When we think of economic growth, we usually imagine soaring GDPs (Gross Domestic Product), new highways, global investments, and unicorn startups.
It’s often seen as something massive, mechanical, and far removed from the everyday lives of women juggling jobs, kids, and dreams.
But economic growth isn’t always about skyscrapers and stock markets.
Sometimes, it looks like a woman finally understanding her financial rights and launching her own business.
A mother who gains access to childcare and re-enters the workforce.
A teenage girl in rural areas who stays in school because her family starts to see education differently.
It’s in these quiet little spaces where one woman learns, earns, and leads, that economies quietly but powerfully transform.
Because here’s the thing that’s special – when you educate a woman, you don’t just shape a career.
You strengthen a family, uplift a community, and yes, grow an economy.
The session titled Academic Excellence and Economic Impact: How Education is Driving Women’s Success in the Sheconomy at Women Economic Forum ASEAN 2025 (WEF ASEAN 2025) acknowledged exactly that.
So What Does Education Actually Do?
Let’s break this down.
Dr Becky Low, a powerhouse with a resume that includes TikTok and Bloomberg, said it best: “Financial literacy isn’t a ‘nice to have’. It’s how women stop waiting for permission.”
She’s been in the rooms where money is moved, and she knows first-hand that understanding your numbers is what turns a woman from just coping to leading.
Her advice? Know your forecasting. Own your pitch deck. Dare to ask for capital and know exactly why you deserve it.
And just when the room was still catching its breath, Dr Sarifa Alonto Younes stepped in to remind us that the impact of education goes beyond the boardroom.
It’s generational.
Drawing on OECD stats and lived experience, she showed how education boosts women’s chances of launching businesses and keeping them alive.
But more than that, she reminded us of how education builds confidence. “It’s not just what you learn,” she said. “It’s who you become because of it.”
The System Needs Work, Too
Of course, it’s not just about the individual.
Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Mursyid Arshad took the mic and brought us back to basics: our curriculums.
Are they designed with women in mind? Do they build confidence?
Do they help young women figure out where they fit in a world that often tells them they don’t?
If not, he says, we’re missing the point.
He wasn’t wrong. Education needs to do more than inform, it needs to empower.
Petrina’s Story: Where It All Comes Together
And then there was Nuren Group’s Petrina Goh.
You might know her as the founder of Motherhood.com.my, the Motherhood Parenting SuperApp, and other platforms reaching over five million mothers across Southeast Asia.
But what made her stand out wasn’t just her resume, it was her raw honesty.
She didn’t come to talk about stats. She came to talk about real life.
The early days of motherhood. The silent battles women face.
The moments when education, access, and the right kind of information make the difference between surviving and thriving.
“Women aren’t just looking for tips,” she said. “They’re looking for someone to show them the way. That’s what our platforms do. We don’t just sell. We teach, guide and show up.”
Her takeaway?
When women have the tools, they move mountains.
Not just for themselves, but for their families, their communities, and the economy at large.
Bold Choices, Lasting Change
This parallel session was a reminder that behind every economy, there are women making decisions.
And those decisions are smarter, bolder, and more impactful when education is at the centre.
So if you’ve ever questioned whether that course, that workshop, that online course, or that degree is worth it, here’s your answer: yes.
Absolutely. Again and again, yes.
Because smart women don’t just change their lives. They change the world.
Eager to inspire yourself and those around you?
Highlights from this session and more are rolling out soon on Motherhood and our social channels: Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
If something struck a chord with you, tell us.
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And stay tuned to Motherhood Story for more stories that matter, from the women building the future, one bold step at a time.
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