Mar 25, 2025

Accelerating Action: Women Leading the Future of Healthcare at Philips

Estimated reading time: 2-4 minutes

At Philips, we believe that healthcare innovation thrives when diverse voices lead the way. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate women who are accelerating action in healthcare—ensuring more inclusive leadership, smarter solutions, and better care for more people.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2025, 'Accelerate Action,' calls for urgent, tangible steps toward gender equality and inclusion. At Philips, this means not only increasing women’s representation in leadership but also leveraging innovation to bridge healthcare gaps for women worldwide.

In a special conversation, Özlem Fidanci, Chief of International Region and Astri R. Dharmawan, President Director, Philips Indonesia share their personal leadership journeys, the role of innovation in women’s health, and how Philips is driving meaningful change.

The Power of Women in Leadership – Accelerating Action for Change

Women are shaping the future of healthcare, leading groundbreaking innovations and advocating for more accessible care. Yet, challenges remain. In many parts of the world, healthcare leadership is still male-dominated, and women’s unique health needs are often overlooked.

Philips is committed to closing this gap. Globally, we have increased the percentage of women in senior leadership from 19% in 2018 to 31% in 2025. In APAC, women now comprise 64% of our workforce, with more than 34% in senior leadership roles—up from 31% in 2018. In Indonesia, women make up more than 75% of the workforce, and 1 in 5 of the management team are women.

"Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about resilience, learning, and taking bold action to improve lives," says Astri. "By bringing diverse perspectives into decision-making, we create solutions that are more inclusive and impactful."

For Philips, diversity in leadership isn’t just a value—it’s a catalyst for innovation. Özlem emphasizes, "When we embrace different perspectives, we accelerate innovation and drive better outcomes. Our focus is to develop technology that works for everyone, ensuring equitable healthcare for all."

Philips Commitment to Women’s Health – Expanding Access & Impact

Women’s health remains an urgent priority, with conditions such as breast cancer and cardiovascular disease often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Philips is taking action by developing innovations that enable earlier detection and better treatment for women across the world.

One standout initiative is is how Philips Foundation successfully provided access to breast cancer screening across the five cities of Jabodetabek, Jember, Banjarbaru, Yogyakarta and Padang. Working with local partners Lovepink and Docquity, Philips enabled free mobile ultrasound breast screenings for 1,000 lower-income women. Through this meaningful event, we identified 12 women with lumps in their breasts, of which three were diagnosed with cancer and subsequently two underwent surgery. This initiative directly addresses the barriers of cost, distance, and awareness that often prevent women from accessing life-saving diagnostics.

Women’s health can’t wait. Through initiatives like our mobile ultrasound screenings, we’re making early detection more accessible and ensuring that more women receive timely care.

Astri R. Dharmawan

President Director, Philips Indonesia

Beyond cancer care, Philips’ innovations in portable ultrasound, fetal monitoring, and telehealth are helping women receive better maternal and cardiovascular care—even in the most remote areas. "Technology is transforming healthcare accessibility. With AI-powered diagnostics, we can detect conditions like heart disease earlier and more accurately, leading to better outcomes for women," adds Özlem.

Diversity, Inclusion and the Future of Healthcare Innovation

Inclusion isn’t just about representation—it’s about designing healthcare solutions that work for everyone. Studies show that diverse teams drive better innovation, leading to medical technologies that are more effective and accessible.

Philips is committed to collaborating with governments, NGOs, and healthcare providers to scale its impact. One example is Philips’ partnership with Yappika-ActionAid, YPSM Jember and the BOTNAR Foundation in Indonesia, aimed at improving maternal, adolescent, and child health through nutrition intervention, education, and early detection in Jember, East Java.

No one can transform healthcare alone. It takes strategic partnerships and global collaboration to create lasting change. By working together, we ensure that innovation reaches those who need it most—faster and more effectively.

Özlem Fidanci

Chief of International Region, Royal Philips

Join the Conversation

This International Women’s Day, Philips is committed to accelerating action toward a more inclusive, accessible, and innovative healthcare system. Together, we can shape a future where better care is truly for more people.

Watch the conversation between Özlem and Astri: