Behind every successful self-made woman is her own hard-work. She is the controller of her fate, the designer of her own future, and the builder of her aspirations. She can overcome any challenge and reach greatness if she is determined, works hard, and has a vision for success.

Women in business encounter a number of difficulties, including social expectations, work-life balance issues, gender prejudice, uneven remuneration, access to finance, and a lack of representation in senior positions. Their success and professional advancement may be hampered by these challenges.

A Grant Thornton research from 2021 states that women hold 31% of senior leadership positions worldwide, including CEO, CFO, and other C-suite positions. This is an improvement from 29% in 2020, showing that there has been development in the representation of women in leadership roles. The road to reaching gender parity in corporate leadership is still quite lengthy, though.

There are a number of self-made female billionaires who have amassed their riches via their own initiatives and business acumen. These women come from a variety of professions, including real estate, fashion, and technology. Their success stories demonstrate the possibility for women to have a significant impact in the business world and serve as an inspiration for aspiring female entrepreneurs.

These are some of the most prolific women billionaires from APAC who built their wealth on their own merit.

Wu Yajun

One of China's major real estate developers, Longfor Properties, was co-founded by Chinese businesswoman Wu Yajun. She was born in Chongqing, China, in September 1964 and graduated from Northwestern Polytechnical University with a degree in navigation engineering.

Before helping to co-found Longfor Properties in 1994, Wu worked as an editor and journalist for a number of media companies. Together with her husband Cai Kui, she founded the business, which the two of them expanded into a multibillion-dollar business. Wu is presently the board chairwoman after serving as the company's CEO from 2007 until 2012.

Wu is one of the wealthiest self-made women in the Asia-Pacific area, with a net worth projected to be approximately US$11 billion. She has received recognition for her efforts to the real estate sector and was listed among Forbes magazine's "World's 100 Most Powerful Women" in 2010.

Radha Vembu

Indian businesswoman Radha Vembu is a co-founder of the software development company Zoho Corporation, which has its headquarters in India. She was born in 1972 and received her degree in Industrial Management from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. In 1996, Radha and Sridhar Vembu, one of their brothers, created Zoho Corporation. She will be one of the wealthiest self-made women in the Asia-Pacific region in 2023 with a net worth of more than US$4.0 billion. In addition to her work in the software industry, Radha is also known for her contributions to India's rural development. 

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao

One of the largest airlines in the nation, VietJet Air, was founded and is led by Vietnamese entrepreneur Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao. She was born in 1970 and has a degree in economics and finance from Moscow Finance Institute. VietJet Air was founded by her in 2007; since then, it has grown into a multibillion-dollar company. She is one of the wealthiest self-made women in the Asia-Pacific region with a net worth of about US$1.5 billion as of 2023. Thao is well-known in Vietnam for her advocacy work for women's rights as well as her work in the aviation industry.

Zhong Huijuan

Zhong Huijuan is the chairwoman of Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group, one of China's largest pharmaceutical companies. She was born in 1961, and in 1982, she received a chemistry degree from Jiangsu Normal University. Zhong co-founded Hansoh Pharmaceutical in 1995, and she went on to grow it into a multibillion-dollar company. By 2023, she will be the richest self-made woman in the Asia-Pacific region with a net worth of over $9.3 billion USD. Zhong is well-known for her contributions to the pharmaceutical industry, the Chinese healthcare and educational systems, and the Chinese education and education systems.

Falguni Nayar

Indian entrepreneur Falguni Nayar founded Nykaa, an online retailer of beauty and wellness products. She was born in 1963 and received a master's in business administration from IIM Ahmedabad. Falguni founded Nykaa in 2012, and since then it has grown to be a successful company with a market valuation of approximately $4.07 billion (2023). She will rank among the wealthiest self-made women in the Asia-Pacific region in 2023 with a net worth of roughly US$3.1 billion.

Chen Lihua

Chen Lihua, a Chinese entrepreneur, created and now serves as the CEO of Fu Wah International Group, a conglomerate with activities in a variety of sectors including real estate, lodging, and banking. She invested in real estate to start her career in the early 1980s. She was born in Shandong, China, in 1941. By 2023, she will have a net worth of over $8.4 billion, ranking among the wealthiest self-made women in the Asia-Pacific region. For her humanitarian efforts and contributions to the real estate industry, Chen is well known in China.

Wang Laichun

The board chair of directors for Luxshare Precision Industry, a Chinese electronics manufacturer, is Chinese entrepreneur Wang Laichun. She was born in Dongguan, China, in 1966 and earned an economics degree from the University of California. After starting her career at a state-owned electronics business, Wang founded Luxshare in 2004. With a net worth of about US$7.3 billion in 2023, she will rank among the richest women in the Asia-Pacific region who are self-made. Wang is well known for her contributions to the electronics industry as well as for promoting sustainable development in China.