💼 Brief Take: DBS’ First Female CEO is No Lalang
The new chief of Southeast Asia’s largest bank shows that she has guts.
Tan Su Shan is proving to be no ‘lalang’ – a type of grass commonly found in Southeast Asia that bends wherever the wind blows.
She has shown more guts than some corporate titans who pulled back from their ESG and DEI commitments to appease US President Donald Trump.
Companies that pledged to support environmental, social and governance (ESG) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives should stick to their commitments and not be swayed by political developments, CNBC reported on 12 March 2025, citing Tan Su Shan, the incoming CEO of Singapore’s DBS Group.
Eveline’s Take:
☘️ Tan, who is set to become DBS’ first female CEO, is proving to be no ‘lalang’ – a type of grass commonly found in Southeast Asia that bends wherever the wind blows.
☘️ Even before officially taking the top position at the region’s largest bank on 28 March, Tan has shown more guts than some corporate titans who pulled back from their ESG and DEI commitments to appease US President Donald Trump.
☘️ Tan has acknowledged that long-time DBS CEO Piyush Gupta – who grew the bank into an international heavyweight over 15 years – is “a hard act to follow”. She’ll be taking the reins from Gupta at a time when DBS is facing significant headwinds, including a slowdown in its key overseas markets and a spate of online service disruptions at home, Bloomberg reported.
☘️ Constantly comparing Tan with her predecessor is counterproductive because she has her own vision and working style. In short, a leader shouldn’t be expected to fill someone else’s shoes because each foot is unique.
☘️ Some corporations may succumb to Trump’s pressure to move away from inclusiveness because they want to supposedly protect their business. But a leader’s legacy is defined by his or her ability to walk the talk, especially when the going gets tough.