I have always believed the glass ceiling is there. In the land of the rising sun where I was last week for two days for a regional meeting, I found out what I suspected - I walked into the meeting room of 40-50 executives attending the meeting (about 20 of them were local Japanese) and found myself to be the only female.
I felt immediately awkward but no one seemed to notice the same.
For the communications sector executives across Asia Pacific, numbering between 50+, I am the only female. I feel honored, challenged, ignored, young, alone, excited and tired of the battle, all at once.
I have never written about the glass ceiling. At work dealing amongst equals, I never feel the challenge of the glass ceiling, but when networking for business reasons, dealing with older executives, in the "man's" world, I sometimes feel overwhelmed, that I have to do more, that what I understand always seems not widely applicable enough, that I worry and work too much with the details, that I don't go to wine and dine with senior C Level folks enough.... then I realise I go back to the basics - there is a path and way for everyone, as long as I feel I am of service to my client, how I do it is my choice, how I get it done is my choice, and how I communicate I cannot change as it is me. And be contented I need to be.
The wrestle with the personal challenge of being a woman in a man's world is at times internally overwhelming, and at times, when we fit in with the rest, it almsot makes us aggresively not feminine. I acknowledge the balance to fit the inner self, the family, the work environment is indeed challenging.
As a closing to this deep thought, I found out that Japanese women hardly work after they are married, and that the % of women to men in my office in Japan is 10% and that there was only one female executive in Japan, maybe out of 80+. Live is more challenging in some countries. The glass ceiling is lower and cannot be raised.
The glass ceiling for me is raised, but it has always been there, it always has been and it always will. Sometimes one can raise it by defying the odds, but the most sensible thing is to just not worry too much about it I guess - worrying cannot make it go away and neither will fighting it.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
One Night in Tokyo
I was in Tokyo for two days on a regional business meeting last Thursday and Friday. This was my first trip to Tokyo and work aside, it was a fascinating country - it was unfortunate I was not able to stay longer as I thought I had initial difficulties in hotel accomodation. Anyway, the pictures below speaks for itself why I think Tokyo is the city which never sleeps (from my short trip here) :
Pic 1 - 12+ midnight - This picture was taken at 12+ midnight at Shibuya, at the busiest intersection in Tokyo - these people were actually crossing the road at 12-1 midnight - it felt like NY times square at peak hours!
Pic 2 - 1+ midnight - We were visiting around the city which never sleeps - curiously checking out Love Hotel rates and quality - these establishments were actually cheaper than a room! These hotels were very discreet, hardly anyone manning the desk and choices of rooms were lighted up for those which were available... don't worry, we were not up to anything scandalous ...
Pic 3 - 4+ am - Cannot believe we stayed up the whole night from Ginza to Shibuya to Roppongi and finally to this famous Tsukiji fish market at 4+ am in the morning ! Watching fish auction and having a bit of sushi...
Pic 1 - 12+ midnight - This picture was taken at 12+ midnight at Shibuya, at the busiest intersection in Tokyo - these people were actually crossing the road at 12-1 midnight - it felt like NY times square at peak hours!
Pic 2 - 1+ midnight - We were visiting around the city which never sleeps - curiously checking out Love Hotel rates and quality - these establishments were actually cheaper than a room! These hotels were very discreet, hardly anyone manning the desk and choices of rooms were lighted up for those which were available... don't worry, we were not up to anything scandalous ...
Pic 3 - 4+ am - Cannot believe we stayed up the whole night from Ginza to Shibuya to Roppongi and finally to this famous Tsukiji fish market at 4+ am in the morning ! Watching fish auction and having a bit of sushi...
Pic 4 - 1+am - The busiest intersection in Shibuya. Crossing the intersection was actually quite scary when you can see the amount of people on the other side who is swarming over...
Pic 5 - 6+ pm - City of vending machines... This one with so many choices of noodles to order then pop inside to collect... apparently a friend tells me food is not the only stuff on a vending machine...
Pic 5 - 6+ pm - City of vending machines... This one with so many choices of noodles to order then pop inside to collect... apparently a friend tells me food is not the only stuff on a vending machine...
