them with educational opportunities and speciality training for them to become global leaders in medicine, healthcare, and surgery.
This programme has successfully trained 30 female plastic surgeons through all-women surgical and educational programmes and thousands of smiles will be reconstructed every year. AS Watson is committed to sponsoring a total of 10,000 surgeries by 2030.
# Driving Positive Change Worldwide
In echo with the “Inspire Inclusion” theme of International Women’s Day, AS Watson and its 12 retail brands across 28 markets will launch a series of women empowerment activities for both their people and customers.
Watsons Malaysia will kick off with the "Our Time is Now" campaign on International Women's Day, furthering the commitment to empowering women to be their true selves. Throughout the month, Watsons will actively engage the community through a range of activities.
"At Watsons Malaysia we are committed to empowering women to become more beautiful and confident. Our main goal is to empower and encourage every woman to reach her full potential. We take great pride in fostering an inclusive workplace environment where women are respected and given equal opportunities to advance their careers. Watsons wants to encourage every woman to exude beauty from the inside out by using the scale we offer for good”. said Caryn Loh, Managing Director, Watsons Malaysia and Regional Exclusives Director at Watsons International.
On top of that, Watsons Malaysia curates inspirational videos featuring 3 powerful women in the industry to break the stereotype and empower women to become the best versions of themselves. The campaign video features inspiring women like Normalia Sidek a rope access technician, Leona Chin a professional motorsport athlete, and Punitha Chokalingam a commercial pilot, who have succeeded in the field that is traditionally dominated by men. These women break boundaries and inspire empowerment and inclusivity. Watch the video HERE.
Watsons also has a special project called "RM5 To Make A Difference." By purchasing selected items for RM5, customers can contribute to a fund that supports students in achieving their career dreams. This initiative is available at over 80 Watsons stores in the Klang Valley.
Additionally, Watsons Malaysia is excited to announce its International Women's Day Talk, happening in April at the University of Malaya, featuring influential women like Caryn Loh, Managing Director of Watsons Malaysia and Regional Exclusive Director of Watsons International, Goh Liu Ying, Malaysia's National Badminton Player, and Ayda Jebat, Watsons Ambassador & Artist and more. This event aims to inspire and empower students through the personal success stories of these remarkable women. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the panelists and gain valuable insights.
# Leading the Charge in Women's Empowerment
As the leading health and beauty retailer, AS Watson is dedicated to contributing to creating impact, and promoting gender equality, empowering women, and building a more inclusive world for all. Ngai emphasises, "We believe that empowering women is not only our responsibility but also our passion for creating a world with equality and inclusion, where everyone’s uniqueness is recognised and valued. We cannot achieve it alone, so we will continue to advocate women's empowerment and encourage more customers, colleagues and business partners to join us in contributing to a better world."
