These female leaders tell us how they say no and set their boundaries

Do you struggle to say no? We ask these female powerhouses on how they're protecting their energy this International Women's Day.

Jaime Lee, co-founder and creative director of The Paper Bunny

“The one thing I’m saying ‘No’ to is going with the flow and letting other people’s priorities become mine. I want to be intentional about how I want my day, week and life to turn out, clear about which relationships I want to prioritise, and how I want to spend my time, so I can look back and have no regrets.”

Dr Suhina Singh, co-founder and CEO of Jonda Health

“I’m taking a stand against the pressure to conform solely to masculine energy in our professional lives. I believe in the profound beauty and strength of our feminine energy – its nurturing warmth, intuitive wisdom, and natural ability to connect and empathise. These qualities are not just ‘nice- to-haves’ – they are the very essence of our power and grace.”

Jingjin Liu, founder of Zazazu

“I am saying ‘No’ to any IWD event that is solely organised by female employees without male allies or sponsors! It is extra unpaid work for female employees when they organise the event without other things taken off their workload, and they won’t get a promotion after a successful event. This is not empowering women, but the exact opposite.”

Kong Man Jing, @biogirlmj and co-founder of Just Keep Thinking SG

“I say ‘No’ to neglecting environmental education, which is essential for cultivating the next generation of leaders who care for the planet. Considering the forecast that women will hold about 25 per cent of green jobs worldwide in 2030, we need to invest in programmes and facilitate change to increase female representation in the green sectors and bridge the gender gap.”