How is Women Leading Tech Disruption?

– An interactive dialogue with female leaders in tech industry

Women are at the heart of tech disruption. To navigate the disruptive trends, businesses need to embrace workforce diversity more than ever. 

On Thursday May 2017, we had the chance to interact with three women leaders in tech industry to hear their great stories and thoughts relating to women in tech.

The purpose of this event is to connect professionals, especially females, who are in technology industries or students who are going to enter tech industry through an interactive diagonal. Through this, we hope to motive and encourage people to join or make progress in the technology industry.

Excited: the Long-waited Event Started …

The event started at 7:30pm with commencement of dinners and drinks as well as e2i’s introduction.

Jing Yang from Singapore Computer Society (SCS) introduced the speakers.

The three speakers were Claire from Akamai, Anna Vanessa Haotanto from Tera Capital, and Joyce Lim from Grab.

After that, all participants were divided into three groups.

Each of the three speakers attended one group for about 30 minutes and a second group for the next 30 minutes. Participants coud chose to attend any of the three groups with the speaker they wanted to talk to. I was in the group with Claire from Akamai first. In the second round, Joyce Lim from Grab joined our table.

There were working adults, students, and recent graduates in our table. We asked all sorts of different questions. For example, what are the biggest challenges have you encountered as a woman in tech industry? what are the advices you would give to female students with IT majors? Etc. For all the questions, Claire and Joyce gave excellent anwsers. Let me share with you some.

Impressed: A Female Leader with Confidence

I don’t see any limited or challenges specific to women as compare to me. There is nothing impossible.

To the question regarding the biggest challenges as a womam in tech industry, Claire shared her great thougths. She said there is nothing impossible, so there isn’t something that cannot be done. At today’s age, corporates are looking for diversity and gender balancing. She doesn’t feel there is any particular challenge regarding being a woman.

This thought inspired me a lot. There is nothing impossible. And she has the confidence that woman isn’t any incapable than man. As such, she won’t set any limit to herself and we are limitless.

To students, Claire also generously offered internship opportunites. She encouraged them to try different internships and find what they are most interested in. She also taught students some tips in choosing a job opportunity, preparing interviews and discovering the meaning of jobs.

Inspired: Our Enthusiastic and Cheerful Lady Boss

Sometimes, we need to slow down and smell the roses. We cannot always focus on work. It is not all about our life. We have family, friends, health, etc.

Joyce shared her excitements and more personal stories with us. I told her I am from IBM as well. She is indeed well known in IBM. So I wonder why she went to Grab. She happily shared how she went from IBM to Bain and then to Grab.

She was so energized and generously told us her change of thoughts on Grab, the hardship as well as excitements of working in a start up, as well as how she use medication to calm down herself and help to calm her colleagues during the extremely busy schedule.

One important thing I learnt from her was to ‘smell the roses’. After the sessions, we had a one to one pleasant conversation. We realized that sometimes we were running too fast, then we easily lose the balance in life, e.g., in family, relationship, friendship, health. There are so many people who learnt this lesson in a hard way. And it is her personal sincere advice. I really appreciated her words and this words made me understand the importance of other things in life except work.

Looking-Forward: A Enjoyable and Meaningful Session Feels So Short….

Throughout this event, participants networked with each other. The three female leaders helped and inspired the audience in many different aspects. Students had their questions answered and were provided internship opportunities. IT professions also learned and found supports from the female leaders and from each other. It reminded me of an article I read a few days ago, 37 motivational quotes from incredible women in tech. In summary, nothing is impossible, and you can always overcome whatever obstacle is currently in your way. Are you ready!?

In the end of the event, Jason, the president of SCS IT Youth Council, presented tokens of appreciation to each speaker.

This is the first YES! Event in 2017. We are looking forward to more exciting events.

A big thanks to Singapore Computer Society, IT Youth Council, e2i for organizing and sponsoring this wonderful event.

 

Written by Annie An Dongmei on 9 Tuesday May 2017