
7 minute read
Share
Three women who are working on some of the most important priorities for Telenor Asia tell us how they have stepped into leadership roles that are traditionally dominated by men.
Over the past few decades, we have seen a shift towards gender equality in the workplace. Within the telecommunications sector globally, women participation varies widely by company, ranging from 10% to 52%, while certain business areas in the telco sector have traditionally remained male-dominated. (Telenor Group's workforce is 38% women.)
We speak to three leaders who are working on some of the most important priorities for Telenor Asia and carving out successful careers for themselves.
Sara Zhang, Vice President (Mergers & Acquisitions) at Telenor Asia
alt=Alternative descriptive text class=lazyload main main-lazyloaded responsive-image data-v-1a5ebb10>
Sara and the Telenor M&A team have delivered three big M&As in the past six months, two of which are the largest telecoms mergers Southeast Asia has ever seen. Since she started her career in investment banking more than a decade ago, she has seen more women being promoted to senior roles in finance. However, in her opinion, there is still a long way to go.
There are fewer women than men in top roles in M&A (mergers and acquisitions) globally. How can we enable more women to succeed in the decision-making arenas?
Start by providing equal opportunities to work on significant and varied transactions. Companies should also consider putting a premium on skills such as emotional intelligence, empathy, and leadership in addition to finance skills. Finally, remove unconscious bias and avoid boys club behaviour. Leaders need to advocate for women and promote the fact that diversity in M&A's complex decision-making process has proven to be better for shareholder return.
What would you say are the key factors for your success today?
A strong, relevant, and diverse set of skills and experiences in M&A and finance which I have continuously honed.
Any advice for aspiring women professionals in your arena?
Speak up, and do not second guess yourself.
Always go after opportunities you want, whether you believe you fully qualify or not.
It is your responsibility to advocate for yourself, which is something men are often more comfortable doing.
Ine Elisabeth Edvardsen, Head of Investment Management, Pakistan at Telenor Asia
alt=Alternative descriptive text class=lazyload main main-lazyloaded responsive-image data-v-1a5ebb10>
Ine leads Telenor Asia's investment management team for Pakistan, a challenging market to operate in. She represents Telenor's interests in the board and provides guidance to the Telenor Pakistan management team on strategy and business operations.
What gets you up on your feet and ready to roll every day?
The role allows me to stay curious and learn something new every day - from running a responsible business in Pakistan to leadership in practice. My greatest motivation is the challenge at hand, combined with the trust I have been shown by leaders I highly respect. Working with great and highly competent people is also key to my motivation and what gets me up and running every day.
What are the factors you would credit to your success?
I focus on always doing my best job at any point in time and having the willingness to try new things. My can-do attitude, combined with good leaders exposing me to complex strategic projects, has also been key for my development.
How can enable more women up to be able to succeed in leadership roles?
It starts with equal opportunities. Trust women by giving more responsibility and stretch projects to support their ideas and confidence. Assuming even distribution of competence in the job market, it is thought-provoking that males are more often promoted than females.
Samrine Bokhari, Circle Business Head - Chattogram at Grameenphone
alt=Alternative descriptive text class=lazyload main main-lazyloaded responsive-image data-v-1a5ebb10>
Samrine Bokhari is the Head of Sales for Grameenphone in Chattaogram, Bangladesh's second largest city, leading a team of 57 sales professionals. Previously the head of Dhaka Central Region, Bangladesh's most populous city, Samrine was responsible for getting retailers across the city to go digital. Dhaka Central came up tops for retail digitalisation for 15 months in a row, thanks to the efforts by Samrine and her team in educating and empowering retailers.
How can women succeed in the competitive arena of sales?
I came from a non-sales background, but I kept an open mind and learned from all layers of sales, from the field force to veteran business heads. I also actively looked for opportunities to add value with my diverse experiences and perspective to the sales organisation.
What are the key challenges you face as a woman leading telco sales in Bangladesh?
The top challenge is bias and stereotypes against women. But through this, I have learnt to be persistent and confident. My experience is that, eventually, people around you will understand a leader is a leader and their gender is irrelevant.
Any advice for aspiring sales professionals?
My advice will be to not wait for a right time to pursue your dreams. Whenever an opportunity presents itself, grab it. Everything else will fall in place.
More from Telenor Digital Services and Broadcast
22/09/2023
7 minute read
Share
alt=Foto: TSFotoDesign/Tanja Skoglund class=lazyload main main-lazyloaded responsive-image data-v-1a5ebb10>
Foto: TSFotoDesign/Tanj...
22/08/2023
6 minute read
Share
Telenor is implementing changes to the Group Leadership Team, as the company continues to execute on the strategic ambitions towards 2...
10/08/2023
2 minute read
Share
--
Fornebu, 10 August 2023 - Telenor announces that all shares in software company Working Group Two will be acquired by the global...
20/07/2023
3 minute read
Share
Presentation & report
Webcast
In the second quarter we continue to execute on the strategy we laid out last year, seeing firm ope...
10/07/2023
5 minute read
Share
alt=Photo people class=lazyload main main-lazyloaded ...
03/07/2023
4 minute read
Share
alt=Alternative descriptive text class=lazyload main ...
26/06/2023
15 minute read
Share
As part of our commitment to reduce our carbon emissions, we have a responsibility to also examine our value chains. At Telenor, we a...
19/06/2023
6 minute read
Share
(Oslo, 19 June 2023) The criteria for security and sus...
05/06/2023
3 minute read
Share
alt=Alternative descriptive text class=lazyload main main-lazyloaded responsive-image data-v-1a5ebb10>
Thomas Midteide is appointed...
31/05/2023
7 minute read
Share
In Kolding and Vejle Municipality, near the villages of Viuf and H strup, Better Energys brand-new solar park is on the way as the two...
