Blogs by tag - Interview Series

HTS Masterclass: Sara Cheng, Former Managing Director, Greater China at Twitter

Catch the replay of our fireside chat with Sara Cheng, global multi-lingual C-level executive hailing from Taiwan, and Sabrina Ho, CEO-Founder of Half the sky, Asia’s leading career platform for women.

IWD 2021: Thriving In The New World of Work

So what will it take for women to thrive in the new world of work post-pandemic? Well, we don’t yet know the answer – and, in some respects, we don’t even know the right questions to ask. That’s why we’ve put together business leaders, HR practitioners, and political leaders for our special HTS IWD #choosetochallenge event, in the hope of tackling the biggest questions we should be asking as we move forward in a complex post-pandemic world. In this webinar, we look at how the virus will continue to transform the workplace, how women will need to adopt new skills to survive, how we can effectively address existing inequalities in the workplace and push for greater sustainability and demand new ways to thrive in 2021 and beyond.

Women In Tech: Driving Positive Change: An interview with Vilia Ingriany of Sixty Two

It is an unfortunate fact; Women are underrepresented in the tech sector and the industry is not yet where we all want it to be just yet. We at Half the Sky have launched a Women in tech series that shines a spotlight on some of the work and career journeys of the most inspirational women around the world in the tech scene bringing to your attention, their, successes, challenges and can-do spirit.Today we would like you to meet Vilia Ingriany designer & technopreneur from Indonesia. Vilia holds a degree in Software engineering and has worked in software development and design in Canada, United States and South East Asia. She cofounded Sixty Two a global family of digital product strategists & designers, driven to craft positive & impactful digital experiences. Based in Jakarta, Vilias and team want to put great design front and centre of product development in the region.HTS: Vilia can you share a litle about your career journey and what got you interested in tech?Vilia: Yeah, wow that’s going to be a long story!HTS: Stories are good!Vilia: Yeah! Okay where do I start? I knew for a long time that I liked design. Since my high school days I knew that I liked creating stuff, right? And then when it came to university back in Vancouver, I managed to study Computer Science. I thought I wanted to be a coder and do programming. But as it turned out, I realised that it wasn’t really my thing? And I discovered that I actually liked the earlier part of the product development process- strategizing and designing the solution. So that’s kind of where and how I learnt about crafting and creating something and how I realised that it was what I really liked to do.After university, I started learning a lot more. I landed myself a job at a nice agency in Vancouver, started working my way up from there and started a team of designers as well. One thing led to another and I landed myself a job in San Francisco, doing user experience design where we worked with quite a number of pretty cool clients like Google, Twitter, HP and Adobe…a lot of amazing partnerships there too.After San Francisco, my husband and I decided to travel. We were born in Indonesia, so we decided to see some family and see if we could perhaps freelance there. So we left our lives in SF and started travelling quite a bit. I spent almost a month in Bangladesh working on research and design projects, it was pretty cool. It was amazing when I got the chance to actually talk to the end users themselves, like field agents and the participants on the ground in Bangladesh.I kept freelancing and when we landed ourselves back in Indonesia, we started picking up quite a bit of work in this region, which necessitated that we start a team. There was quite a bit of traction and need for product strategy and product design, which is really where my specialty lies. So- designing for apps, the web, the whole digital ecosystem. I figured out that there was a need to have a product design team managing a variety of clients in this region and in North America as well. That’s how we started, really.HTS: Do you think there were any differences in the design scene in all the different places and countries you’ve worked in?Vilia: Oh yeah, absolutely. Just in terms of the way design is being perceived and prioritised in the different regions- quite different, in organisation as well as in society! My experience in Bangladesh was very interesting because I was there for a research project and research trip to learn more about how the products were actually going to be used and all of that. What was interesting when we started heading back towards this region and towards Indonesia was the many amazing collaborations we started to get here in Indonesia, in Singapore, HK, and other countries. I started realising that design here is pretty cool as well, but it’s cool in a different way. Like, it’s not an apple-to-apple comparison to what it’s like in North America, because the way of life here is very different from North America.We had a partnership with Grab, and through our partnership we were able to find out a bit more about how design and product design is being done in several different countries in Southeast Asia. It