The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has launched investED for Returning Women, a training and re-entry programme to help women restart their careers in the capital market after a career break.
Officiated by Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, the initiative aims to equip participants with the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to re-enter and thrive in the workforce.
Announced in October, it has drawn more than 600 applications from women in their mid-30s to late 40s, many from the oil and gas, banking, finance and insurance sectors.
Most cited family responsibilities and caregiving as the main reasons for leaving work.
The programme comprises two phases: Refresh, which builds confidence and reintroduces workplace culture, and Reskill, which updates technical and market knowledge.
Graduates will receive a certificate and an RM2,000 incentive.
Modelled after the SC’s investED Leadership Programme, it combines classroom learning, mentorship and industry placements to ease the transition back to employment.
SC Chairman Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi said,
“Among the top 100 listed companies on Bursa Malaysia, over 34% of board positions are held by women as at 1 Oct 2025. With the capital market’s growing sophistication and facing a talent shortage, this programme aims to tap into the experience and expertise of returning professionals to strengthen the market’s depth and resilience.
With the capital market becoming more sophisticated and facing a talent shortage, this programme draws on the experience of returning professionals to strengthen the market’s depth and resilience.”
Participants will receive guidance from industry professionals and access potential employment through partner firms.
The programme is supported by the 30% Club Malaysia, LeadWomen, the Securities Industry Development Corporation, PwC Malaysia and Talent Corporation Malaysia, which help design training modules and offer placements.
Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Malaysia, based on image by digitizesc via Freepik