Monday, March 19, 2007
Beauty in Photos @ KLIM 2007
Pic 1 : One of my colleagues crossing the finishing line at slightly past 2hrs 16 mins...
This photo credit should go to the best photographer I "conned" to come to take photos for me in the KLIM 2007 race. Uniquely composed photos, if only this was a close up aka Lance Armstrong. He must have gotten inspired. All credit and I should not take away his masterpiece but I presume he prefers to remain anonymous...
Pic 2 : Lance Armstrong at his debut marathon (unfortunately that highlights how atheletic he is... the time difference I mean - it is comparing marathon to half marathon in case you did not notice !)
KLIM 2007 - 21km Race Report
This year's KLIM 2007 race is my first half marathon for this year and also my 2nd attempt at a half-marathon, the first attempt at last year's KLIM 2006, which I fared terribly despite qualifying under the 3 hrs time, I was severely dehydrated due to the water stations runnning out for I think 2-3 of the stations in the middle sector. This year, the best bonus was that this mistake was not repeated by the sponsors and there was ample water (and even 100plus!) at all refreshment stations as well as even sponging stations.
At the starting line...
We arrived at the venue around 5:30am. Along the way, it was sad to hear one of our friends had forgotten to collect her chip and number on Saturday due to a very stressful day at work, and her attempt to plead with the organisers by going early was to no avail, so she left disappointed. She had been one of our stronger runners, one of the few girls who had trained for the race and a marathoner.
At the starting line, I realised that there were lots of people in the orange we were wearing, but as it turns out, it was easy to spot us once you see a bunch of at least 5 orange clad folks! (See earlier posting on pics). I had asked one of my colleagues to be the photographer of the day and he obliged by coming at 530am! What a sport for a debut photographer...!
Clock strikes 6...
... And we were away ...! And so it was a pretty quiet and lonely track in the dark, up to almost Sg Besi near 10km when there was a bit more light in the sky. In fact, I was told that some people had mistaken the flag off time to be 630am (boo-boo from organisers - 630 was written on the reporting card, but there was announcement on website on the changed times).
A fun race at a steady pace
It was really a more fun race this year for me - I started the race at an easy pace and almost ran 100% of the first 10km then slowed down my pace and ran about 90% of the second 11km remaining. Taking in fluids and slowing down to enjoy the refreshments at the drinks station was a good approach to manage the previous feelings of dehydration and drained of energy.
My 1000+50 approach also helped. I would run 1000 steps and walk 50 steps. Except that when I managed to reach 1000 steps at one point, I was almost 100m away from a refreshment station, so the 50 did not matter! On another occasion, I kept losing track of the counting before I reached 500 and almost restarted a few times!
Finishing in pride
Yes, I could indeed claim that I finished with pride - this time, I managed my pace, my hydration and also timing to not hit the "drained" state before the end. So much that I could even afford to sprint the last 50m to the finishing line. Timing was not great, but maybe just slightly better than last year.
Post Mortem - have I sustained an injury?
During the race, for the first time, I felt a creaking sound on my right leg. Initially for a good 2km I thought it was the guy in front of me, until when he ran off and I heard it from my own leg. I have still no idea what it is, but I took this almost throughout the race. I feel it is related to the ligament and joints of the sole to the lower parts - I may need to check up to find out what it is. Luckily there is no pain. Hopefully it is just an anomaly.
At the starting line...
We arrived at the venue around 5:30am. Along the way, it was sad to hear one of our friends had forgotten to collect her chip and number on Saturday due to a very stressful day at work, and her attempt to plead with the organisers by going early was to no avail, so she left disappointed. She had been one of our stronger runners, one of the few girls who had trained for the race and a marathoner.
At the starting line, I realised that there were lots of people in the orange we were wearing, but as it turns out, it was easy to spot us once you see a bunch of at least 5 orange clad folks! (See earlier posting on pics). I had asked one of my colleagues to be the photographer of the day and he obliged by coming at 530am! What a sport for a debut photographer...!
Clock strikes 6...