was very refreshing to see how it’s different and cool in its own way. In fact, how we came about naming our studio Sixty Two is actually- I’m not sure if you know, but 62 is Indonesia’s country code!HTS: Ooh so cool.Vilia: Yeah! There’s a bit of meaning behind it. The hope and vision is that it will help move the needle a little bit and start turning eyes from West to East. It’s not about copy-pasting whatever’s in the West and doing the same thing here its about trying new things and creating products which service the local needs.HTS: Yup. Designing with AR/VR How Did That come about? @Sixty Two. How did you start incorporating it into your work?Vilia: That’s a good question! To give you a bit of context into Sixty Two and also the kind of design work that we specialise in, a lot of our output includes the likes of apps, web platforms or websites- us getting a chance to think about the whole ecosystem and how they play together, basically.Technology these days- not only AR and VR, but also AI - is making it a lot more possible for us to experiment with more immersive experiences. If you look at the industry right now, AR is helping a lot with retail, especially these days with COVID. Without you having to go into a store, you’ll be able to see how shoes look on your feet. You’ll be able to try on different glasses without actually walking into a store. So that’s actually pretty cool.HTS: I find this new technology fascinating, and how relevant it can be for the post-pandemic world.That’s the idea behind why we wanted to experiment with AR/VR- because we believe, especially that now physical interaction is not possible in a lot of places, that there’s a huge opportunity here to actually connect brands with the customers, and the customers to brands, the other way round, and in a variety of industries. We thought that to do our design work, we should be able to provide more immersive experiences for both our clients and their customers.HTS: As for tips for our readers, what skills do you think are needed in order to enter and thrive in design and tech in general? And like, make something cool?Vilia: Yeah, that's an interesting question. I would say resilience and the ability to adapt. As a designer, or as a person, in general, it's incredibly important to adapt, to stay true to your values and to what you know about the core of design as a designer. Values to me refer to what you believe in- we’re truly here as a partner to our clients, and a champion to our and their users.Adapt your skills to fit a variety of different scenarios and contexts. I'll say, had I stuck with my thinking from the North American design industry, I wouldn't be able to do a good job designing for users in this region, right? Same thing the other way around, too. So staying true to your values, who you are and obviously, your know-how is important, but know how to adapt as well.As for resilience, I think you just have to be like, head on in a variety of different scenarios. Because as a passionate designer, you will face a variety of different challenges that might actually make you question why you became a designer in the first place, and whether or not you should continue with your route. Because the world is changing so fast, especially now, and even before COVID. Every other day, someone creates something new and cool, and you kind of need to stay in the know and up your skills quite often. And obviously, stay up to date with what's actually going on and make sure that you can adapt to it, and that you're prepared for it.Lastly, know where you can bring value. So not everything can be solved by digital, right? Sometimes in-person interaction is still key. I always think that digital and online interactions are here to enhance experiences, but your offline experiences are still crucial. And so it's really about knowing when to do what really.HTS: Considering the audience of half the sky, I was just wondering if you have any advice to women who are or might be interested in entering the field?Vilia: For sure. I would say that I would not be here today had it not been for the help of a variety of amazing people in my life for the past 10-15 years: strong people as my mentors, a kind and considerate group of people. They actually helped me get here. I know it's tricky, but having someone to talk to, having someone that you can trust, someone you can get advice from or just share challenges with, is the key, I would say. So do that if you can, if it's possible. I would say find that mentor.That's one. And as a young designer/ technopreneur, I would say keep on. Know why you want to get into tech in the first place. Because without knowing that, I wouldn't be able to motivate myself to want to be a better designer on a daily basis.So know what makes you tick, know what made you interested or intrigued you in the first it maybe designing or building applications or you may love problem solving. Knowing your why is incredibly important. And once you know that, know that it will evolve. Me as a designer ten years ago versus me as a designer right now? They’re two different 'me's, two different Vilias.HTS: You talked earlier about finding mentors. And we also just talked about women helping each other being really important. I was just wondering about how you found your mentors. The second question would be about women supporting each