(Singapore, 22.10.2025) — In conjunction with its 11th Awards Ceremony, Fortune Times launched its new book, She Power Singapore, on October 22. The publication features the stories of 198 women in the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame (SWHF), whose lives spanned from the 18th to the 20th century.
Through their remarkable accomplishments, these women played key roles in shaping Singapore’s history, some of whom contributed to the nation’s growth. Published in Chinese, the collection not only celebrates their enduring legacy but also serves as an inspiration for present and future women to pursue excellence and reach greater heights.
This Chinese edition of SWHF, She Power Singapore published by Orangutan Studio under Fortune Times in collaboration with the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO), is a work of profundity and significance — one that every Singaporean should take the time to appreciate.
As Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) Mr. Eric Chua noted, traditional gender biases — particularly among men — remain deeply entrenched in Singapore and are not easily overcome. He therefore was delighted that this meaningful book, previously available only in English, now has a Chinese version that will reach and inspire a wider audience.
At last night’s book launch, Mr. Chua, as the occasion’s Guest of Honour, remarked in his speech: “The introduction of the Chinese edition enables a wider group of readers to discover the inspiring stories of Singaporean women and recognize their significant contributions to the nation’s progress over the past six decades.” He commented the collaboration between SCWO and Fortune Times for pulling off this remarkable project.
However, while women have made steady progress, there is still significant room for growth. Mr Chua referenced data from OCBC Bank showing that women-founded SMEs in Singapore made up 23% of new business registrations in 2018, rising to 30% in 2023. He noted, “although the number of women-led businesses is increasing, they still lag behind those started by men.”
He further pointed out that women currently occupy 25.1% of board and leadership roles among the top 100 publicly traded companies in Singapore. Furthermore, the representation of women on the boards of statutory bodies and the top 100 public institutions of a public character (IPC) has already surpassed 30%. Looking ahead, he expressed hope that in the coming years, more women will assume these leadership positions, bringing fresh diversities and new dynamics to the boards.
Ong Soh Chin, the Third Vice President of SCWO, underscored in her speech that by sharing inspiring stories of outstanding women in Chinese, this book delivers a powerful message of hope and empowerment to both local and international readers.
Addressing nearly 200 attendees last evening, she unreservedly praised the collaboration between SCWO and Fortune Times in bringing this book to fruition and underlined its profound social impact.
In her opening speech, Ms. Annie Song, Editor-in-Chief of Fortune Times, attributed the partnership with the SCWO to a shared belief: a nation’s true strength comes not just from economic success, but from men and women working together to build the country and support each other.
Fortune Times will donate 15% of the book’s proceeds to SCWO, supporting their ongoing efforts to uplift and empower women and families in Singapore, as well as coordinating the efforts of more than 60 member organisations.
That evening, a sharing session was held in conjunction with the launch of the new book. Ms. Ong paid homage to the women of the 18th and 19th centuries featured in the book, describing them as quietly determined and resilient in their pursuit of equal opportunities during those illiberal times.
She said their efforts paved the way for today’s remarkable female leaders to rise across various industries, politics, and business. Ms. Ong also pointed out that the power that women hold is a double-edged sword that must be wielded with care and balance.
Singapore is a regional financial centre, and the council is playing an increasingly vital role in the country’s economic transformation. Junie Foo, the Immediate Past President of SCWO, stressed that the organization’s key distinction from other women’s groups in the region is its ability to influence government policies. She elaborated, “We work closely with various government ministries—including the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Social and Family Development, and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth—to provide input and support in the development of relevant policies.”
Ms. Koh Yan Ping, CEO of SCWO, shared that the idea for this book first emerged about three years ago during a casual coffee chat. At the time, she and Ms. Song were discussing ways to celebrate Singapore’s 60th anniversary of independence.
They came up with the idea of publishing a book featuring profiles of nearly 200 outstanding women listed in the SCWO’s Hall of Fame. As the head of a nonprofit, she hopes to land future collaborations with other organizations and businesses.
During the session, Mr. Chua shared how pleased he was to hold and read such an exquisitely crafted book, as most people today experience stories through digital media without the feel of a tangible copy. He expressed his gratitude once again to the two organizations for their joint efforts in preserving and passing down Singapore’s vital historical and cultural heritage.
Ms. Song, who is also the editor of She Power Singapore, highlighted her discovery that Singapore has been a multicultural and inclusive society since centuries ago. Of the 198 women featured in the book, 10% hailed from abroad, including countries such as Malaysia, China, Australia, India, and the UK. Yet these women made major contributions to Singapore’s history.
Originally from China herself, Ms Song found inspiration from these role models. During the editing process, she gained deep appreciation for Singapore’s inclusiveness. She also noted that the work behind publishing this book was more than mere translation, as she aimed to make it emotionally and intellectually engaging in this age of artificial intelligence.
Three SWHF inductees featured in the book attended the ceremony. They were Ms. Goh Soo Kim, choreographer and co-founder of Singapore’s first professional dance company; Ms. Lynnette Seah, acclaimed violinist and founding member of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra; and Ms. Vincere Zeng Xiaoyun, outstanding mountaineer and endurance athlete.
When interviewed by Fortune Times, Ms. Seah shared that she was first inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014, and is now featured in the Chinese edition of She Power Singapore. This recognition has deepened her respect for her grandmother and her mother, who migrated here from Fujian, China.
“I carry the resilience of Chinese women—a quality my mother passed down to me. Now peing part of a book that shares women’s stories in Chinese, I feel like I’m bridging two worlds,” she said with pride.
“She Power Singapore” garnered strong support from businesses, individuals, and organizations. Walter Ng, Director of Ruifeng Wealth Management, donated S$100,000 on behalf of the company to the SCWO to fund initiatives for women and girls. Koufu’s Pang Lim and the D.S. Lee Foundation each contributed SGD 10,000.
In addition, DBS Bank’s CEO Tan Su Shan generously donated valuable auction items to the event’s organizers. Charitable leaders such as Shan Chay Medical Institution’s chairman Toh Soon Huat and LONGi Technology’s Lee Chun An also generously responded during the fundraising time.
Last night’s event also featured the 11th annual “Fortune Times Awards Ceremony.” The recipients included: Catherine Tang of VC Plus Limited, who was honoured with the “Asia Outstanding Women Award” for successfully leading the company’s transformation into a fintech enterprise, overcoming challenges, and developing strategic initiatives; Liang Cheng Wang, Founder and Executive Chairman of Zixin Group Holdings Limited, who received the “Asia Excellent Entrepreneur Award” for building an agricultural ecological technology industry chain centred on sweet potatoes which is being recognized for its economic and social impact; Wrise Group, which earned the “Asia Strong Family Office Award”; and Alfa Bank, which is awarded the “Leader In Fintech Solutions Award” for its innovative contributions to financial technology.