... And we were away ...! And so it was a pretty quiet and lonely track in the dark, up to almost Sg Besi near 10km when there was a bit more light in the sky. In fact, I was told that some people had mistaken the flag off time to be 630am (boo-boo from organisers - 630 was written on the reporting card, but there was announcement on website on the changed times).
A fun race at a steady pace
It was really a more fun race this year for me - I started the race at an easy pace and almost ran 100% of the first 10km then slowed down my pace and ran about 90% of the second 11km remaining. Taking in fluids and slowing down to enjoy the refreshments at the drinks station was a good approach to manage the previous feelings of dehydration and drained of energy.
My 1000+50 approach also helped. I would run 1000 steps and walk 50 steps. Except that when I managed to reach 1000 steps at one point, I was almost 100m away from a refreshment station, so the 50 did not matter! On another occasion, I kept losing track of the counting before I reached 500 and almost restarted a few times!
Finishing in pride
Yes, I could indeed claim that I finished with pride - this time, I managed my pace, my hydration and also timing to not hit the "drained" state before the end. So much that I could even afford to sprint the last 50m to the finishing line. Timing was not great, but maybe just slightly better than last year.
Post Mortem - have I sustained an injury?
During the race, for the first time, I felt a creaking sound on my right leg. Initially for a good 2km I thought it was the guy in front of me, until when he ran off and I heard it from my own leg. I have still no idea what it is, but I took this almost throughout the race. I feel it is related to the ligament and joints of the sole to the lower parts - I may need to check up to find out what it is. Luckily there is no pain. Hopefully it is just an anomaly.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
KLIM 2007 - My first half marathon for the year
Pic 1 - Before the 21km starting - all in sync in orange
Pic 2 - In orange and fooling around before the clock strikes 6am starting.
Pic 3 - Trying to look cool at finishing for the camera
Pic 4 - Group photo with a bouncy camel
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Congratulations to an old friend
My oldest friend from college got married last weekend. He was indeed the oldest friend I know, I have known him since we were 19 years old in college. He was my benchmark and epitome of extreme hard-work and stress - this was one guy who at college copied my Physics paper, but later throughout university we corresponded closely - he went to UK Birmingham and I went to Australia. Throughout the years after we graduated, I joined an IT consulting firm, and he worked for his sponsors, a family business in Ipoh.
Initially we still met every Chinese New Year on and off, and then I went for overseas assignments, and he continued to work at a remarkable pace, and slowly we did not touch base anymore. One day a few years later, I bumped into my old friend in Mid-Valley - it was timely and we resumed being good friends.
Fast forwarding, he was a guy whom I once fancied but then later considered my "oldest" trusted friend. I could never call him my best friend because he was so busy he could only appear once in 3 months or so, and only after being reminded a few times. He used to not be able to answer the phone then learnt to answer and speak only two sentences.
TK Lim found himself a beautiful wife, Joan, and they were married last Saturday. I am very happy for him, but sad too that even as a friend, I missed the most important part of his life, the times when things did not work out in some of his work areas, and when he found his other half. Perhaps I missed or I was never allowed to see these parts. Whichever, it has passed, and life goes on, no regrets.
Congratulations for finding yourself a wonderful partner in life. I hope you treat her more important than work, and I know you will. Your oldest friend here does not want you to feel sorry for not keeping me in the loop, I know why you did so.
Don't be a stranger.
Initially we still met every Chinese New Year on and off, and then I went for overseas assignments, and he continued to work at a remarkable pace, and slowly we did not touch base anymore. One day a few years later, I bumped into my old friend in Mid-Valley - it was timely and we resumed being good friends.
Fast forwarding, he was a guy whom I once fancied but then later considered my "oldest" trusted friend. I could never call him my best friend because he was so busy he could only appear once in 3 months or so, and only after being reminded a few times. He used to not be able to answer the phone then learnt to answer and speak only two sentences.
TK Lim found himself a beautiful wife, Joan, and they were married last Saturday. I am very happy for him, but sad too that even as a friend, I missed the most important part of his life, the times when things did not work out in some of his work areas, and when he found his other half. Perhaps I missed or I was never allowed to see these parts. Whichever, it has passed, and life goes on, no regrets.