other in the workplace- yeah, how do you do that?Vilia: The people who I consider mentors are the people that I loved working with. These are people that have influenced me personally and career wise. One of my biggest mentors was one of my first bosses in Canada, he was the one that opened up the possibilities for me. I'm still very good friends with him today. And once a month we would talk, just to like exchange ideas. He was one of the first people that gave me a chance to explore what I liked and I didn't like, and where my strengths were and so having someone like that to help me realize my potential- that was very, very important.And mentors don't have to be your superiors, or people who have been in the industry for a long time. I would consider a friend of mine a mentor, because she came from a completely different industry- from healthcare. I learned tons from her. I know 'mentor' 's an industry term that seems to signify that you need to find someone more senior and more experienced than you, but for me personally, it's more about surrounding yourself with people that you like, and who are valuable to you. That could be valuable in itself as well. It's more like having a healthy professional relationship of support. That's my definition of mentorship.As for supporting other women, I think you can do that at a lot of different levels. I'm usually involved in a variety of conversations with other leads and business owners that are women as well to just share challenges and all of that. There's a lot of interesting conversations surrounding the workplace. But also, within the respective teams that you are taking care of, there's a lot that you can do as a business owner, as a team lead, to support your team members who are women, right? For example, if they have kids, if they're married, or if they have any other responsibilities. In this day and age, it's not that fair anymore to assume that the primary carers of children are women. But it still happens, unfortunately, right? Although it should be a shared responsibility, it still happens that the primary responsibility falls to the ladies.But when that does happen, then like, how can you as a company, how can you as a leader, help to support that? One of the things that we do is to allow any of our team members who become parents to have flexible work arrangements ad work remotely of that’s what they choose. We craft our policies, to see the individual and their particular needs everyone goes through certain things at some point in their life whether that’s kids, looking after parents or a need to recharge and rest. As leaders, and as a company we look at we can support our team members at the different stages of their life. HTS: The technology sector overall still suffers from a low representation of women. However, In terms of the design field, there seems to be a decent representation of women do you think there are still difficulties in your industry?Vilia: I think representation still matters a lot. I've met quite a number of female designers or female tech professionals who have started their journey, but at some point kind of dropped their careers for family and all that. I’d be very interested to see how we could get female professionals to help support each other going forward in the future, to get them back on their feet really. It's a shame because these are amazing designers that have made really, really cool design works that are being used by a lot of people. If it's their choice, what can we do, right? But if support is what they need to get back on their feet, then I would be very, very interested to know how we as women can support one another in that way.HTS: I guess that's where the strength of start-ups comes in, because there's always a chance to create a new culture, depending on what you believe in.Vilia: Yeah, and I'd like to think that I've been given this opportunity to lead a team on our own, and I don't want to take that for granted. I do believe that we can make a difference here, at least a small difference, starting from us, you know, from this little team that we have. I'm hoping that the positivity that we started here can kind of radiate elsewhere too, slowly but surely.https://www.sixtytwo.co

Inspiring Women in Johnson Controls Asia

Chloe Li - APAC Data Science LeadAs a data science lead in Johnson Controls, Chloe Li is applying her expertise in machine learning and AI for the next generation of smart and connected building solutions. Together with her team, she is dedicated to creating a more interactive and seamless human experience with buildings and spaces. Besides her passion in tech, Chloe is also committed to encouraging and nurturing female talents to work in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).Career choiceFrom an early age, she has been fascinated by science and technology from the influence of her parents. She majored in Physics for her undergraduate course at the National University of Singapore, where she has also obtained a Master’s degree in statistics. Chloe gained hands-on experience with machine learning and big data at her first job, and that’s when she decided to pursue a career in this field.Working in Johnson Controls and starting an internship programWith her childhood dream being satellite orbits design, Chloe is loving her work at Johnson Controls OpenBlue Innovation Center