handmade journey
Empowering
women
T here are m o re w o m en i n
e x e c ut i v e p o s i t i o n s a c r o s s
the w o r l d ’ s m o s t i n f l uent i a l
c o m p an i e s , than e v er be f o re ,
a g l o ba l p hen o m en o n that
i s m i rr o red w i th i n the
bu s i ne s s e s o f B anyan T ree
Inspiring women in the workplace has
always been a key driver for Banyan
Tree’s co-founder Claire Chiang, from
the women that work across the resorts
to those that showcase their talent and
craft through the Banyan Tree Gallery.
While hailing from a family of
strong women and always being an
advocate for their development, a
pivotal moment for Chiang was the gift
of triangular cushions, which firmly put
her on the path to setting up the Banyan
Tree Gallery, and in doing so, brought
together ideas about gender, work and
the role of business within communities
around the world.
The late Shirin Fozdar, who gave
her that gift, remains as inspiring as the
women who make them. Considered
Singapore’s first feminist and one of the
founders of the Singapore Council for
Women, Fozdar remains well known
both at home and abroa