Open Letter from Patricia Liu, Chief of Staff, Razer Inc.

I have been in the global technology industry for over two decades rising through the ranks at companies like Hewlett Packard until I became the first Asian female managing director at Omega Engineering, before joining Razer in 2016. Today I’m Razer’s Chief of Staff, responsible for all our customer services, strategic initiatives, and the management of our 18 offices worldwide, as well as our sustainability initiatives under #GoGreenWithRazer. I’ve been a woman in tech long enough to notice that there is some progress with regards to gender diversity, in the sense that there is a lot more awareness and support from governments and corporations, but change has been painfully slow. I have been in the industry for 25 years and yet here I am today, still a minority. This is despite mandated gender and diversity quotas.

Gender diversity is important to drive the tech industry forward with surveys suggesting that it helps contribute positively to business performance. A study conducted by Boston Consulting Group showed that Fortune 500 companies with at least three women in leading positions saw a 66% increase in returns on investment and have a purchasing power of an estimated $5 trillion. From a human resource perspective, if companies ignore 50% of the potential workforce and not tap into their full capabilities at a time when we are facing a shortage of global tech talent, there will possibly be US$450 billion of unrealized revenues by 2030.

Gender diversity is also important because different viewpoints stemming from different life experiences spark new innovations and improve product designs and experiences that appeal to a larger customer base. Razer’s motto is “For Gamers, By Gamers” and with that we recognize that gamers include all genders, races, and orientations from around the world. Only in truly appreciating the diversity of our community and catering to them, have we been able to grow into the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers.

At Razer we remain committed to welcome more female talents. In fact, gender, race, and age are all nonfactors when it comes to Razer’s recruitment strategy. We have pledged to build a diverse and inclusive workforce, inside Razer and beyond – from ensuring that our recruitment policies support diversity, to inspiring more young women to enter the tech industry and supporting them in their aspirations, as well as celebrating women across the industry through internal employee engagement and external industry outreach programs.

I was very fortunate to have grown up with many strong female role models in my life. My mother is a strong entrepreneurial woman who equally provided for the family alongside my father. My paternal grandmother was the sole breadwinner as a rubber tapper who brought up a family of eight children. So, you can say I had many incredible women to look up to and who always encouraged me to pursue technical, science and math majors in school as those were my strong suits. The supportive example they set for me is something I carried into my career. Now at Razer, I have had the opportunity to mentor many younger talents, guiding them, while at the same time letting them showcase their abilities.

Another way that my upbringing has shaped me is with my passion for sustainability. Sustainability or being environmentally friendly before it became a buzz word, has always been a way of life for me. This comes from growing up in a frugal environment – spending only what is necessary, buying only to replace, recycle whenever possible, dispose responsibly, live ethically – all these concepts have been ingrained in me since I was young.?These are the very same pillars I teach my four children. I am passionate about sustainability because it is about living responsibly and ethically, improving the quality of our lives, and preserving our natural resources for future generations. This is the passion that I bring to my role as we seek to make sustainability endemic to gaming. ?

It is very fitting that this year, the theme for Women’s Day this year is “Gender Equality Today, for a Sustainable Tomorrow”. At the end of the day, both males and females inherit this same earth, but women tend to be more affected.?Women are more vulnerable to climate change than men as they constitute the majority of the world’s underprivileged and are more reliant on the natural resources which climate change threatens. At the same time, women are incredibly powerful leaders who are able navigate complex climate adaptation and mitigation. According to UN Women, women are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership results in more effective climate action.

As a woman in leadership at Razer, I can testify that ensuring women have a voice and are given decision-making responsibilities related to climate change is essential for sustainable development. As women, we need to take the lead in pushing the sustainability agenda in the gaming arena despite the skepticism around our intent. We also need to champion each other- we’re not waiting on anyone to give us our rightful place which is in leadership positions, and the best thing any leader can do is to mentor another. So, I shall leave you with the following advice: lead by example and show other women how to get to where you are. Be loud, take up space, share your stories, show how you manage to juggle a career, a family and self-care, because you’re an inspiration even when you don’t know it.?Support other women, advocate for their advancement, and speak up for them. Together, we will create a more sustainable tomorrow.?