LeadWomen

What LeadWomen does

LeadWomen Sdn Bhd is a Kuala Lumpur-headquartered professional services and training organisation founded in 2011 by Anne Abraham, focused on workplace gender equality, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Malaysia and the broader APAC region. The company delivers a portfolio of advisory and training services including DEI consulting, board sourcing and placement, women leadership development programmes (EWL Bootcamp, Women in Leadership, Global Women on Boards), experiential learning (The Inclusive Playbook Programme), and educational workshops (Board of Directors 101 Series). Recurring revenue infrastructure includes two membership programmes — Director Membership and The Executive Network — alongside annual flagship events such as the APAC DEI Summit and International Women's Day and International Men's Day campaigns. The company has strategic partnerships with UN Women (as WEPs Activator Malaysia), 30% Club Malaysia, ASEAN-BAC Malaysia, TalentCorp, ICAEW, and UNITAR, and serves enterprise clients including PETRONAS, Maybank, Khazanah Nasional, Axiata, Pos Malaysia, and Deloitte Southeast Asia.

Underlying technology is minimal: LeadWomen discloses no proprietary platform or AI/ML capabilities and operates primarily as a human-led advisory practice. The sole technical differentiator is its 2022 early adoption of blockchain technology for DEI documentation in Malaysia. Go-to-market is a hybrid of community-led engagement (membership and events) and enterprise field sales for bespoke DEI advisory, board placement, and corporate training. The business model derives revenue from five streams — professional services and training, recurring memberships, board placement fees, leadership programme fees, and event sponsorships — with no publicly disclosed pricing. Operations are concentrated in Malaysia with documented reach into Singapore, Japan, and India through summit participation and partnerships. LeadWomen is privately held, founder-led, with 11 employees and no disclosed institutional funding.

Name

LeadWomen

Legal name

LeadWomen Sdn Bhd

Website

https://lead-women.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LeadWomen is a Malaysia-based professional services firm founded in 2011 that provides DEI advisory, women leadership development programmes, board placement services, and corporate training to enterprises, government-linked companies, and board-ready women leaders across Southeast Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consulting

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) & Belonging Consulting (BPAHAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

DEI, Inclusive Leadership & Cultural Intelligence Coaching (EDABANAJ), Inclusive Leadership & Leading Diverse Teams (EDABAAAM)

Keywords

• Diversity equity inclusion
• Women leadership development
• Board advisory services
• Executive education programs
• Corporate diversity training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuala Lumpur

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Services and Training: Advisory and training services enabling organisations to create, nurture and sustain inclusive workplace cultures. Services include DEI consulting, board readiness assessment, director sourcing and placement, board training and development, mentoring and coaching sessions.
2. Membership Programs: Subscription-based membership programs including Director Membership and The Executive Network providing networking, relationship building and capacity development for executive women leaders.
3. Board Placement Services: Board sourcing and placement services placing credible women directors on corporate boards with organisations seeking suitable candidates.
4. Leadership Programmes: Women leadership development programmes including EWL Bootcamp, Women in Leadership (WiL), and Global Women on Boards providing upskilling and elevation for women leaders in organisations.
5. Events and Summits: APAC DEI Summit and International Women's/Men's Day event hosting generating sponsorship, partnerships and participant fees.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

LeadWomen is a Malaysia-based professional services and training organization that delivers diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) advisory, women-on-boards advisory, and executive leadership development to corporate, government, and institutional clients across Asia-Pacific. Its standalone sellable offerings include the annual Director Membership, the Board-Ready Women Leaders (WiL) program, the Executive Women Leaders (EWiL) program, the S/H.E (She Holds Equal) Signature Summit Series, and bespoke corporate DEI workshops and long-form advisory engagements. The business combines structured cohort programs, signature events, and tailored corporate interventions to build diverse leadership pipelines and board-ready talent.

Product overview

LeadWomen is a professional services and training organisation providing advisory and training services to enable organisations to create inclusive workplace cultures. The offering consists of board services (board sourcing and placement), women leadership programmes (EWL Bootcamp, Women in Leadership, Global Women on Boards), DEI advisory and consulting services, and membership programmes (Director Membership, Executive Network). The company also organises signature events including the APAC DEI Summit and International Women's/Men's Day campaigns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Emerging Women Leaders (EWL) Bootcamp: Leadership programme designed to equip first-time people managers and rising women leaders with exploratory and learning platform to become self-equipped leaders.
• Women in Leadership (WiL)
• Global Women on Boards
• The Executive Network
• APAC DEI Summit
• Director Membership

Products and services

• Director Membership
• Board-Ready Women Leaders (WiL) Program
• Executive Women Leaders (EWiL) Program
• S/H.E (She Holds Equal) Signature Summit Series
• APAC DEI Summit
• Corporate DEI Workshops and Long-Form Advisory

Quantifiable outcome

• Contributing to increase of women on boards of Top 100 Malaysian PLCs from 7.9% (2012) to 30%+ progress toward target

