In the third of our three-part interview series to mark International Women’s Day, we chat with three extraordinary women, who share their journeys of self-discovery—and their impact on others along the way
Growing up in a small town in Johor Bahru with blue collar parents, Uma Thana Balasingam was raised to listen, not speak—taught to be humble, grateful, and not to draw attention to herself. These expectations, combined with the limited opportunities and societal barriers she witnessed, shaped her understanding of the challenges women face.
Against all odds, she built a career in technology, relocating to Singapore and steadily rising through the ranks to become a vice-president for Asia Pacific and Japan at VMware. At the end of 2023, she left her job at VMWare to focus on elevating and supporting minority, professional Asian women.
Despite progress, women in Asia still face cultural biases and societal norms in the corporate world. In 2023, for instance, only 16 per cent held board roles, and five per cent were CEOs.
“I want to show, by example, that we belong in every space we dare to enter, and that our power lies in lifting as we climb,” she says. This commitment is evident in her work with The Elevate Group; Lean In Singapore, a non-profit platform with a mission to inspire, equip, and empower women in Singapore to lead successful, happy lives; and her podcast Raw with Uma, where she amplifies the voice of underrepresented Asian women.
You have described yourself as a first-and-only. Why so?
As an underrepresented minority, I have often found myself as the first or the only, and that dynamic adds a different kind of pressure. I was the first female engineer in my first job, and then the only minority woman in sales at IBM back in 2003.
Why are you passionate about elevating minority Asian women?
I am passionate about the unique challenges that Asian minority women face, which often stem from a pervasive internal question: “Do I even deserve to be in this space as the first and only?”
I call this mindset the undeserving default—a belief that can lead to gratitude for merely being present. It stifles negotiation, fosters over-acceptance of burdens, and perpetuates inequity. It also leaves women overworked, undervalued, and falling further behind in terms of career progression, earning potential, and opportunities for leadership. I have always had dark-skinned women gravitate towards me for advice. They see a piece of themselves in me, and that connection is powerful.
Why did you decide to take on the role of CEO of Lean In Singapore in 2016?
I took on the role because I wanted women to know two things. One, they’re not alone in their experiences. And two, they can do something about it and change their circumstances.
What is your mission at Elevate?
Our mission is to uplift five million professional women by fostering change from the top down. This vision inspired us to create Elevate: The Private Collective, a tailored initiative that enlists top women leaders as ambassadors of change. These women possess power, privilege, and platforms—and they aspire to be elevators with us, sending opportunities down to uplift others.
Additionally, through Elevate: The Business, we deliver curated programmes designed to help organisations advance women in leadership and embed inclusive leadership practices. Our efforts also include Elevate: The Mind, a B2C initiative featuring courses designed to help women transition from hidden talents to visible, impactful leaders. We actively engage men as critical, actionable allies, equipping them with the tools and insights to drive meaningful, tangible change in advancing gender equity. We want to systematically and structurally empower everyone—not just women—to drive transformative change across organisations and communities.
Why is this important?
Once you have this balance, you have a leadership that is more humane, more compassionate, and more understanding. It allows people to be vulnerable, and eventually creates a new system and culture.
Read the interviews with Peggy Quek, CEO of AIA International Wealth here, and Dr Chua Yang, photographer, and obstetrician and gynaecologist, here.
