Technological advancements and artificial intelligence (AI) are revolutionising manufacturing for industries around the world.

The International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) falls on the 11th of October every year to recognise girls’ achievements and encourage them to pursue their dreams, uplift their self-esteem and celebrating all their talents.

International Coffee Day falls on 1 October every year with coffee businesses offering promotions to coffee lovers worldwide. But if coffee is not your cup of tea, it is important to know that it is a key commodity in Southeast Asia.In 2017, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Cambodia exported a total of US$5.34 billion worth of coffee based on a report by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

From teen activist Greta Thunberg’s much-publicized transatlantic journey on a zero-emissions boat to attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to the proliferation of climate protests, the world is more aware than ever of the climate threat. Yet this increased awareness has yet to translate into collective action by world leaders to mitigate climate change, let alone targeted efforts to protect the most vulnerable groups – beginning with women and girls.The facts speak for themselves.

There is a downward trend in the number of women participating in the workforce as they go up the career ladder. Women may make up half of all the entry-level positions in companies, but at middle management, that number drops.

Due to Southeast Asia’s largely unbanked and underbanked populations, the region has a growing fintech ecosystem which provides innovative services such as loans and payment platforms.

Southeast Asia’s flourishing start-up ecosystem has led to the evolution of shared working spaces in the region, with rising demand driven by entrepreneurs, start-ups and even, corporate firms.A 2018 report by JLL, an investment management firm, indicates that flexible workspaces in Southeast Asia have shown a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 40 percent from 2015 to 2018 and now make up two percent of the total office stock.

Malaysian athletes come from different ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds which have created an environment of tolerance, understanding and respect among the nation’s sportswomen and sportsmen. Sport is one of the great drivers of gender equality which is an important enabler towards achieving the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, when it comes to equality, are women equally represented in Malaysia’s sports scene?

Globally, women still struggle to reach top leadership positions and are also less likely to become entrepreneurs.

Businesses in the Philippines are taking measures to improve or preserve the gender balance in leadership roles. According to a recent report, ‘Women in Business’ by Grant Thornton International Ltd., female executives in senior management positions in Philippine companies dropped to 37.5 percent in 2019 down from 47 percent in 2018.