Female Diplomats in HCMC Advise Students on Leadership and Career Barriers

On the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, June 24, eight foreign female Consuls General serving in Ho Chi Minh City engaged with around 40 female students to explore the landscape for women in diplomatic service. The students, from the Faculty of History and International Relations at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City), discussed opportunities, challenges, and the evolving role of women in the field.

The gathering featured top diplomats from Australia, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, the Netherlands, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. The event was structured as a series of roundtable discussions, where students participated in direct, 10-minute conversations with each Consul General, moving away from a traditional speech format. The dialogue covered a wide array of topics, including leadership, gender equality, career development, work-life balance, personal identity, and the future trajectory for women in diplomacy.

Building confidence, networks and leadership skills

H.E. Ms. Kate Wallace, Australia’s Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh City, stressed the critical role of professional networks and mentorship in career advancement for women. “All around us are people who will go on to achieve remarkable things in different fields. It is important to value and nurture those relationships from today,” she advised.

Ms. Wallace acknowledged that while female representation in leadership and diplomacy is growing, persistent gender stereotypes and structural barriers remain. She encouraged the young women to maintain confidence in their abilities, proactively seek out opportunities, and cultivate supportive networks to sustain long-term professional growth.

H.E. Ms. Alexandra Smith, the British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, observed that the UK diplomatic service has achieved near-gender parity at the entry level. However, she pointed out that gender disparities often appear later in career paths, especially at senior leadership levels.

According to Ms. Smith, these gaps can be attributed to factors such as the additional family care responsibilities many women undertake, which can impact career progression. She also noted the existence of less visible obstacles, like informal professional networks, that may limit opportunities.

The UK’s strategy, Ms. Smith explained, is not to implement special recruitment policies for women but to foster diversity and inclusion throughout the public sector. Initiatives include internship programmes for individuals from diverse backgrounds, regular workforce surveys, and data-driven human resources policies designed to ensure public institutions mirror the diversity of British society.

She also detailed the UK's "blind recruitment" method, where personal information like an applicant's name, gender, and educational institution is redacted during initial screening. This practice aims to mitigate unconscious bias and ensure candidates are evaluated primarily on their skills and capabilities. Ms. Smith also urged students to find mentors at every stage of their careers, highlighting that trusted advisers can offer invaluable guidance, new perspectives, and crucial support at key professional junctures.

Progress made but barriers remain

H.E. Ms. Wiraka Moodhitaporn, Consul General of Thailand in Ho Chi Minh City, offered her perspective, stating that while opportunities for women have expanded significantly, numerous barriers persist. In many Asian societies, she noted, traditional leadership concepts are often associated with men. Furthermore, the inherent demands of a diplomatic career, such as frequent relocation and extensive travel, can pose unique challenges for women balancing professional and family life.

Despite these hurdles, Ms. Moodhitaporn observed a steady increase in female representation within diplomacy. In Thailand, women now constitute a growing proportion of diplomats, ambassadors, and senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She commented that the current generation of women is more confident in expressing their views, pursuing leadership roles, and managing the balance between career ambitions and personal life.

She also underscored that many challenges women face in the field are universal, not confined to a specific region. Whether in Asia or Europe, women often confront similar decisions regarding career advancement, family obligations, and leadership opportunities. "There are more opportunities today, and we are seeing more women in leadership positions. The key is to continue creating an environment where women can contribute and advance on equal footing," she said.

Speaking with Vietnam Economic Times/VnEconomy, H.E. Ms. Raïssa Marteaux, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City, highlighted her country's feminist foreign policy. This policy promotes equal representation for women in leadership roles, peace negotiations, and diplomatic affairs. However, she conceded that full gender parity has not yet been realized, even within the Dutch diplomatic corps. Ms. Marteaux is herself the first woman the Netherlands has appointed as Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Dutch diplomat noted that women are assuming increasingly significant leadership roles in the business world as well as the public sector. Nonetheless, she said, many obstacles remain, and sustained dialogue is necessary to identify and dismantle them.

Reflecting on the event, Ms. Marteaux expressed that she was impressed by the students' curiosity, initiative, and eagerness to learn. She remarked that diplomacy is fundamentally about communication, listening, and continuous learning—qualities the students demonstrated.

In her advice to the students, the Consul General shared two primary messages: find your voice and be yourself. She argued that every individual possesses a unique perspective that warrants being heard, irrespective of age, experience, or gender. A greater diversity of viewpoints, she concluded, ultimately fosters better decision-making in both diplomacy and society at large. “As long as we have not achieved genuine equality, we cannot say that our efforts to advance women in diplomacy are enough,” Ms. Marteaux stressed.