There is a saying that women hold up half the sky. This cannot be more true than in the Singapore context where women form more than 50% of the workforce.

This book is a tribute to the women who have contributed to the growth of Singapore. The women have been selected across varying fields ranging from legal, financial, medical, fashion, sports, arts to even the now ubiquitous “social media”.

These women have demonstrated their ability to rise above the ordinary and to push the margins as frontier. Unlike the Forbes’ list that holds a definitive annual audit of the foremost heads of state, CEOS and celebrity role models ranked by money and media momentum, our list of Madonnas and Mavericks are determined by their spheres of influence, dedication and commitment to their craft and industries as well as their somewhat elusive nature. These women may not be always in the limelight but they certainly have contributed to our nation’s growth and success.