The recent 30% Club Malaysia DEI Masterclass brought together industry leaders to share invaluable insights on weaving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into the fabric of today’s organizations. The event opened with insights from Raj Kumar Paramanathan, Managing Partner of CnetG, who is also the Co-Lead of the 30% Club Malaysia. The session culminated in a powerful keynote address by Aiza Aryati, Head of HR at Principal Management, making it an impactful and enriching experience for all attendees.

Raj Kumar Paramanathan offered valuable insights into the 30% Club’s mission, explaining how DEI forms the foundation of their efforts to achieve gender balance on corporate boards and in senior management roles. He emphasized that fostering diversity and equity is essential for building stronger, more resilient organizations, and he reinforced the importance of creating an inclusive environment that supports meaningful participation and leadership from all individuals, regardless of gender.

Aiza Aryati delivered a compelling keynote, diving into the core principles of DEI and offering practical insights for organizations aiming to integrate these values into their culture. She began by explaining that diversity is about ensuring varied representation within an organization, equity involves providing fair treatment tailored to individual needs, and inclusion is about creating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. 

Aiza emphasized that DEI initiatives are most successful when approached holistically, as they foster innovation, improve employee engagement and retention, and enhance a company’s reputation. She also highlighted the importance of addressing unconscious biases, which often manifest unintentionally but can significantly impact decision-making and workplace dynamics. Aiza underscored the need for organizations to actively work towards inclusion through diverse hiring practices, inclusive leadership, support for employee resource groups, flexible work policies, and mentorship programs. 

She concluded by reinforcing that aligning DEI initiatives with a company’s broader vision and taking concrete steps to implement them can transform workplace culture and drive sustainable success.

Heartfelt thanks were extended to Raj Kumar Paramanathan and Geetha Kandiah for their exceptional efforts in organizing the masterclass, which brought together influential voices on DEI. The event concluded with a thoughtful closing note from Nurul Ain Abdul Latif, Chair of the 30% Club Malaysia, alongside Raj Kumar Paramanathan, Co-Lead of the 30% Club Malaysia, and Geetha Kandiah, leaving the audience inspired and empowered to champion DEI within their organizations.

This masterclass reinforced the notion that DEI is not just a corporate buzzword but a crucial pillar for creating fair, competitive, and innovative organizations in today’s world.