Are there any myths or misconceptions about the engineering field? 
Possibly historically that it’s a male dominated, traditional profession, boring and structured, with a glass ceiling in terms of career progression, and averagely paid. The reality is that engineering as a profession is still male-dominated, but this is irrelevant as gender orientation makes zero difference in your ability to be successful and charter a diverse career, work across different geographies, problem solve some of the world’s biggest social, environmental, technological and humanitarian challenges, whilst enabling future-focused advanced solutions to drive economic growth and sustainable communities. 

What advice would you have for girls considering pursuing STEM careers? 
You will not be disappointed, go for it! The range of roles and opportunities in this area are incredible; they will be empowering, challenge you both mentally and ethically, and you will be able to leave a legacy in some regard. Job satisfaction will be high, and you have the ability to steer your own course. 

Seek out like-minded people and supporters to help you along your journey. Be proactive, curious and assertive—not just as you seek to pursue this field, but through your whole career in STEM.  

Showcase a ‘can-do’ mindset and be committed to lifelong learning, which will ensure you have a resilient career pathway and are adaptable to work with and alongside technological change as the STEM sector continues to evolve. 

Finally, as you advance in your career, don’t forget there is value in giving back, advocating for women and sharing your own stories. Sharing real life experiences provides a means by which others can learn and imparting your knowledge will encourage and motivate other women. It really is true that women empower other women.   

Who is your STEM hero? 
There are so many inspiring female STEM heroes including:
– Marie Curie, as the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (and win twice), and the only person to ever win in two different sciences.
– In Singapore, Grab’s co-founder Tan Hooi Ling for leading one of the region’s most valuable tech companies. Her business inspires with its scalable offering, ease of use and aggregation of customer demand-driven services spanning food, parcel delivery, hotel booking and insurance services via an efficient monetisation platform.
– Katherine Johnson, a STEM hero from the 1950s who graduated from university at 18 years of age, and in her capacity as an African-American women scientist employed at NASA alongside other gifted female colleagues, was the brains behind calculations that guided NASA’s 1962 Friendship 7 Mission. As a minority, racially-discriminated-against woman responsible for the safe and precise trajectory of the US space mission when all odds were against her in a time of black American oppression, she balanced professional duty and expertise alongside day-to-day discrimination, before finally receiving recognition for the work she accomplished.

Tell us about your STEM journey
My career journey has always been driven by my desire to develop and learn continuously. My first venture into the tech industry, despite my background in maths and physics, required me to learn, stay curious, and constantly explore new things.

I have spent over two decades in the STEM industry. As a woman and a business leader, I cannot stress enough the significance of having a supportive network and role models. I’ve benefited from having both throughout my career, and have made it a personal goal to pay it forward by helping drive the professional growth of my female colleagues. For instance, at LinkedIn, I started a programme called EmpowerIn, aimed at supporting mid-career women to grow as leaders through a supportive community of peers and access to leadership resources and mentors. 

What made you want to pursue a career in the tech industry? 
When a contact asked if I’d consider working for LinkedIn, I initially declined. I wasn’t looking to move [at the time] and taking the leap to join a “young” tech company seemed risky. However, my interest was piqued and I decided to do some research. I picked up LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman’s book “The Start-up of You”. Hoffman talked about being in “permanent beta”, which is the idea that we are all works in progress, and we should treat every failure as immediate feedback on what's working and what's not. That helped me change my perspective from one of fear due to the potential risk to excitement for the opportunity to be challenged and grow. Looking back, it was the best career decision.

How would you address the typical concerns of women considering entering the STEM fields?
In my conversations with women, I often find that many grapple with a lack of self-confidence. I believe it's crucial for us to identify where we lack confidence, pinpoint knowledge or experience gaps, and then work on these areas to boost our self-assurance.

Another important point to highlight is for women to recognise that our presence and contributions hold significance [and to be] more vocal and proud of our victories. Celebrating our wins isn’t just for ourselves, it could also be a source of inspiration for others.

What advice would you have for girls considering pursuing STEM careers? 
I would say “You got this!” Often, competency isn’t the issue, it’s confidence. Believing in yourself is important, but we are not on this journey alone. Allyship, regardless of gender, is incredibly important. More than just networking, true allyship is about forming genuine connections and being advocates for each other. It takes a village to elevate women to leadership positions, and we all have a part to play in each other’s successes. We can make a genuine impact if we keep this conversation going and rally together as a community to support and uplift one another. We still have a lot of work to do, but together, we can ignite change and celebrate the tremendous potential of women, not only in STEM, but in the workforce at large.

Who is your STEM hero or role model?
As a woman and a business leader, I cannot stress enough the significance of having role models. Having role models to look up to has instilled in me the confidence I need to assert myself in my professional life. Role models have also shown me firsthand that it is possible to break through stereotypes, inspire future generations of female leaders, and contribute to creating a more inclusive future. Their example has been instrumental in my own journey. I have been fortunate to have several inspiring leaders to look up to, including Ee Ling Lim [executive director of VC fund Market Launch at 500 Global] and Jacqueline Poh [managing director of the Singapore Economic Development Board].

