All great revolutions are led by a great cause assuming of world’s betterment. Today, when the economy is facing globalization and business leaders are making their way into the industries venturing, entrepreneurship is becoming gender-neutral. There are many women establishing their venture with mission-and vision-specific startups.

Starz Advise Management- a Recruitment Agency, Human Resource Consulting, Business Consulting, and Accounting Services company is also a startup founded by Sharon Tham, Founder & Managing Director of Starz Advise Management.Sharon is B.Sc (Hons) in Accounting & Finance from the University of London. As a woman who assumes age is merely a number and has the courage to pursue her aspirations, well-prepared with specific plans in store, she is a business leader & entrepreneur to be admired for her dedication to pursuing her passion for people management through her company.

With her fascinating entrepreneurial stint in Accounting and Human Resources, Sharon inspires many women who aspire to make a mark in the industry. Let's learn more from her in below interview snippets.

Take us through the prior industry experience that you bring to the table. Give us a glimpse of your key areas of expertise as a Human Resource leader.  

I have a diverse range of experience that covers start-ups, talent acquisition, talent development & management, organizational development, change management, compensation & benefits, employer branding, employee communications, employee engagement, succession planning, compliance, and industrial relations. My expertise lies in transforming HR into a valued business partner, providing HR solutions to reduce turnover rates. Additionally, I am a strong operational generalist with in-depth knowledge of HR practices and policies across the Asia Pacific region. My international perspective enables me to handle diverse work environments and embrace cultural differences. As a hands-on manager, I am always eager to tackle new challenges and maintain a ‘never-say-die’ attitude towards my work philosophy.

"Ensuring fair competition and recognition is crucial to empower more women to assume leadership positions"

Having grown over the years and coming a long way I still believe I have a lot to learn. Well, if I would need to provide people a glimpse of my key expertise, I would prefer to look up to some great personnel with whom I have worked and received appreciation for my work. I have received many written recommendations on my LinkedIn page, where one by Scott Thomas, J.D., M.B.A.(Senior Employment Counsel and HR Executive) mentions– ‘Sharon radiates positivity and is a consummate team member. She is insightful, compassionate, and technically sound. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Sharon for 3+ years and she always strives to create an open and inclusive workplace as well as promote a positive employee culture’.

Introduce us to Starz Advise Management. Tell us about the underlying idea behind the venture and some of the primary areas of expertise.

Be it Accounting or Recruitment related requirements, Starz Advise Management as a Recruitment Agency, Human Resource Consulting, Business Consulting, and Accounting Services company efficiently leverages its exceptional services to serve the client’s people needs. Being sincere, talented, agile, reliable, and zealous, the team at Starz possesses a friendly and approachable quality and an excellent understanding that makes the clients feel expected and assured that the resolution shall be prompt and effective to exactly serve the purpose.

What are the various responsibilities you shoulder as the Founder & Managing Director of Starz Advise Management? What are your current focus areas in terms of driving growth for the company?

I am responsible for overseeing all business operations and providing strategic leadership for our growing company. This includes developing and implementing strategic plans, hiring new team members, providing training and mentorship to ensure their success, and establishing company policies.

Throw some light on the most critical challenges you encounter in terms of leading Starz Advise Management. Also, tell us about the top three milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey.

Well, there were many but some that follow consistently are- the pool of unqualified talent limits our options for finding the right candidate. As recruiters, it is crucial that we clearly understand our client's job requirements. Apart from this, with numerous recruiters, both internal and external, in the market, we must quickly screen and communicate to compete for time. A strong agency brand can attract better clients and engagement. Therefore, we must effectively and efficiently promote our agency to increase its visibility. We at Starz, are proficiently mitigating these working with focus and passion to help clients solve people problems.

I will list down some, beginning with- we achieved our sales target in the first year. Second, we successfully expanded our business in the second year. Third, our clients have repeatedly entrusted us with recruitment assignments.

What is your take on the current state of women’s representation in the Asian business landscape? How can we bring more women into the workforce and leadership roles?

Female entrepreneurs in Asia make significant contributions to economic growth, yet we still lack sufficient knowledge about them. Gender inequality persists in some sectors of the Asian market. Adequate family support is crucial to allow more women to focus on their work, particularly in leadership roles. Ensuring fair competition and recognition is crucial to empower more women to assume leadership positions.

Any Advise for aspiring women entrepreneurs?

Sure. First- Break the mold. While the traditional view is that your career should follow a single path, there's no reason why you can't pursue a variety of experiences if you have the passion and motivation. Second- Fight your fears. The fear of failure can be paralyzing, but it's not a good enough reason to hold back. It's important to find reward in the process, not just the outcome. By taking this approach, you'll always have a sense of satisfaction. Third- Perseverance is just as important as passion. It's crucial to help you keep your goals in mind and continue pushing towards them.   

Sharon Tham, Founder & Managing Director, Starz Advise Management

A B.Sc (Hons) in Accounting & Finance from the University of London, Sharon is a business doyen who holds dynamic experience across start-ups, talent acquisition, talent development & management, organizational development, change management, compensation & benefits, employer branding, employee communications, employee engagement, succession planning, compliance, and industrial relations. Currently, imbibing it all, she has been proficiently leading Starz Advise Management as the Founder & MD.