Helen is the first Malaysian to receive the WomeninTech APAC Best Ally Award for 2022. Photo: WomeninTech
‘No grit, no pearl’ is a quote that Helen Selvanathan strongly believes in.
“We don’t always enjoy good times without first enduring a tough grind. As humans, our most powerful asset is our ability to adapt – to different situations, evolving circumstances, and life changes,” she says.
The SAP Asia Pacific & Japan’s Software Partner Business senior director is the the first Malaysian to receive the WomeninTech Asia Pacific Best Ally Award for 2022. The award honours exceptional women, initiatives, and organisations that are shaping the future of technology and inspiring the next generation of innovators. The Best Ally Award celebrates an ally who actively supports and advocates for women in technology, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.
Being resilient isn’t just about waking up and thinking positive. It’s about having strategy in life and a principle that you want to live by, says Helen.To stay relevant, we need to be resilient. And being resilient isn’t just about waking up and thinking positive. It’s about having strategy in life and a principle that you want to live by, she says.
“As Malaysians, we’re exposed to diversity, which is an advantage and sets us apart from other nations that are centric to one type of culture,” she adds.
Helen highlights a recent study.
“According to the Grant Thornton International Business Report: Women in Business 2023, only 40% of senior management positions in Malaysia are held by women, same as in 2022. On a global level, 32.4% of senior management positions in mid-market businesses are held by women, an increase of just half a percentage point since last year.
“Being in SAP Malaysia, which has 46% women employees, gives me great encouragement in my role as I support global partnerships and channel development,” she says.
Helen admits that she didn’t expect to win the award.
“When I was nominated, I was already thrilled because this is a regional Asia Pacific award, there were other Malaysians nominated, and we were vying with other countries. So, when I won, I was even more thrilled.
“This shows that Malaysians have what it takes to be seen in the global marketplace. We need to focus on bringing our next generation up to global standards so that our country can compete at a global level, she adds.
Helen Selvanathan is the first Malaysian to receive the WomeninTech APAC Best Ally Award for 2022 and also the CRN Channel Global Recognition 2023 for leadership and commitment.
Helen says that although there are strong-minded women leaders across industries, the percentage is low. Many women still need a leg up climbing the corporate ladder.
“There are women’s empowerment groups and women’s groups within organisations. But within these groups, there is segmentation because not every woman out there wants to be in that sphere. They might be comfortable to continue as they are.
“So, if you spot a person who has ability and talent but doesn’t know how to proceed, you need to recognise and groom them. It will help more women get to the next level,” says Helen.
She encourages women to network because “it gives you additional knowledge beyond your regular job scope” which is “necessary to get ahead.”
Aside from being in the WomeninTech Association, she is also a member of the National Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Malaysia (NAWEM) and CEO Action Network.
She encourages women to believe in themselves and be resilient.
“Whatever comes your way – whether financial crisis, a bad day, loss of a friendship, or any other major issue – being resilient is the number one rule. You can get through it and come out stronger than you were before,” she says.
She reveals that because of an auto immune condition (psoriasis), she initially wasn’t confident about her outward appearance to be in a job that required facing people daily. But she overcame her own limiting mindset to achieve her goals.
Helen – who has 25 years of experience in the IT industry – is a proponent of “reverse mentoring”.
While older people can provide experiential learning because they have years of experience, Helen says we shouldn’t discount the contribution of younger ones.
Helen is a proponent of ‘reverse mentoring’ as she believes there is much to learn from younger people.
“The younger generation are more knowledgeable in certain areas – such as technology – and you need to include them in order to keep yourself updated,” she says.
Helen is also the first Malaysian to receive the CRN Channel Global Recognition 2023 for Leadership and Commitment awarded by CRN, an American tech magazine. Over 1,500 women (in 2023) have been recognised by the organisation for their expertise and vision.
“It’s an honour to receive this as it's a recognition of the efforts of my company, my team and myself,” she says.
Support, she says, is very important to have a successful career, especially for women.
“The IT Industry can be very demanding with growing trends in new technologies and always having to be in the forefront of what’s happening. Work-life integration is vital, and as women, if you don’t set your ecosystem right, whether it’s in family caregiving or in other areas, you’ll feel the stress.
I’m blessed to have had the support of my family and close friends which has allowed me to focus on my passion, to not just excel in what I do, but to bring value to the community,” she concludes.