23/05/2023
3 minute read
Share
Telenor has completed its internal learning process after the exit from Myanmar, yielding valuable lessons on responsible disengagemen...
10/05/2023
5 minute read
Share
The Corporate Assembly for Telenor ASA has in its meeting on 10 May 2023 elected Jens Petter Olsen as Chair of the Board of Directors,...
04/05/2023
5 minute read
Share
Presentation & report
Webcast
Today, Telenor reports its results for the first quarter of 2023.
I'm pleased to see that we ...
28/04/2023
5 minute read
Share
Everyone should be able to perform their jobs safely. Telenor Asia's Head of Health, Safety and People Security shares how he tack...
11/04/2023
1 minute read
Share
Frank Maa has been appointed Senior Vice President Ca...
28/03/2023
2 minute read
Share
Annual Report 2022
Telenor's Annual Report for 2022 covers financial statements, sustainability reporting, an overview of 20...
16/03/2023
7 minute read
Share
Cisco and Telenor Group executives celebrate the fifth...
08/03/2023
7 minute read
Share
Three women who are working on some of the most important priorities for Telenor Asia tell us how they have stepped into leadership ro...
08/03/2023
7 minute read
Share
Three women who are working on some of the most important priorities for Telenor Asia tell us how they have stepped into leadership ro...
08/03/2023
7 minute read
Share
Empowering Societies Digital skills Include Inclusion Grameenphone
Grameenphone and Plan International Bangladesh join hands...
07/03/2023
9 minute read
Share
Writer: Mindy Tan
View original article on The Busine...
01/03/2023
11 minute read
Share
dtac Telenor Asia
When Telenor made its foray into Thailand in 2003 through its investment in dtac, the company's vision was ...
01/03/2023
5 minute read
Share
Today, Telenor Asia announces the completion of the amalgamation of the telco operations of True and dtac in Thailand. The transaction...
14/02/2023
7 minute read
Share
Download the full Year in Review - 2022
Message from Head of Telenor Asia, J rgen C. Arentz Rostrup:
2022 marked a significant turn...
02/02/2023
7 minute read
Share
The quarter represents significant progress on our new strategic roadmap towards 2025. Mobile service revenues in Telenor Nordics inc...
01/02/2023
2 minute read
Share
(Fornebu, 1 February 2023) Telenor today closes the transaction to divest 30 percent of newly established Telenor Fiber AS, in Norway ...
31/01/2023
11 minute read
Share
View report highlights
Downloads
Report pdf
Info...
30/01/2023
9 minute read
Share
Download full report PDF
Survey Findings (Infographics) PDF
Read the press release
From virtual worlds to real-life communitie...
12/01/2023
3 minute read
Share
Dtac and True have today held separate board meetings regarding the ongoing merger process between the companies. The boards of direct...
23/12/2022
5 minute read
Share
What can time spent with schoolchildren teach entrepreneurs? A lot, it turns out. Alina Amir co-founded Malaysia's fast-rising Aru...
21/12/2022
8 minute read
Share
People feel less safe about online shopping, but lucki...
16/12/2022
6 minute read
Share
A recent survey Telenor conducted in the Nordics has shown that digital security is a significant concern for individuals across the r...
30/11/2022
9 minute read
Share
New Company Well-Placed to Serve the Nation and Consum...
30/11/2022
11 minute read
Share
Digi Telenor Asia
For over 20 years, Digi has emp...
25/11/2022
6 minute read
Share
What are some essential life skills for the digital age? We asked Kalaya Kovidvisith, a co-founder of Thailand's Safe Internet met...
25/11/2022
5 minute read
Share
Sayem Faruk is transforming how global companies can connect with tech talent in Bangladesh. He founded Airwrk, a game changer for his...
25/11/2022
5 minute read
Share
Last June, Pakistani entrepreneur and Telenor alumnus ...
22/11/2022
1 minute read
Share
On 22 November 2021, Telenor and CP Group announced their intention to support the amalgamation of dtac and True in Thailand.
As part...
08/11/2022
9 minute read
Share
A new mobile 5G Network on Wheels from Telenor demonst...
07/11/2022
4 minute read
Share
Sigve Brekke, President and CEO of Telenor Group, is re-elected for a seat in the GSMA Board and will, from 1 January 2023, commence h...
03/11/2022
9 minute read
Share
Advance Artificial Intelligence Research
Advance...
01/11/2022
5 minute read
Share
Research
The new head will drive Telenor's research involvement in innovation with strategic partners and customers as part of T...
31/10/2022
2 minute read
Share
By merging Telenor Digital AS (TD) and Telenor Global Services AS (TGS), Telenor establishes a global unit that combines traditional c...
28/10/2022
1 minute read
Share
Telenor and 474 civil society organizations in Myanmar...
27/10/2022
7 minute read
Share
Download full report PDF
Read the press release
Decoding changing attitudes towards mobile connectivity in South and Southeast As...
27/10/2022
8 minute read
Share
Flexible Work Digital skills Inclusion Include ...
26/10/2022
6 minute read
Share
We see positive trends for mobile service revenues in the Nordic region, with a growth of 4 percent in the third quarter , says Sigve ...
11/10/2022
5 minute read
Share
Telenor Group, a leading global telecommunications company serving 175 million customers in the Nordics and Asia, announced the format...
07/10/2022
7 minute read
Share
alt=Women walking in Lofoten, Norway. class=lazyload main main-lazyloaded responsive-image data-v-1a5ebb10>
(Fornebu 7 October 2022...
20/09/2022
4 minute read
Share
(Fornebu, 20 September 2022) Today, at its Capital Markets Day, Telenor presents significant changes to ensure growth and reshape the ...