which is also about “space” and “design”. She and her team are finding out how machine learning, AI and mixed reality could enhance human experiences in different kinds of spaces. Some examples include using facial and object recognition to facilitate discussions while observing social distancing; using light sensors, real-time weather information and people detection to smartly control groups of lights in the office in response to the room occupancy and the changing natural lights throughout the day. Soon after joining Johnson Controls, Chloe initiated an internship program to attract young talents from local universities to join the organization. She is thankful to Kennas Lam, the vice president for IT in APAC, who has been highly supportive of this initiative from the beginning. The first batch of interns started in 2019, and they have contributed significantly to projects such as Dynamic Deal Scoring (DDS), while gaining first-hand experience of solving real-world problems with advanced analytics. With the launch of the OpenBlue Innovation Center, Chloe is now working with a second batch of diverse mix of students from the National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University.Diversity and inclusion in practiceChloe is passionate about being part of a supportive ecosystem that encourages a larger representation of women in the tech industries. She believes that it is important to ensure that technologies and solutions are developed from a balanced perspective. She is actively involved with Girls In Tech, which is a global non-profit that works towards gender equality in high-tech industries and startups by educating and empowering girls and women who are passionate about technology. She relishes the opportunities to interact and share her experiences with aspiring girls in tech and to help accelerate their career growth.Ai Lin Yar - Regional Head, Industrial Refrigeration, South East AsiaAi Lin admitted she hit a major roadblock early in life. She didn't do well in her 'O' levels and was only accepted to a polytechnic on her fifth choice to study mechanical engineering. Little did she know that this was the proverbial silver lining in the clouds for her. Although she was barely acquainted with the area of her study, Ai Lin soon gained interest and found her passion working with machines and solving problems.Today, Ai Lin leads the Industrial Refrigeration (IR) SEA Sales, Project, Engineering and Aftermarket Service team, with members across the APAC region. She is a strong believer in diversity in the workplace and sees succession planning as a critical part of her work.What sparked your interest in engineering?Truth be told, I never thought I’d be in the engineering field. I didn’t do well in my ‘O’ levels and a course in engineering at the polytechnic was the only option open to me. Even so, I was only accepted on my fifth choice of mechanical engineering.But I wasn’t ready to give up on myself. The hands-on curriculum at the polytechnic sparked my interest to learn more. I was intrigued by the automation and programming subjects that were taught. During my second year, I had to build an automatic burger dressing with dispensing devices and a programmable logic controller (PLC) program to sequence the mechanism. At the end of the project, I was hooked!I began to read extensively on engineering concepts and inventions. I developed an interest in air conditioning, car mechanism - just about everything mechanical. I even interned and took up vacation jobs with engineering firms just to learn more about the field and to gain exposure to engineering.Would you encourage women to pursue careers in STEM, and why?Most definitely, yes! More women should be pursuing a career in STEM, for the simple reason that diverse teams tend to perform better. Individuals from different gender, race, background and experience bring different perspectives.And we need to get women in STEM at an early stage, say during school. Many young smart, talented girls see this field as a “male centric” career with limited opportunities for women. We need to change this stereotype. We shouldn’t limit women to what we can or can’t do.Describe your role in Johnson Controls.As the lead in the Industrial Refrigeration (IR) Southeast Asia (SEA) Sales, Project, Engineering and Aftermarket Service team, I work with members across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. I manage the day-to-day running of the functional departments to ensure timely delivery of products and services to our customers. I’m also tasked with developing initiatives to lead the team in meeting financial KPIs. As a manager, I believe in building solid foundation in our people, focusing on their personal growth and developing their leadership potential.What do you like about your job? What are some career highlights?I enjoy working with people. My team members are talented, and generally great fun to work with. There’ll always be challenging problems - but I relish the opportunity to seek out creative resolutions to these issues. I get to learn new things everyday which allows me to develop my professional skills.One of my proud career moments is building up the project engineering capability of the IR Singapore team. The team now has the capability to build highly customized refrigeration system locally, and is able to build complex F&B