Editor’s Note: Leading Women connects you to extraordinary women of our time – remarkable professionals who have made it to the top in all areas of business, the arts, sport, culture, science and more.
Story highlights
Meet Rohana Rozhan, boss of multi-billion dollar Astro Malaysia
Says secret to success is reflecting audience within workforce
As a youngster, Rohana Rozhan had a nickname that summed her up perfectly: “Rohana the Piranha.”
Even as a little girl growing up in Malaysia, the future CEO of a $4.6 billion media company was small but deadly.
“I was born independent, fiercely so,” 51-year-old Rozhan told CNN’s Kristie Lu-Stout.
“I always had a chip on my shoulder that I had to prove to everyone that I’m independent.”
Today she’s proved it – and then some.
Rozhan heads Astro Malaysia, one of the biggest media and entertainment firms in the region. She’s in charge of producing over 9,000 hours of original content a year – ranging from radio broadcasts to hits on the silver screen.
Here, she shares some of the secrets of her success
Rozhan on equality:
“We have 52% women working at Astro, but one of the things we are very very passionate about, is that each woman has to be the best person for the job.”
On respect:
“If you grow up a good Muslim, Malay girl, one of the things you have to learn is you can be the smartest kid on the block, but you have to be respectful.”
On determination:
“You have to want it, but you can’t just want it without the work. You have to want it, yet understand, that it’s not going to be easy.”
Read: 7 women who changed the world
Inspire: Patricia Arquette’s rallying cry
Get involved: International Women’s Day events you’d be crazy to miss