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Pos MalaysiacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 April 2025Pos Malaysia HQ served as venue partner for LeadWomen's International Women's Day 2025 event focused on Bridging Generations of Women for Inclusion, hosting over 100 delegates.
• Asia School of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2024Asia School of Business served as the venue partner for the APAC DEI Summit 2024. ASB is a premier business school in Kuala Lumpur that co-hosted the flagship event focused on Humanity Rebalanced and DEI leadership.
• ASEAN-BAC MalaysiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2024ASEAN-BAC Malaysia partnered with LeadWomen for the APAC DEI Summit 2024, including an ASEAN-BAC Closed-Door Roundtable and soft launch of the ASEAN DEI Collective—14 pioneering companies committed to embedding DEI across operations and governance.
• UN WomencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2021LeadWomen serves as WEPs Activator Malaysia in partnership with UN Women, inviting top 300 Malaysian companies to commit to gender equality through the Women's Empowerment Principles. This strategic partnership positions LeadWomen as a key implementation partner for UN Women's gender equality agenda in Malaysia.
• 30% Club MalaysiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnne Abraham, Founder and Chair of LeadWomen, co-founded the 30% Club Malaysia Chapter in 2015. The 30% Club is a global movement focused on achieving 30% women on boards and in leadership positions. LeadWomen serves as the knowledge partner and driving force behind this national agenda.
• ICAEWflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint collaboration on the Women in Leadership (WIL) programme—a six-month mentoring programme for Malaysian women executives. ICAEW is a global professional membership organisation supporting leadership development.
• TalentCorpflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint collaboration on Women in Leadership (WIL) programme and co-partnership on APAC DEI Summit 2024. TalentCorp is Malaysia's human capital development agency focused on workforce optimisation.
• UNITARflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerS/H.E (Sustainable. Human. Equitable) Series collaboration with Women of Axiata and Male Allies (WAMA), UNITAR and LeadWomen—a platform designed to demonstrate thought leadership, prompt knowledge exchange and inspire positive action on gender equality.
• Women of Axiata and Male Allies (WAMA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint collaboration on S/H.E Series programme focused on gender equality and male allyship in the workplace. WAMA is Axiata's internal diversity and inclusion initiative.
• PETRONASflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerKey sponsor and participant in APAC DEI Summit 2024 with Vice President & Group CHRO Ruslan Halim Islahudin speaking on DEI Thought Leadership panel. Active supporter of gender diversity initiatives.
• MaybankflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerSummit Ally and participant in APAC DEI Summit 2024 with multiple representatives speaking on various panels including Future of Work and Financial Leadership discussions.
• BoardRoom LimitedflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with BoardRoom Limited on Board of Directors 101 Series—an educational programme for new and aspiring board directors delivered via interactive virtual engagement.
• Various Corporate Sponsors and PartnersflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiple strategic, programme, community, and DEI Collective partners including sponsors for APAC DEI Summit 2024. Partner logos displayed on website include 24+ organisations supporting DEI initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Catalyst: Global nonprofit providing DEI research, advisory, and workplace inclusion consulting. Direct comparable to LeadWomen's advisory and consulting practice, with a similar mission of advancing women in leadership and a broader global footprint.
• Watermark: Women's leadership development organization serving Bay Area/Silicon Valley executives. Comparable to LeadWomen's Executive Network and Women in Leadership programmes in mission, audience, and program-based delivery model.
• Women Corporate Directors (WCD): Global membership organization of women corporate board directors. Closely mirrors LeadWomen's Director Membership and Global Women on Boards offerings, with the difference that WCD operates globally rather than Malaysia-centric.
• AnitaB.org: Global nonprofit advancing women in technology through leadership programs and events. Comparable to LeadWomen on women-leadership-development programming and event-based revenue (similar to APAC DEI Summit).
• Aurora50: New Zealand-based organization focused on increasing women on boards and in executive leadership. Directly comparable in scale, mission, and board-placement services to LeadWomen's board sourcing and women-leadership programmes.

Broad incumbents

• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a dedicated DEI practice. Competes with LeadWomen on board placement mandates and increasingly on DEI advisory, but as a much larger, publicly listed incumbent.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting and executive search firm with a DEI and leadership development practice. Comparable on board advisory and leadership development, though LeadWomen is more niche and mission-focused on women's leadership specifically.
• Great Place to Work: Global workplace culture research, certification, and consulting organization. Comparable to LeadWomen's 'Equality at Work' corporate community and workplace inclusion advisory services, with a much wider international presence.
• Center for Creative Leadership: Global leadership development research and education nonprofit. Comparable to LeadWomen's EWL Bootcamp and Women in Leadership programmes in leadership training methodology, with a much larger research and global delivery footprint.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search and board advisory firm with a long-standing board diversity practice. Comparable to LeadWomen on board sourcing and DEI advisory, though Spencer Stuart serves a much broader, multinational client base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxqQ0lGp1y5plq0JqMq0t0A
• Facebookfacebook.com/leadwomenmy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leadwomen
• Instagraminstagram.com/lead_women

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LeadWomen