Over the past years, Southeast Asia has made notable progress in elevating female leadership in multiple sectors of society.
However, the gender gap in terms of leadership remains highly persistent in the region, with women here holding only 26% of senior/middle management positions, and facing significant barriers in political and corporate decision-making, according to the Asia Society Policy Institute.
HERDD, a newly-launched online platform, aims to trim down such disparity.
Join the HERDD
Carrying the slogan “She Leads, We Rise,” HERDD was formally introduced to the public in March, at a Filipina-led forum during the 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York.
As a female leadership accelerator, the new platform seeks to help women break through roles of real influence by delivering a stronger ecosystem through “insight, visibility and community.”
It allows both emerging and established female leaders to navigate relevant challenges while expanding their voice and impact across the region.
“And while the world evolves, female leaders rising today need support now,” reads a notice on the platform, whose headquarters are in Singapore.
“Because rising to the top requires foresight: the ability to see the bigger picture and act ahead of change.”
By signing up on the HERDD website, members will gain access to the weekly Boardroom Brief and other community updates.
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By women for women
Three women from the Philippines, namely HERDD Chief Curator Ivanna Aguiling-Dela Torre, Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI) United Nations Office Director Merly Barlaan and Women of the World (WOW) Founder Isa Buencamino-Agbayani, led the launching of HERDD at the Heidrick & Struggles office in March 2026.
For them, the project is a strong response to the systemic exclusion of women from spaces where power is consolidated, and key decisions are made, despite them already doing the work, driving outcomes and shaping communities.
In the words of Torre, the essence of HERDD is not only to uplift female leadership, “but to help reshape who gets to lead and who gets to influence decisions,” as cited by Business World.
“Take up space. Speak up. Step into the dialogue. Share your experience. Because the rooms where decisions are made are not fixed. They expand when more voices enter,” Torre told the gathering in New York.
The landmark event, hosted by broadcast journalist and UN Women National Goodwill Ambassador for the Philippines Karen Davila, also witnessed members of the diplomatic community, representatives from civil society and the private sector take part in discussions on issues that continue to shape women’s advancement, including economic participation, climate justice and access to justice in leadership.
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Simon Wilkes 
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