“One of the biggest obstacles to progress is outdated systems and biases that were in place long before women started demanding equality.”

As part of The Peak Singapore’s International Women’s Day 2025 feature, “How They See It” turns the spotlight on women who are reshaping industries through bold, strategic leadership. Germaine Chow, CEO and founder of I Quadrant, built a financial education empire that helps thousands take control of their financial futures. She shares why financial literacy is about freedom, how she debunks the myth that property investment is only for the wealthy, and why true leadership isn’t about climbing alone — but about bringing others along for the journey.

“I grew up watching how financial uncertainty could shape a life — how it dictated opportunities, limited choices, and created a quiet but persistent kind of stress. I saw it in the way my parents hesitated before making a purchase, the way they planned meticulously for every bill, the way the future always seemed like something to brace for rather than look forward to. That experience didn’t just stay with me; it shaped my entire philosophy. It’s why I do what I do today.

Financial literacy, to me, isn’t about numbers on a spreadsheet or getting ahead in some abstract game. It’s about freedom — the ability to make choices that align with the life you want to live. It’s about security, about breaking cycles, about making sure that knowledge, not luck, dictates financial stability. And it’s about ensuring that wealth-building isn’t a privilege for the few, but an opportunity for anyone willing to learn.

That belief led me to build a thriving community at I Quadrant of over 5,000 individuals who want to take control of their financial future. I guide them — whether they’re just starting out or expanding their portfolios — by breaking down the complexities of property investment into clear, actionable steps. Through I Quadrant’s educational tools — an app, online courses, mentorship programmes — I ensure that access to financial literacy isn’t dependent on where someone starts, but on their willingness to grow.

Yet, one of the biggest misconceptions about what I do is that property investment is only for the wealthy. People assume you need vast amounts of capital or come from a privileged background to even begin. I started from a humble family. My first property was an HDB flat. What got me from there to where I am now wasn’t inheritance or luck — it was knowledge, strategy, and disciplined investing.

That’s why I push so hard to demystify wealth creation. The real challenge isn’t access to money; it’s access to the right information and the confidence to act on it.

But my work at I Quadrant goes beyond wealth-building. The real transformation happens in the mind. When I see someone move from feeling intimidated by financial decisions to making informed, strategic choices that set their family up for long-term security — that’s what keeps me going. Financial literacy is both knowledge and power. It’s the difference between being at the mercy of circumstances and having a say in your own future.

Leadership, however, comes with its own burdens. One of the hardest parts of my journey — something I rarely talk about — is the loneliness that comes with choosing a path others don’t always understand. When I first started I Quadrant, I thought success was just about making the right moves, working harder, achieving financial independence.

What I didn’t expect was how isolating it could feel. Even with support, not everyone could relate to the risks I was taking, the sacrifices I was making, or the drive that kept me moving forward.

There were moments when I felt deeply alone, when doubt crept in, when I had to be my own source of motivation. And then there was the emotional weight of leadership — building a business, growing a community, mentoring others. It’s not just my own struggles I carry, but the fears, doubts, and aspirations of those who trust me. I believe leadership is about showing up for others, even when I don’t have all the answers. 

But through it all, I’ve learnt that true leadership isn’t about having everything figured out — it’s about staying committed to the mission, even when it feels heavy.

Being a woman in leadership today means something different to me than it did a decade ago. Back then, leadership felt like a constant need to prove myself — to show that I was competent, capable, deserving of a seat at the table. Success was about pushing harder, hitting milestones, making sure I met the expectations set by others.

But over time, I realised leadership isn’t about proving myself to the world — it’s about making intentional moves, balancing ambition with purpose, and using my experiences to guide others.

The biggest shift for me was when I moved from seeking validation to standing in certainty. From focusing on personal achievements to focusing on the legacy I want to leave. From climbing alone to bringing others along. Today, leadership is about collaboration, inclusivity, and lifting others up.

It’s about ensuring that more women, more young investors, more people from all walks of life feel empowered to take charge of their financial destiny. Financial freedom shouldn’t be a privilege — it should be an achievable reality.

But to get there, we need to remove the barriers that hold so many back. One of the biggest obstacles to progress — especially for women in industries like property investment — isn’t a lack of talent or capability. It’s outdated systems, biases that were in place long before we started demanding equality. If we’re serious about change, we need to be intentional. That means closing the pay gap, creating real leadership opportunities, and rethinking how we structure work so caregiving doesn’t hold women back. 

And when I look at the state of the world today, what gives me hope is the momentum I see right now. More women are stepping up, leading businesses, redefining industries. They’re not asking for permission anymore. They’re not waiting for a seat at the table — they’re building their own.

And the next generation already expects equality, demands better, and refuses to settle for the status quo. That, more than anything, tells me that change isn’t just possible — it’s already happening.”