Women Think Next: Leading the way in empowering women in technology

 |   Singapore News Center

SINGAPORE – At Microsoft, diversity and inclusion plays a big part in the drive towards innovation. With the belief that diversity enriches business performance, product development and the lives of employees, Microsoft is committed to promote diversity and inclusion at every level within the organisation.

In the local tech industry however, there remains a persistent gender gap. The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) estimates that only three in 10 research scientists and engineers in Singapore in 2014 were women, while a survey conducted by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) showed a 30 percent female representation in tech companies here in Singapore.

Against this backdrop, Microsoft teamed up with LinkedIn Singapore to present Women Think Next – a networking event held for the first time in Singapore on 24 May for women in technology, aimed at spurring the growth of female representation in the local technology industry. Bringing together the collective views of established leaders in the technology industry, including Kevin Wo, Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore; Valerie Beaulieu, General Manager of Asia Pacific Small, Medium Business & Partners; Ricky Kapur, General Manager of Enterprise Partner Group of Microsoft Asia Pacific; Goh Swee Chen, Chairperson of Shell Companies in Singapore and Vice President of City Solutions – New Energies; Feon Ang, Vice President for Talent and Learning Solutions Business in Asia Pacific and Japan at LinkedIn, the event engaged over 100 women in a lively conversation on how women can manage their careers in the digital age.

Kevin Wo, Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore, speaking on the importance of diversity and inclusion in companies today

Here are three key takeaways from the event:

1. Don’t underestimate the value of networking

“Networking is all about what you do to create a bigger pie,” said Valerie.

“Technology has fuelled new ways of connecting with other professionals and create business opportunities together. At Microsoft, we empower our employees through technology so they can achieve more, and give them the freedom and reach to make a difference in this world,” she added.

Valerie Beaulieu, General Manager of Asia Pacific Small, Medium Business & Partners, sharing about the power of networking in building relationships and creating business opportunities in the digital age

Swee Chen also shared that the value of networking lies in the opportunity of being able to generate ideas from a diverse group of people. “Be aware of the type of networker you are as it will help you to be conscious in your planning for networking,” she said.

“For leaders in the technology industry, there is also a need to think about how to harness the power of technology to reach beyond workplaces and industries, how you can further expand your network to have a diverse mix of mentors, and the approach you can take to make your successes known in a classy and elegant way,” added Swee Chen.

Goh Swee Chen, Chairperson of Shell Companies in Singapore and Vice President of City Solutions – New Energies, sharing about the importance of knowing what kind of networker you are to help you plan for networking

2. Continuous learning is crucial in the digital age

To keep up with the digital age, investing personal time to learn plays a major role in one’s future success. “Always aim to be a better version of yourself as whoever learns the fastest will win in this digital world,” said Ricky.

“With the unprecedented rate of change as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, our attitude towards learning must be one of resilience as it shapes the kind of impact we ultimately make in society,“ he added.

Ricky Kapur, General Manager of Enterprise Partner Group of Microsoft Asia Pacific sharing his views on continuous learning in the digital age

Sharing from a woman’s perspective, Swee Chen said, “Technology creates choices and empowers us to ‘pack more in a day’. Therefore, as women, we must be aware of how this will impact the way we navigate our career in this fourth industrial revolution.”

“The ability to influence depends on the knowledge and insights one has. In this day and age, we need to be more deliberate in investing time to learn as much as we can to successfully navigate our career in a world that is getting more intertwined with technology,” she added.

 3. Have the right work-life balance

The key to striking a balance between work and life is about making the conscious decision to take control of your agenda. “When you work on what is best for you, this harmony will flow to all aspects of your life,” said Feon.

Feon Ang, Vice President for Talent and Learning Solutions Business in Asia Pacific and Japan at LinkedIn, speaks about the importance of striking a balance between the demands of work and family

Everyone, at various points in their work lives, understands that work-life balance can be challenging to achieve. When quizzed about how leaders in technology are able to strike the ideal balance between work and life, Kevin said, “It is important to bucket the time for both family and work. We ourselves, and not the company, should be making the decisions on how to manage our time.”

Ultimately, creating a schedule and support system can facilitate the balancing act for every working professional. “If we are too busy to create the right impact needed by our stakeholders, we are not doing ‘work-life balance’ right,” concluded Feon.

 

Participants networking over drinks and snacks following the end of the panel discussion at Women Think Next

 

The event culminated in a cocktail and networking session for participants to experience the magic of networking – building relationships, creating business opportunities and learning continuously in the digital age.

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