On International Women’s Day, we turn to the women whose journeys have helped shape our academic community. Beyond titles and achievements lie stories of resilience and resolve, with stories that unfold across lecture halls, research labs, family homes and leadership spaces.

This year, we invited women academics at Monash University, Malaysia to write a letter to their younger selves. Not a list of accolades, but a reflection on how their understanding of success, ambition and balance has transformed over time.

Through their words, we see that success is not static. It evolves. It deepens. It becomes less about proving and more about purpose.

Success reimagined through every season of life

Professor Siow Lee Fong, Deputy Head of School (Education), School of Science

My perspectives on success, ambition and balance have evolved over the years.

When I was a fresh graduate, I saw success as working more overtime and building my financial independence. I gave my full commitment to grow and learn as much as I could.

When I became an academic, I worked enthusiastically to develop the new Bachelor of Science (Food Science and Technology) course. To me, success is witnessing my students’ achievements and guiding them to discover and pursue their future career pathways with confidence.

When I became a mother, I learned to balance my time between work and family. I prioritise what truly matters, recognising that there are only 24 hours in a day and one pair of hands. Success to me is when everything is peaceful at home and I have peace of mind to focus on my work.

When I became a leader, I mentored and inspired my colleagues in their work. When my colleagues and I share a vision and work collaboratively towards shared goals, that is success. My ambition is to build impact and legacy in our work and beyond.

To my younger self, be courageous and give your very best. Stay resilient and keep going. The greatest reward will be the deep sense of fulfilment you earn along the way.

Leading with love, faith and courage

Associate Professor Dr Nevein Philip Botross Henien, Internal Medicine, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences

On International Women’s Day, I would like to express my deepest respect and appreciation for all women. Your role in life is truly invaluable. The next generation is shaped by your hands, by how you nurture, guide and discipline your children to become thoughtful, compassionate and influential leaders of tomorrow.

At the same time, beyond your roles as mothers, wives, daughters and caregivers, you carry your own dreams and ambitions. I once dreamed of becoming a doctor, and today I find great fulfilment in caring for patients, speaking with them and helping to ease their suffering.

The journey has not always been easy. There have been moments of exhaustion, times when the weight of responsibility felt overwhelming, and when it seemed that no one else could carry the load.

Balancing professional duties with family responsibilities is a constant challenge. There is no perfect formula for managing it all without ever stumbling. I have learned that perfection is not the goal. There will be setbacks and difficult days, but what matters most is the courage to rise again, to learn and to keep moving forward without losing hope.

Amid the challenges, there are also countless beautiful moments – the smile of a husband, the success of children, the gratitude of patients and the quiet pride in personal achievements. These moments remind us why we persevere. They are the fruits of patience, sacrifice,and unwavering dedication.

To all women: You do not have to be perfect to be extraordinary. Lead with love, because love forgives mistakes and strengthens relationships. Hold onto faith, because in time you will reap what you have sown and take joy in the harvest.

On this International Women’s Day, I honour you. Your work, your sacrifices and your impact on the world are undeniable.

From uncertainty to purposeful advocacy

Dr Siew Li Teoh, Senior Lecturer, School of Pharmacy

Dear Charmaine,

You have just graduated from your undergraduate studies and you feel lost. It is completely OK to feel this way; this uncertainty is not a sign of failure, but the necessary path towards finding your true calling. Keep following your heart and maintain your disciplined approach to doing your absolute best with every task entrusted to you, no matter how small it feels right now.

On love and partnership

You will eventually recognise the right person for you – the one who consistently makes you a priority. You will have a good husband and he will be a wonderful father when your child arrives.

The miracle of creation

You will know what is best for your child. She will bring more life to you than you ever imagined possible. She is the living proof of your own incredible power – the realisation that you can impregnate a living being, nurturing a life from an infant to a toddler and beyond.

This miracle will fill you with amazement; through her, you will learn things you never knew you possessed – patience, faith and a deep, unconditional love.

Strength and grounding

You will discover an incredible inner strength, a capacity to prioritise your child’s growth and emotional needs above all else. This may slow your pace, but it will not hold you back. Instead, it will ground you. You will move forward with a clearer understanding of every intention, both in your work and in your life.

Purpose through advocacy

The challenges you face will not be in vain; they will become your greatest professional catalyst. You will turn your own experiences into a research priority, dedicating your career to improving maternal and child health support.

Your work will ensure that others receive the care and compassion they need – the same support you once sought for yourself. Your struggle will become the bridge that helps countless others find their way.

Redefining achievement through balance and resilience

Sheila Chakrabarty, Educator, School of Pathways and Immersion

If I could speak to my younger self, I would convey that achievement is not a linear progression and differs from the grand perception held. In earlier stages, achievement was understood as attaining accomplishments – positions, acknowledgment and quantifiable results.

As an academic, I held myself to high standards, equating constant productivity with purpose. Commitment drove me and, in many ways, it created meaningful opportunities.

Over time, I learned that achievement without balance quietly erodes joy. Real success is not only found in results, but in relationships such as students who developed self-assurance, colleagues who placed their trust in me, the child who watched and learned not from my accomplishments, but from my resilience and presence. Motherhood reshaped my understanding of impact.

I now give myself credit for choosing education not merely as a career, but as a way of life, and for making many difficult yet meaningful decisions along the way. Prioritising integrity, stability and long-term growth required courage, especially in seasons of uncertainty.

Balance is not a destination one arrives at; it is a daily negotiation. Some seasons call for momentum, others require stillness and rebuilding. Both are necessary.

I would reassure my younger self that choosing family, rest and boundaries does not weaken strength; rather, it deepens it. Success evolves and so must we.

Today, I honour the woman I have become – and the quiet courage that carried me here.

Happy International Woman’s Day!