Describe your role as VP of People–what do you do in your day-to-day work life?

In the morning, I catch up on Slack messages & emails, review my calendar, send my kids to school, and then mentally prepare for the day ahead. My scope of work varies throughout the day; I align on company & team priorities in various meetings, help my colleagues navigate people & organizational challenges, interview candidates for various roles, and roll up my sleeves to work on ongoing projects. I usually work from home but  go into the office once a week to engage with people in person. 

I love my job, and that’s not something that most people leaders can brag about!

How do you maintain a work-life balance?

Achieving perfect work-life balance isn’t my personal aspiration but integrating work and life effectively is. My priorities are ever-changing–sometimes I have to spend more time on work, and other times, I need to focus on family. I also carve out time for self-care.

What do you think enabled your career success?

 Good fortune, perseverance, and a strong support system. Twelve years ago, I moved halfway across the world, from California to Singapore, and picked up a lot of life learnings (cultural dexterity, resilience, open-mindedness). My career journey has been meandering as well; I started off in the world of science and public health and later transitioned to all things People & Talent where I had to overcome a steep learning curve. My family is also incredibly supportive and flexible. 

How can women feel more empowered in their career advancement?

Find a strong support network. Lean onto friends, family, and colleagues. It’s really hard to achieve success on your own. Own your career advancement. Think about what you want to achieve in your career and why, and brainstorm how you will achieve your goal. Don’t let someone dictate your career path; own it, share it with your manager or mentor, and commit to a plan.

Any other advice that can help women achieve the success they want in their career journey?

My advice is for everyone from all walks of life:

Be self-aware. Make the most of your strengths and work actively to improve your weaknesses. Be humble. No matter how much you achieve, if you’re not relatable to others, your achievements won’t mean much in the end. Be a life-long learner. Draw inspiration from successful leaders and read regularly to stay on top of current events and trends in your field. After all, the world is ever-changing!

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