Empowering Sabah's Women, Leaders of Tomorrow

23 March 2026

KOTA KINABALU: In Sabah's boardrooms and offices, talented women often hold back hesitating in meetings, doubting their leadership readiness, and struggling to project the authority they deserve.

The Women at Work (W@W) Leadership Masterclass 2.0 tackles this head-on.

A three-day programme, organised by Primal X Sdn Bhd and hosted at Zara's Boutique Hotel in Harbour City, Kota Kinabalu, runs from 31 March to 2 April 2026.

Launched alongside International Women's Day, it invests in Sabah's women professionals. Bridging the Confidence Gap Workplace confidence is a learnable skill, not just personality. Yet structured leadership training for women remains scarce.

Sabah-based trainer and Primal X Founder Marianne Kiob, the lead facilitator, has seen this pattern across industries.

"The skills are there," she says. "What's missing is the structured space to recognise, develop, and deploy them confidently."

"Many women doubt themselves not because they lack ability, but because they've never truly understood their strengths. With the right tools, they stop questioning and start leading. This programme equips every participant with self-clarity, a stronger voice, and the confidence to lead from where they stand."

Marianne Kiob, Training Director, Primal X Sdn Bhd

Two Organisations, One Mission

Primal X brings expertise in leadership, Emotional Intelligence (EQ), and the Leonard Personality Inventory (LPI) a global tool for profiling communication styles, behaviours, and relationship strengths.

EQ, vital for managing emotions and relationships, equips women to communicate clearly, handle pressure, and forge resilient bonds.

The venue amplifies the message. Zara's Boutique Hotel, founded by Datuk Eliza Goh, exemplifies women's empowerment through jobs, training, and opportunities for local women.

"When women get the right environment and support, they believe in themselves. At Zara’s, we foster growth and mutual uplift. Empowerment builds confidence, independence, and community, that's why we back this programme. Strong women strengthen us all," said Eliza, Founder of Zara’s Boutique Hotel.

Six interconnected modules, led by accredited experts, form a progressive journey.

Leadership Development and EQ (Marianne Kiob): Builds self-awareness, empathy, resilience, and confident presence.

LPI Personality Profiling: Reveals communication styles for better collaboration.

Managing Inner and Outer Critic (Adelina Adna): Overcomes self-doubt and external barriers.

Walk and Talk with Confidence (May Salitah): Masters body language, posture, and vocal impact.

Colour Confidence Workshop (Gleam, by Fara and Adelina): Uses colour in dressing to enhance authority and brand.

Complimentary Professional Photoshoot: Delivers a high-quality headshot for digital and professional use.

Participants leave with immediate, applicable tools.

Organisational Benefits

Investing in women yields results: stronger teams, leadership pipelines, and inclusive cultures.

Fully HRDC-claimable, this masterclass suits Sabah organisations. Limited to 20 women professionals for focused growth.

The Women at Work (W@W) Leadership Masterclass 2.0 runs from 31 March to 2 April 2026, with daily sessions from 9.00am to 5.00pm at Zara's Boutique Hotel, Harbour City, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

It targets 20 women professionals.This masterclass creates space for Sabah's women to reclaim their strengths and lead with clarity, fuelling better organisations and communities.