Singapore Expat Lifestyle Blog

Business in Asia remains a man’s world with women having a hard time breaking the barriers. As a single female expatriate, you are alone when embracing the new culture and managing culture shock. Isolation is cited as a major problem. However, gender has become much less of a barrier to success in management in Asia, and there are a number of successful women as entrepreneurs and in powerful political positions. The following guidelines may be helpful:

• Find and join one of the above-mentioned groups as soon as possible.

 • You are expected to adopt the norms and respect the local traditions for women in your professional and private life.

 • You will not command respect automatically but gain respect by fitting in.

• There are a number of regional and local networks for businesswomen in Southeast Asia, some created by female expatriates.

 • A single female sends out mixed signals to the men in Southeast Asia. You may be a potential social problem.

• Look for support from male and other female expatriate colleagues, but do not complain.

 • Local male colleagues will treat you differently than their local female colleagues.

• Authorities in Southeast Asia are respected and dealt with in a very formal way. Use your female qualities rather than those shown by many task-driven Western male expatriates.

 • Local colleagues like you to show interest and learn new things from them. Listen, rather than lecture.

• Learn the local language and use your new skills as often as possible.

 • Show high competence in whatever you do.

 • Be inclusive rather than directive.

• Do not act overly competitive.

 • Avoid conflicts and emphasize harmony.

 • Insist on adequate support from headquarters for a successful performance.

Publications
Southeast Asia for Women on Business
By Wilen, Tracey & Patricia Wilen 
ISBN 1880656175

Jacqueline Reischel has set up her own company enterAsia Information Services Pte Ltd in Singapore and invented the worlds only online relocation step-by-step guide to Asia specialized for Singapore and Shanghai. She now manages her company from the UK – a truly virtual career in a suitcase.

Tags: dual career, expat women singapore, jobs singapore

This entry was posted on Monday, August 17th, 2009 at 10:06 pm and is filed under Business women Asia, dual career, expat career, expat jobs, expat women. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.