This thesis explores how Southeast Asia’s leading markets Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia are making steady progress toward gender equality in corporate leadership, based on data and insights gained during my internship with the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges (UN SSE) initiative. The analysis covers trends from 2021-2024 across key Southeast Asian markets, aiming to identify the cultural, institutional, and economic factors that facilitate this progress without relying on mandatory quotas. It considers the historical context, including colonial legacies and pre-colonial norms, that shape current gender dynamics. The research also emphasizes the role of stock exchanges and initiatives like the UN SSE in promoting gender equality. By offering insights into Southeast Asia's unique strategies, this study seeks to contribute to the global understanding of effective gender diversity policies and identify potentially replicable practices for other markets