contracting plant.I led the integration of the project engineering team for both York Process Systems and F&B. This consolidates the resources for both business lines, and allows the service retrofit team to tap on the project and engineering team services.Embrace your failures and learn from them. Having the courage to continue after a fall is what matters. Persevere and don't give up until you have reached your goal. But never let your ambitions be held back by conventions or traditions. Diversity is the unique strength that a woman brings to the table.” -- Ai Lin Yar, Regional Head, Industrial Refrigeration, South East AsiaWhat motivated you to work for Johnson Controls over such a long period of time?I started out at York as a design and project engineer, and was transferred to the sales support and application team during a restructuring exercise. I was looking for new challenges a few years later and decided to switch gear to be a sales engineer instead. In this role, I’m selling highly customized engineering systems to customers, and work with the Engineering Head to bring the local IR engineering capability to the next level.Two things stood out for me working in Johnson Controls: my great team mates and the dynamic working culture. I’ve been given many opportunities to grow professionally and to learn on the job. Promotions are based on merit and performance, and not dictated by gender. Whenever I’m stumped with challenges or issues, I know that I’ll be able to get advice and support from my team mates, peers and bosses.How do you see yourself over the next few years in Johnson Controls?I’m looking to continue my growth in this current role, as I see tremendous room for improvement and development to bring the business to the next level of growth. There’s also an imminent need to build strong succession for some of the critical roles within the team.If you weren’t an engineer, what do you think you would be doing today?I think I might become a personal banker. I like the idea of having my money to work for me.What are your interests outside of work?I’m a nature lover and an avid mountain trekker. I trek every weekend, and sometimes up to four times a week when I get ready for my annual summit climb. I challenge myself to trek a different summit every year, which is a great way for me to be disciplined about keeping fit. I’ve learnt to respect nature and have become a responsible traveller, learning to survive in the wild with limited resources.Faith Goh - Portfolio Growth Manager, Industrial Refrigeration, Rest of AsiaWith a strong aptitude for Math and Physics at a young age, Faith knows a career in engineering was where she wanted to be. A natural leader, she's not shy about seeking help to overcome her weaknesses and works on improving her interpersonal skills. She counts her blessings in having good mentors on the job and finds satisfaction in winning over conservative clients to close deals. Faith served as the first president of Johnson Controls Women Resource Network.What sparked your interest in engineering?I’ve always excelled in Maths and Physics, and scored distinctions in those subjects while in school. When it came to selecting a tertiary course, I opted for engineering without any hesitation. I’m an analytical person, and I felt confident that engineering would be a good fit for my strength.I graduated during the 1997 financial crisis. Job openings were scarce then, but I’d managed to land an interview ahead of my peers. I must have had made good impression on the interviewers because I was soon offered a job! However, it would be some years and few jobs later that I discovered my niche working with a multinational corporation.Would you encourage women to pursue careers in STEM, and why?I’d say it’d be best to find your passion and to do something that you are happy with. A career in STEM may spark joy for one person but may not work for another. It can be daunting to make a decision on something so major. My advice would be to keep an open mind, ask yourself questions, evaluate your answers as objectively as possible, then decide on the best course of action yourself.Describe your role in Johnson Controls.I started as a sales engineer with Johnson Controls about six years ago. I’m currently heading the indirect business sales within the Southeast Asia region. My end users are the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who buy industrial compressors from contractors. Our brand is well established in the industry and has earned a solid reputation across the region. I don’t have to make cold sale calls since most of our customers are repeat business.One of my key challenges during my early years with the company was learning to connect with my customers. I had all the textbook knowledge about thermal dynamics and heat transfers, but these were not the main concerns of my customers. Instead, they were more interested in understanding the value that Johnson Controls brings to the table; they needed to be convinced that we are the right partner for them.Looking back at my school years, my leadership position in sports had help hone my interpersonal skills. I was able to engage with people from different departments within the organization - from the ground staff to managers - with relative ease.What do you like about your job? What are some career highlights?I’m a people person and