What’s one obstacle in your journey that shaped you most?
Rebuilding from zero — financially.
– Vatsala Nair Manoharan.
In conjunction with International Women’s Day 2026, makchic speaks to four women who are not just advocating for change, but actively shaping it. Where they saw gaps in justice and equality, they chose to build solutions.
Vatsala Nair Manoharan, Founder, Moms Village Asia & Magic Seed
“In Malaysia, we speak about empowerment but financial autonomy is still fragile for many women. System change does not only happen in Parliament. It happens in boardrooms, schools, homes, and small businesses.”
Vatsala’s personal healing journey evolved into a mission-driven purpose when she founded Moms Village Asia Sdn Bhd, a digital ecosystem dedicated to empowering women through crisis support, confidence-building programmes, entrepreneurship, and skills training so they can rebuild their lives with dignity and independence.
A committed advocate against domestic violence, she leads impactful initiatives such as #10Ringgit, which promotes women’s financial independence as a symbol of strength and security, and #RingARing4Roses, encouraging bystander intervention and collective responsibility.
Through intentional support for women-led enterprises, shared financial literacy, and flexible workplaces that do not penalise motherhood, she believes sustainable change is possible. She adds, “We do not need more slogans. We need redesigned systems.”
Sharifah Hani Yasmin, Founder of One Step Closer (OSC)
“Mentor a woman in your network… That one act, multiplied across thousands of Malaysians, would shift who gets seen and hired.”
Sharifah is a Malaysian Career and Higher Education Admissions Consultant and SDG 8 advocate dedicated to improving employability, widening access to higher education, and empowering youth toward dignified work.
As co-founder of One Step Closer (OSC), launched during the pandemic, she mobilised over 40 HR professionals to mentor more than 1,000 Malaysian jobseekers, bridging opportunity gaps and promoting economic independence. She has collaborated with TalentCorp, Yayasan Peneraju, and Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman, while mentoring with Girls4Girls Malaysia and supporting Lean In Malaysia’s Career Comeback Programme 2024.
She champions women’s right to economic participation, saying, “Not just access to jobs, but the right to re-enter the workforce without being penalised for time spent caregiving… economic independence is a foundation for safety and dignity.”
Priska Magdalena Sinem, Co-Founder of Hai Mandak!
“In my faith, leadership isn’t about a title; it’s about being a ‘pattern’ for others to follow in service and integrity. If you want to see more rights for women and girls, don’t just post about it. Model it.”
Priska is a youth leader and civic advocate from Kota Belud, Sabah, committed to empowering young Sabahans through accessible civic education and grassroots mobilisation.
With a background in International Relations and experience as an SMJ Fellow under the Sabah Ministry of Youth and Sports, she co-founded Hai Mandak!, a youth-led edutainment platform that simplifies governance, local issues, and voting. Her activism began with Kempen Anak Sabah Balik Mengundi during the 2022 General Election, and continues through initiatives like “Kelas Ko Ada Kuasa Bah!” and “30 Hari 30 Konten PRN.”
When young women are sidelined, whether by cultural bias or a lack of access to civic education, we aren’t just ‘missing a demographic’. We are stifling the very gifts meant to build our nation.
Carmen Lim, Malaysian National para-swimmer
Listen to women and their negative experiences and understand that just because you have not experienced anything similar, that does not make the misogyny and inequality any less real.
Carmen is an inspiration to many. She is an advocate for people with disabilities in addition to being a Cambridge law graduate and a paralympian. At the 2025 ASEAN Para Games in Thailand, Carmen was named Best Female Athlete by the Paralympic Council Malaysia after winning multiple medals and setting a new Games record.
She was born with a congenital limb deficiency, missing her left arm, and has emerged as one of the country’s most inspiring para-athletes.
There hasn’t been an obstacle I can single out as the defining point in my journey so far. I believe I have faced my share of hardship, be it personal or professional losses, but am also acutely aware of the privilege I have to be able to pick up the pieces from each loss and continue my journey.
makchic is honoured to highlight these women this International Women’s Day 2026 and their bravery in ensuring their voices become movement. When women are empowered with safety, opportunity, and dignity, communities rise stronger and more hopeful.
The writer is an autism advocate and educator who began her advocacy journey after her son’s autism diagnosis in 2017. She founded Project Haans in 2019 to raise autism awareness and has since become a strong voice for neurodivergent families. Holding a Master in Education (Special Education), Desiree combines her professional background in Public Relations with lived experience to empower parents through articles, talks, workshops, and the Kita Family podcast. She also leads an inclusive tuition centre and actively serves in Kiwanis Malaysia, championing awareness, inclusion, and support for all abilities.
