What Does ‘Strong’ Really Mean?

What does it mean to be strong?

We gathered around the table for a conversation that brewed slowly, much like a good pot of coffee. In a quiet corner of a community café, we explored the question through the lens of gender, upbringing, and the shifting tides of generational perspective. Led by our GEN community lead Tiara, she opened the conversation with our two speakers: Nur Syahidah Alim – Singapore’s first Paralympic archer, a champion in adaptive sports whose journey of resilience and triumph challenges conventional ideas of strength; and Antoinette Patterson – Co-founder and CEO of Safe Space, a leader in mental healthtech dedicated to making mental healthcare accessible and affordable across Southeast Asia.

"I grew up with strong women at home."

Antoinette opened the circle with this simple but powerful reflection. For her, strength wasn’t something abstract—it was lived. It was watching the women in her family hold things together, shape decisions, and show up every day, often with little recognition. That early grounding would later shape how she led and navigated the world.

For Syahidah, strength took on a different form: survival. In a traditional household where gender roles were clearly defined—reinforced by her father—it was her mother who first offered support when she wanted to pursue sports. That encouragement, quiet but firm, marked the start of her journey as a para-athlete. Strength, for Syahidah, became about building independence, resilience, and discipline.

“Strength is being disciplined, resilient, and decisive. These are important for athletes like me.”

- Syahidah Alim, Paralympic Archer, TeamSG

And why shouldn’t women lead companies and play sports?

When We Add a Generational Lens

The question was posed to the group: Would your idea of gender and strength be different if you were born ten years earlier—or later?

It got us thinking. What if the context we grew up in—the time, place, and social fabric—was different? Would we still carry the same beliefs about what men and women could or should do?

Someone shared, “If I were 10 years younger, I’d probably believe even more strongly that men and women shouldn’t have separate roles. This younger generation—they have the courage to pursue their dreams, to take the road less travelled.”

Another voice added, “If I were 10 years older, I might just accept things as they are. Because for many, that was the reality of the landscape.”

In GEN, we believe that these reflections matter. That each generation’s experience is shaped by environments that are empowered or disempowered in different ways. By playing with generational perspective, we challenge ourselves to re-examine lived experiences—not just our own, but others’ too—and to question how stereotypes persist across time.

Redefining Strength

So, what does strong really mean?

To some, it’s character and conviction. Staying true to your values. To others, it’s the courage to lead, or the grit to keep going when the world says no.

And sometimes, strength shows up in unexpected places.

At one table, a participant said something that stayed with us: “I’ve made assumptions about leadership—about what it looks like. But leadership is really about strength of character. And strength can be anything you're passionate about—whether that’s physical ability, creative thinking, or showing up for your community.”

Overheard at the Circle

Here are some gems we couldn’t help but share:

“We often relate dressing with gender—think ‘power dressing’—but what if it’s really about valuing yourself, and helping the other person feel comfortable too?”

“Inclusive gender representation should be the norm in the workplace—but we have to remember that diversity plays out differently across sectors.

“We often relate dressing with gender—think ‘power dressing’—but what if it’s really about valuing yourself, and helping the other person feel comfortable too?”

“Inclusive gender representation should be the norm in the workplace—but we have to remember that diversity plays out differently across sectors.”

Interesting facts: While inclusive gender representation should be a universal workplace norm, its implementation often varies across sectors in Singapore. In the tech industry, for example, female participation in STEM roles increased from 29% in 2014 to 35% in 2024, signaling progress but also highlighting the need for deeper and more sustained efforts to close the gender gap. ​DigitalCFO Asia

In the financial services sector, Singapore outperforms many countries in promoting women into senior positions. Women make up 44% of directors and 40% of vice-presidents, a balance attributed to accessible childcare and workplace flexibility. ​Financial Times

These examples illustrate that while the goal of gender inclusivity is shared, the strategies to achieve it must be tailored to the unique challenges and cultures of each sector.

Curator’s Note

This circle reminded us why these conversations matter. Why it’s important to ask, listen, and sometimes reframe what we’ve always thought to be true. As we continue to hold space for honest reflections and open questions, we invite you to join us at the next Generally Speaking session. Sign up for our mailing list to stay in the loop.

Until then—stay strong, in whatever way that means for you.