In Malaysia’s property ecosystem, homes are shaped by far more than steel and concrete. Behind every development lies a network of industries from banking and manufacturing to design and engineering that determine how communities are built and sustained.

Traditionally dominated by men, these sectors are now being influenced by a growing number of women leaders who are redefining what leadership looks like. Through culture, empowerment and disciplined execution, they are shaping organisations that impact how Malaysians live.

StarProperty gathered insights from four leaders across the property value chain to share how purpose-driven female leadership can transform industries from within. 

For Affin Bank’s managing director of mortgage business Jessie Wong, a mortgage represents one of the most significant financial decisions to be made.

“A home loan is one of the biggest commitments a family will ever make and our role is to help make that commitment a foundation for stability and long-term asset ownership, not simply a loan approval,” Wong said.

At Affin Bank, the focus is on responsible lending and ensuring customers understand the long-term implications of their decisions.

“At Affin, we are always about you, our customer. We focus on responsible affordability checks coupled with disciplined underwriting so customers borrow within their means and stay resilient over the long run,” she said.

Guided by the Affin Axelerate 2028 Strategic Plan, Wong said the goal is simple: “We lend wisely, guide responsibly and help families build more than homes. We help build futures.”

One team, one direction

Guocera managing director Sally Cheng believed that strong culture begins with alignment across the organisation.

“At Guocera, culture is not something written on a wall. It is how we work every day. It shapes how we make decisions, how we solve problems and how we support one another,” she said.

Operating within the Hong Leong Group, the company prioritises discipline and long-term value creation. “Commercial ambition must align with operational reliability while production performances must safeguard margin integrity,” she said.

As the company expands its production capabilities, collaboration across departments becomes essential. “Our people bring deep expertise across every function. Together, aligned by purpose and direction, we operate as one organisation — building a stronger, more resilient Guocera for the long term,” she added.

Finding inspiration in precision

Jamie Chow, who is Kohler Malaysia’s country manager for Kitchen and Bath Malaysia, believed that empowerment is key to maintaining inspiration even in operational roles.

“For me, inspiration comes from empowerment. I give my team ownership over outcomes, not just tasks and connect daily work to the bigger picture,” she said.

Even in supply chain operations, Chow believed creativity has its place: “Even in the grit of operations, there is artistry in precision, teamwork and adaptability and I make sure that’s acknowledged and celebrated.”

Empowerment that cascades

KONE Southeast Asia people and communications director Chew Ching Li said empowerment must extend beyond leadership messaging to become everyday behaviour.

“At KONE, our ambition to be the easiest company to work with and work for is driven by aligned leadership actions and a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion,” she said.

By setting clear leadership expectations and investing in the development of women leaders, Chew pointed out that empowerment becomes embedded throughout the organisation.

“Senior leaders role model inclusive behaviours, enabling empowerment to cascade across the organisation, fostering engagement, accountability and shared ownership,” she said.

From financing homes to manufacturing materials, designing living spaces and engineering vertical mobility, their influence extends across the industries that quietly shape how people live. 

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