Congratulations for finding yourself a wonderful partner in life. I hope you treat her more important than work, and I know you will. Your oldest friend here does not want you to feel sorry for not keeping me in the loop, I know why you did so.
Don't be a stranger.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
10.4 and almost ready
Pic - At starting line of last year's KLIM.
One week before KLIM 2007 on March 18th. Last year, I pushed hard for my first half marathon for the KLIM - in the prep race on Pacesetters 20/30km race in January I achieved good timing and rhythm and had that gave me confidence I could finish the race for the KLIM half marathon 2006. Unfortunately the weeks leading up the race I had been very busy, and with Chinese New Year and the long hours at work, it ruined the pre-race preparation and caused me to be poorly prepared for the race - the result was a not so good timing and a long race distance without water which completely blew whatever mental prep I had left.
This year, I am more moderated in my pre-race preparation - with age and wiser (!), the past few weeks have been building up to the next week, today, we ran 8 laps at KLCC (1.3 per lap), thereby making 10.4km, half the race distance. It was quite a good race and we definitely did not regret not doing the SMART tunnel race because another friend who did the race and stopped for breakfast told us about the poor ventilation inside the tunnel thereby completely throwing some people off the pace.
We have gotten our "Saucony" vests - and it fits well!! It is very comfortable and great to race with, and the color is very obvious.... you cannot miss it.
See you on March 18th.
Monday, March 05, 2007
KLIM Circuit Run 3 - Lake Gardens 4 March 2007
Photo courtesy of tey
I tried a new technique last weekend in participating in the circuit run at Lake Gardens organised by Ambank in preparation for the KLIM. It was quite a fun event :
1) It had a slow slacker attitude to starting times (it started around 715am instead of 7am)
2) There was a leisure approach in signing up on the spot, and for FREE too
3) Unlike warning from a friend that previous circuit run in Taman Titiwangsa was crowded and disorgnised, this was fairly crowd free - I guess there must have been two reasons - it was Cap Goh Mei (15th day of Chinese New Year), and also it was a longer run - it was 2hrs for half-marathoners and 3hrs for full marathoners. Apparently this was more than the race distance for some of the folks!
Whilst the course was scenic, the slippery tracks left a little to be desired. We ran slowly the first round and came immediately upon a casualty who had tripped and hit the rocky pavement near the children's playground. Apparently later read that this turned out to be one of KC's friend. Hope he is ok - it is indeed unfortunate that some of the folks really race each other, the slippery track on downhill parts and also the criss-crossing through various areas can be really treacherous.
I employed a new technique in this "training" run - chit-chatting with others. For the first two rounds it was with my fellow colleagues, then we tried to pose for photos during strategic spots for photographers, and then I slowed down and an retiree came ambling by with steady pace - and I ended up chatting with two different persons on two rounds - taking away some of the boredom of just plodding along!
The other technique which is more fun during races is to focus on reading people's shirt backs - some of the newer vests have no logo or slogans at the back, but the traditional t-shirt fellas always have some cool phrase -
"Smell Victory" - Mr Yellow Shirt plodded coolly by, and I was thinking, smell sweat ....
"If you can hear voices at the back, this means you are not last" - My colleagues' baby blue Nike teased us, and made us quiet when we were following her ....
"Ngombe" - Mr Kenya number 1 - who swept past us 2 rounds = my 1 round - everytime he swept past, there followed a Japanese and a couple more guys further back, only in the 2:20 mins + do I see he was slightly out of breath but the legs were still steady like a rock
Then there were the characters -
"Mr Heavy Footsteps" - Stomping through steadily was a man with very heavy footsteps but steady and fast - it sure is killing his knee, I was thinking
"Mr Photographer" - Whom I learnt later is Tey, who gamely took photos of nearly everyone he knew and did not know
"Mr Sponge Squeezer" - The guy handing out sponge squeezes every round (hopefully they were clean) - he did not have much business however... these participants must be really kiasu to not slow down!
The post-mortem of this really fun outing to exercise was unfortunately a robber broke into my friend's car during the run and stole one of the guy's bag - causing a big havoc to the owner having to report losses, all over a good morning's run. What a spoiler....
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