“This day is a strong marker of the strength of womanhood, a day in the year to reflect on all that women have survived, changed, and will continue to change," says Heidy Quah, founder of Refuge For The Refugees. "I celebrate the refugee women and victims of trafficking that I work with closely—their strength and resilience inspire me to keep being bold and courageous in speaking up against injustice. Their grit and grace in navigating adversaries inspire me to continue to #choosetochallenge systems and structures that silence, oppress, and exploit vulnerable communities.”

See also: Charity Campaign, Move For Hope Brings KL's Top Fitness Instructors Together To Help Refugee Children

One of the six psychologists in the entire history of the Young Global Leaders programme at the World Economic Forum and the youngest chair of Amnesty International Malaysia, Dr Anjhula Mya Singh Bais's career at the service of others is an inspiring one indeed.

Her advice to women on International Women's Day? “Many people are conflict-avoidant, especially women, who by traditional standards are socialised to be nice, polite, and kind. They are taught that these traits triumph all else," she said. "I consciously, but respectfully, challenge what there is to challenge, otherwise how else will change come? From boardrooms to bedrooms, women need to think about what they have been spoon-fed and conditioned to think, and usually it is some variant of ‘I am not enough'.”

See also: 5 Designing Women: Meet The First Ladies Of Malaysian Design

Nor ‘Phoenix’ Diana is the world’s first hijab-wearing pro wrestler, bringing ground-breaking representation to a sport that has been dominated for men until very recently. A shy, reserved woman who transforms into a bold and confident sportswoman in the ring, she shares her approach in dealing with the many challenges of being a professional wrestler. 

“One of the biggest barriers for me is society’s expectation of me. They don’t want to see someone like me in pro wrestling. How do I overcome this adversity? I do this by continuing to pursue my dreams of becoming a wrestler,” she said.

“I think it is important to celebrate the achievements of women from all around the world. I love to see the accomplishments of other great women around me to keep me motivated and driven.”

See also: Being A Female In Male-Dominated Sports: 3 Women On What They Love About It

Dr Jezamine Lim was first woman to attain a PhD in Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering at UKM. Now, she is co-founder and CEO of Cell Biopeutics Resources, which aims to produce world class stem cell derived cosmetic products and therapeutic treatments for unmet medical diseases. She shares her experience in this male-dominated field: “When I started my journey in the BioTech field, I realized that there were—and still are—very few women that are involved in this industry."

And she is determined to inspire young women to join the STEM industry and beyond.  "I think it is important for myself and other women in this field to challenge this status quo!" she said. "We need to help break the perception that this is a ‘man’s game’ and prove that gender has nothing to do with a person’s ability to excel in this, or any, field.”

See also: 5 Women In Tech Championing Sustainable Change