Women of PwC: Edwina Chin's story of Impact and finding your path

Edwina Chin started her PwC Journey ten years ago in London where she delivered iconic projects such as the Girls’ Education Challenge, benefiting over 1.5 million girls in Asia and Africa. Her passion for making a difference brought her to Singapore in 2018, where she played a pivotal role in establishing PwC’s international development practice in Southeast Asia. Here, she had the opportunity to lead several regional projects for the UK Government, involving direct interactions with governments across Southeast Asia. Edwina reached another significant career milestone in 2023 when she was promoted to Partner and took over as the lead of PwC's International Development practice. Her responsibilities encompass overseeing major aid-funded initiatives, advising on strategy and policy, and creating and implementing government programmes in the field of health, finance, and economic transformation.

Reflecting on her journey, Edwina revealed that she was drawn to the world of international affairs and even pursued a path in law to practice human rights and international law. This interest shifted when she was engaged with the complex dynamics of international development. She found herself captivated by the tangible impact she could make on people’s lives, ultimately reshaping her career trajectory towards widespread meaningful change on a global scale. Beyond her professional achievements, Edwina embodies a multifaceted nature of womanhood. As a mother of two and an avid art enthusiast, she brings depth and dimension to her identity. Her dedication to both her family and work underscores the strengths that define her character.

Join us as we get to know more about Edwina’s story, learning more about her impact, motivation and insights for aspiring female leaders navigating their own path of success.

What key moment or project that you believe has made a significant impact on the communities you serve in Southeast Asia?

I had the privilege of leading the Better Health Programme in Southeast Asia for several years. We worked with Ministries of Health across the region to improve strategies and programmes relating to non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and lung disease.?There were definitely some challenges- we kicked off the project one month before COVID-19 hit Southeast Asia, which meant that the Ministries of Health were fighting battles on multiple fronts, and the project, as originally designed, would need to adapt. We had to quickly figure out how to keep our staff safe as our work involved working with hospitals, primary care centers and the like and how to pivot the project to achieve similar outcomes in a crisis situation, with social distancing and constantly changing regulations.

For me, this was an iconic project to work on not just because of the concrete outcomes we achieved, but also because we worked with a wide range of highly intelligent, dedicated public health professionals across the region. It’s a project I’ll remember for the rest of my life!?

What motivates you to continue your impactful work despite the challenges you may encounter along the way?

There’s a line in a Bob Dylan song which I often think of, which is: ‘How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?’ For me, that’s a big part of it.

The other thing that keeps me motivated is seeing impact on the ground. I’ll always remember traveling to Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and other territories to see girls and boys in schools that we’d supported, and knowing that their life chances and quality were likely to be so much better because of this.

How do you inspire your team to break through career? barriers and build resilience in their life journey?

It’s not rocket science, but I think the philosophy of ‘walk through the open doors’ is generally a good one.

A lot of work is really just about stepping up to the plate and learning by doing, with a solid support network around you. I try to encourage my team to remember that, and to provide the support network that’s needed.

?What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

Experiment! Don’t be afraid to try new things, particularly early on in your career. You’ll be more likely to find something that really resonates with you and that you’ll want to continue doing long term.?