“Networking might open doors, but it is meaningful connections that build trust,” says Lau Ka-shi, chair of Women Chief Executives (WCE) Hong Kong, a network that is empowering next-generation women leaders.

The group believes above all that progress depends on visibility. “Seeing a fellow female having achieved a C-suite role would help inspire confidence in up-and-coming young female talent,” says Ivy Au Yeung, WCE convenor and former CEO of OCBC Hong Kong.

That belief is the thinking behind ACcelerate, WCE’s flagship programme, which is now working with its eighth cohort. More than 100 women have been part of the first seven cohorts, each receiving personalised coaching and confidential 360-degree feedback, as well as access to a peer network.

“It provides a structured pathway for high-potential female talent to realise their full potential at the C-suite level,” explains Lau.

But putting more women in the C-suite is only part of the picture. Lau says the strength of a leadership team lies in its diversity and in bringing people with “different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives”.

She feels this has as much commercial value as a social one. “Diversity is not simply a social objective; it is a business advantage. Different perspectives help firms ‘challenge groupthink, mitigate risks and drive true innovation’.”WCE has shown exactly how collective advocacy can move the numbers. “Hong Kong has made significant progress in the financial services sector,” says Au Yeung. But “in the technology and innovation sector, we believe there is room to do much more.”It is therefore that sector that is taking centre stage at this year’s WCE Summit.

Across the city, summits have become a reliable platform from which women can speak up, share their experiences and be heard by those in a position to act. One such platform is TEDxTinHau Women, which marked its 10th anniversary this year. Nicola Oldfield, head of marketing and communications, notes that the event has extended its reach beyond a single day on stage.

For girls from lower socioeconomic backgrounds … the range of careers they see around them can sometimes be quite limitedInès Gafsi, Inspiring Girls Hong Kong The group gauges its success by loyalty. “Our audience returns year after year, our speakers step into committee roles the following year and our corporate sponsors partner with us [again and again],” she says.

Some women, Oldfield adds, report having “finally launched a business” after joining the community.

However, leadership skills need to be nurtured from a young age for women to truly flourish. The decisions that shape a career are often made in the early teens, which is the focus of Inspiring Girls Hong Kong, a community programme that connects girls aged 14 to 16 – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds – with diverse female role models.

“This is a formative period when they begin to make decisions about subjects, university and future careers,” says Inès Gafsi, chapter chair and CEO of Inspiring Girls Hong Kong. “For girls from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, including those from ethnic minority communities, the range of careers they see around them can sometimes be quite limited.”This gap is most visible in science and AI. Women represent around 22 per cent of the global AI workforce, according to recent research by the International Institute for Management Development.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2026 also highlights low female representation in AI and tech roles. Research from Hong Kong’s The Women’s Foundation shows girls are three times less likely to pursue STEM degrees and four times less likely to pursue STEM careers.

WCE is tackling this problem head-on by taking part in AI-5000, Hong Kong’s largest AI literacy training programme for secondary school students. Eleven WCE members have sponsored schools and are set to hold personal sharing sessions with their students. Lau, who hosted a session on October 9 with Carrie Leung of the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers, says students asked about AI and the changing world of work, with some fearing a tighter job market. “We encouraged them to embrace change and [use it to] empower them for the future. We hope the dialogue will inspire students to think about how they can prepare themselves for an AI-enabled future,” says Lau.

“We encouraged them to embrace change and empower them for the future. We hope the dialogue will inspire students to think about how they can prepare themselves for an AI-enabled future,” says Lau.

“Exposure matters,” she adds, and Hong Kong’s changemakers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure it starts early.