Despite scoring well in her entrance exams, Sakshi Vasudev was shocked to find she had not received a university offer in the first round of admissions.
“My teachers were surprised. Everyone was surprised,” said Vasudev, now 23.
She later accepted a spot in the second round, although it felt like a major setback.
Vasudev now works at top four global accounting firm PwC, which is considered a prestigious employer among many Hongkongers.
She said the job was not only the result of hard work but also the help of the Empower programme run by the Amber Foundation, an NGO that supports underserved communities in Hong Kong and South Asia.
Chairwoman and founder Elizabeth Thomson said the foundation, which has a specific focus on young women from ethnic minority groups in the job market, was on a mission to raise awareness.
“There’s a need to start making people wake up and say: these are Hong Kong people that are contributing [to society] and it isn’t just one race that’s here,” she said.
Bringing down barriers
Empower launched its first cohort in 2018, with 120 women now in its alumni network. Women from ethnic minority groups who are attending university can apply for the free programme in which they are paired with mentors, attend workshops, network and find internships.
Asked why the programme targeted women, Thomson said simply: “Probably because I am a feminist.”
She also wanted to focus on ethnic minority groups, as they faced greater obstacles in the job market.
“One of the barriers is just outright racial discrimination ... I think the only word I would have for it is just lack of exposure,” Thomson said.
She had heard stories from women wearing hijabs who were asked to “take off their hats” at work, calling it ignorance on the part of the employer.
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Anjaly Saseendran, a Hongkonger born in India and an Empower member from 2018 to 2020, said some companies rejected ethnic minority women simply because of the name on their application.
The 27-year-old said some of these women were from underprivileged families and lacked a network of career connections.
“They won’t even know that there are this many job opportunities,” Saseendran said.
Vasudev, who was born in India and moved to Hong Kong as an infant, explained that ethnic minority women often had other priorities, such as caring for family.
“A lot of these girls are helping out at home. There’s a lot of family pressure. We might be the first generation to go to university,” she said. “We can’t ask for help ... because our parents never went to school here.”
Beyond career advice
Workshops run by the foundation are designed to teach practical skills for real-world situations.
“We work with the girls to boost their skills. It’s a personal and professional development programme,” Thomson said.
Both Vasudev and Saseendran found the mock interviews and the CV-writing workshops to be the most helpful.
“They’re looking at your CV; they’re looking at how you do interviews and giving feedback,” Vasudev said. “Even today, if I were to interview for another role, I would look back at my notes [from Empower].”
Vasudev was able to pick up valuable skills, with advice from her mentor and networking opportunities also proving beneficial.
“In university, you’re learning hard skills. Empower is teaching you soft skills that you need to survive in the workplace,” she said.
One main lesson for the women is how to pitch themselves to potential employers. Saseendran was encouraged to create a LinkedIn profile, while Vasudev focused on the storytelling power of her CV.
“You’re constantly pitching yourself, right? You’re pitching about who you are, what you do,” Vasudev said.
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Growing as a person
Thomson has seen many students go on to secure promising roles in areas such as law, research and business.
Vasudev, one such former student, said Empower provided her access to opportunities. “If you want to survive, I realised having connections is extremely important,” she said.
She added the NGO’s connections helped her secure an internship at PwC, which led to her current job.
As for Saseendran, she undertook an internship at a school and is now a research assistant at the University of Hong Kong.
Professional development is only one part of the growth Thomson has seen in the women. Another is confidence.
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The foundation chairwoman said she remembered their “terrified” demeanour years ago.
“I’ve seen quite a change,” she said. “Confidence is the really big thing.”
Saseendran, who considers herself an introvert, agreed. “I think it definitely boosted my confidence because they always try to highlight our skills,” she said.
Vasudev was quick to encourage others to apply to take part in the Empower programme.
“Just join. Not only will you get the support you need in terms of career and the mentorship, but it’s also the connections that will be really helpful for your career down the line,” she said.
Her final tip to all students, regardless of where they are in their education journey: “Don’t panic. Things will work out.”
Stop and think: How does the programme prepare young women for the workplace?
Why this story matters: Hong Kong is home to people of many different ethnic backgrounds. But discrimination still exists in the workplace, especially for women who may already have to deal with harmful stereotypes.