Tell us about your STEM journey
I got interested in science as a child reading science encyclopaedias at home. My first love was astronomy—planets, black holes and the vastness of the cosmos fascinated me. I discovered the power and elegance of physics in high school—and there was no turning back. I will always be grateful to my teachers at Philippine Science High School for nurturing my interest and providing me with a solid foundation. 

What made you want to pursue a career in astrophysics? 
It’s amazing that from where we are in this small blue planet we call Earth, we can receive signals from the farthest reaches of space and say things about the Universe as a whole— how it all began, how it all got made (including us), and where it is all going. 

Have you always been in the minority in your industry and what have been the challenges and/or opportunities of being a woman in your field?
Yes, a “double minority” as a woman and a Filipina. Some subfields in physics are even more male-dominated than others, and there is a push factor away from entering those areas. Although there were only a few women professors during the time I was pursuing my PhD in Princeton’s astrophysics department, I was lucky to have had strong female mentors, who were young postdocs at the time I was a graduate student. In hindsight, I realise that made a huge impact on the success of my academic career.

Are there any myths or misconceptions about working in astrophysics as a woman?
There is a myth that you have to sacrifice so much to the point of giving up your personal life (including love life!) to pursue this field seriously. This is very unfortunate because it discourages many women from going further in this career path. I believe that we need to work together as a community to bring about a more nurturing environment for scientists, researchers and innovators of all genders.

How would you address the typical concerns of girls/women considering entering the STEM fields?
Looking at history shows us that the future will not look the same as the present. My invitation to young women now is to join us and be part of the change. 

Why is it important to encourage more girls and women to pursue higher education and subsequently careers in STEM fields?
I believe that a world where women and men share equally in creating the future will be radically different from the one we have now. I hope that it happens in our timeline—no less than the future of humanity is at stake. 

What advice would you have for girls considering pursuing STEM careers? 
I always say, go for it! A life of the mind is fulfilling and worth pursuing. Find a mentor who will appreciate your potential and help you realise it.

Tell us about your STEM journey
Since I can remember, I've had an interest in science and understanding the living world around me. During my formative years, I found myself captivated by the world of science and experimentation, and as a result, biology quickly became one of my favourite subjects in school. 

The path to my career as a pharmacist began when I made the decision to major in pharmacy at the National University of Singapore. which led me to a role as an outpatient pharmacist at Singapore General Hospital where I gained a deep understanding of the impact healthcare professionals can make on the lives of those they serve.

Upon entering the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, I discovered a passion for innovation and the potential to develop groundbreaking therapies to improve the quality of life for countless patients. The biopharma industry is an ever-evolving landscape where brilliant minds come together to solve complex problems, and I find that environment to be deeply rewarding.  

Today, in my current role, I am at the forefront of healthcare innovation. I am able to contribute to an organisation committed to developing groundbreaking mRNA medicines and vaccines, which I believe represent the future of healthcare. It's a journey fuelled by the desire to transform healthcare and bring positive change to the world, one breakthrough at a time. 

How would you address the typical concerns of women considering entering the STEM fields?
As there are fewer women in STEM, it takes courage to join this field of work. For anyone considering a career in STEM, I encourage you to be bold and pursue your passions fearlessly. You should not be afraid to challenge the status quo and chart your own path, even if you are the first to embark on it. It’s also important to have faith in yourself and proactively seek learning opportunities. When career opportunities are given, choose the one that gives you the most “butterflies in your stomach” because that will be the role that will allow you to learn the most and stretch your potential to the fullest. As there are fewer female leaders in STEM, there will be fewer female role models too. Hence, it is important to start building your network of mentors, sponsors, and allies early in your career. 

Why is it important to encourage more girls and women to pursue higher education and subsequently careers in STEM fields?
Encouraging girls and women to pursue STEM fields is critical for driving innovation and collaboration in the industry. As more women pursue STEM careers, it will foster diverse teams that will lead to wider perspectives, which in my experience leads to better problem solving and innovation. It also promotes equity where women have access to more fulfilling careers and equal pay opportunities. 

What advice would you have for girls considering pursuing STEM careers? 
Believe in your abilities and never underestimate the unique perspectives you bring to the table—go for the opportunities that excite you. With commitment, a supportive network, and a mentor circle, you can excel in STEM fields. Do not be afraid to fail but be afraid not to try. In my career, failure has given me some of the best learnings and is a steadfast teacher for resilience. Enjoy the journey of learning. Never stop learning because life never stops teaching. 

Who is your STEM hero?
My STEM hero is Marie Curie. She was a pioneering physicist and chemist who made groundbreaking contributions to the field of science, such as her contributions to finding cancer treatments. What inspires me is her ability to overcome the societal barriers that she faced as a woman in science during her time, coupled with her pursuit for scientific knowledge. 

Curie's commitment to her research, despite the challenges she faced, highlights her perseverance and passion for science. Her dedication was so exceptional that she achieved the remarkable feat of winning two Nobel Prizes in her lifetime . Her relentless drive to expand the boundaries of human understanding and her unwavering focus on her research exemplify the qualities of a true scientific trailblazer.

Curie's legacy continues to have a profound impact on the field of STEM. Her achievements paved the way for future generations of women in STEM by demonstrating that gender should never be a barrier to women who want to pursue a career in STEM. Today, her name is synonymous with excellence in science, and her story serves as a source of inspiration for aspiring scientists of all genders.

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