Women Leaders for a Sustainable Future (1)

In this Meeting with the Experts, Professor Wong and Professor Kim discuss the expanding role of women in leadership, emphasizing empathy, collaboration, ethical AI, sustainable innovation, and global perspectives as key to creating a more harmonious, resilient, and future-ready society.

The Vital Role of Women in Leadership: A Growing Movement

Dr. Wong:​  Today we will be discussing women’s leadership and while my expertise lies in information systems, I find the intersection between technology and leadership is a fascinating area to explore. I am eager to learn more from you, Professor Kim, as I haven’t conducted much research on women’s leadership.

Dr. Kim:  Women’s leadership is critical today in the pursuit of a sustainable and harmonious global society, and your support is appreciated. My research focuses on global corporate responsibility and leadership, comparing practices in Asia and the West. I have interviewed top business leaders in Asia from companies like FujiFilm, YKK, Infosys, Kikkoman and CJ Group, mostly male, with one female executive at CJ Group.
Speaking directly with leaders has been enlightening; many confident leaders honestly share their failures and how to overcome them.

Dr. Wong:​  I find it fascinating that most of your interviewees are male. Given the male dominance in leadership positions in Asia, what are your thoughts on the lack of female representation in these roles?

Dr. Kim:  Yes, the gender gap in leadership remains an issue. There is still much to explore regarding the effectiveness of female leadership, especially through cross-cultural perspectives. In today’s digital era—with technologies like Generative AI, such as ChatGPT—it’s more important than ever to understand the unique value women bring to leadership. But beyond addressing gender equality, stereotypes, and barriers, I propose that we expand our research to build a better future for global society. Let’s view women and men as equally capable senior leaders, and focus on how we can enrich the broader leadership landscape—where many questions still remain.

Dr. Wong:​  You mentioned that you conducted comparative studies on Western and Asian leadership, what are some of the conclusions of this research?

Dr. Kim:  Yes, I’ve compared leadership philosophies across capitalist systems. For instance, in Japan, leaders often follow the philosophy of Sampō Yoshi, which focuses on benefiting the business, its partners, and the community. This differs from the profit-maximizing focus in the West and is a concept that hasn’t been fully explored in global capitalism discussions.

Dr. Wong:​  Yes, I agree. Sampō Yoshi seems to reflect stakeholder management, considering all parties, not just profits. It aligns with the collective culture of Asian societies, in contrast to Western approaches.

Dr. Kim:  Exactly. This philosophy hasn’t been fully recognized in global studies, and conveying its value to Western scholars is a challenge for us. I am trying to introduce this unique Asian leadership phenomenon to the global society. It certainly is a demanding academic journey, however, I believe that it is our responsibility as Asian scholars to contribute to a sustainable global future and drive meaningful social impact.

Beyond Competition:  How Feminine Leadership is Shaping the Future

Dr. Wong:  Women in leadership are gaining ground in Asia, with figures like Tokyo’s mayor and JAL’s female CEO. In tech, leadership has been male-dominated, often prioritizing analytical thinking and technical aspects. Women bring a more holistic approach, considering emotional and social factors. A leadership team balanced with both males and females is essential. After all, customers aren’t all male—you need leadership that understands diverse perspectives.

Dr. Kim:  CEOs stress that as AI advances, human wisdom and networks are more crucial than ever. AI should serve humanity, but we must ask: Who will guide its development? Leadership today isn’t just about competition—it’s about creativity and responsible innovation. Women’s role is crucial in that they consider broader perspectives rather than just winning.
As is suggested in Hofstede’s theory, masculine culture emphasizes competition and power, while feminine culture values relationships and well-being. Women often take a collaborative, integrative approach—essential in today’s evolving leadership landscape.

Dr. Wong:  And that includes greater empathy, nurturing the next generation, and guiding the development of AI to be used in meaningful ways. Women’s leadership isn’t just necessary—it adds depth and balance to decision-making.

Dr. Kim:  Young leaders are using their knowledge and AI to tackle sustainability challenges with creativity and empathy. Sustainable development requires collaboration across sectors, and AI has great potential in this space—though research is still emerging. Female leadership, with its emphasis on empathy and cooperation, plays a crucial role.

Dr. Wong:  That’s a fascinating area. Speaking of AI, I read in the Harvard Business Review that men adopt AI tools at higher rates than women. The article suggested women may hesitate, seeing AI as a possible ethical dilemma. They implied that women worry about AI doing the work for them, feeling pressure to prove their capabilities, especially in male-dominated fields. But if women avoid AI, the technology could become biased. I believe that we need diverse users to ensure balanced AI outputs and I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Dr. Kim:  Exactly. AI governance is critical, and women’s leadership can help embed ethics and empathy into its development. On International Women’s Day, female AI leaders at the UN stressed the need for greater involvement. Women tend to emphasize ethical decision-making and a harmonious work environment, which is crucial as we redefine the work of humans with AI. There’s still much progress to be made in this area.

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