I’ve always enjoyed meeting people. As a sales engineer, I don’t see my job as a plain sales rep. I’m in the business to help my customers resolve issues - not just to push the latest products to the end users.I’ve learnt the importance of connecting with the customers when I started my career some 10 years ago. I found that they value a frank opinion rather than a sugar-coated response, and that building customer trust takes a lot of hard work. There are no room for empty promises in our line of work.One of my career highlights was completing my first turnkey project on a local cold store. A typical project cycle usually last about 3 years, from specs to installation. Along the way, there were changes in the customer’s requests and few other challenges. But I was glad I persevered and saw the project through.Even when I was a rookie on the job, I was trusted to work independently and negotiated deals with overseas clients. Some male clients from conservative markets were not used to female engineers, and were difficult to work with. Eventually I won them over by remaining professional, showing competence and mastery over the subject matter. The takeaway for me from this episode was that I have to be aware and be sensitive of other cultures and practices.Be professional in your work: take ownership of your responsibilities and handle your assignments with pride. Discover your passion and embrace the challenges that come with it. Identify your priorities and work on them with intention and determination. Always adopts a positive mindset in whatever you do.” -- Faith Goh, Sales Manager, Industrial Refrigeration, Rest of AsiaWhat motivated you to work for Johnson Controls over such a long period of time?Johnson Controls has a healthy work culture - one that promotes diversity and values teamwork. I had the privilege to work with Richard Buckley during my early years. He was a great mentor who saw my potential and gave me many opportunities to grow my managerial skills. He’s the one who encouraged me to take on new challenges and to step outside of my comfort zone. One example was my taking on the inaugural role of president of the Women Resource Network, a networking platform for fellow female colleagues and leaders within the company.There are always opportunities to develop one’s skills at the company. I was selected to undergo a 6-month leadership training program where I’d learned about the financial and other aspects of running a business. I’ve become a better manager to lead my team, thanks to the training.How do you see yourself over the next few years in Johnson Controls?I’d like to see myself gaining more coaching skills and become a mentor to guide my younger colleagues in the team. I’m always ready to provide a listening ear and have been known to ask insightful questions that cut to the chase and get to the heart of the matter. I’m a positive person and I’d love to share that energy with my team members.If you weren’t an engineer, what do you think you would be doing today?I think it doesn’t really matter as long I’m challenged in my job, and find satisfaction in what I do.What are your interests outside of work?I love to travel and I like to explore places like Nepal and India. I’m also into mountain hiking and I look forward to my next expedition to the mountains.The original articles were published here, here and here.

She is Setting New Chapters for Women in STEM Careers

As the Asia Director of Global Industrial Refrigeration Product and Technology and Vice President of Women Global Network (WGN) in APAC, Cicci Xi, who is based in Shanghai, is looking to enhance the inclusivity and diversity work culture at Johnson Controls in the region. A recognized industry titan, she is equally passionate about raising the technical and professional standards in China’s industrial refrigeration sector.Career choice in EngineeringAs a young child, Cicci was not one who settled for conventions; rather, she relished in pushing the boundaries and breaking the molds. She credited her parents for being open-minded and allowing her to try out anything that interest her. Cicci showed a keen interest in the sciences from an early age, and was encouraged by her parents to pursue her passion. This eventually led to her choice of major in cryogenics and refrigeration, a branch of mechanical engineering, at Xi’an Jiao Tong university, one of the leading universities in China. She began her career with a local research and design institute as the design engineer for industrial equipment such as HVAC, air separation system and industrial gas piping. Ever eager to broaden her skills set beyond engineering, Cicci took up an MBA course with Donghua University while juggling a demanding work schedule.Recognition as an Industry TitanCicci began her career with YORK China (prior to the acquisition by Johnson Controls) in 1999 as a project engineer, which later extended to different internal and external roles across technical positions and account management, to sales and marketing driving business growth in industrial refrigeration. She was dedicated in raising the company’s technical and professional standards in the refrigeration industry, and focused on building up expert teams and cultivating talents at the company. In recognition of her exemplary performance, Cicci received the Johnson Controls’ Global Masters Award in 2008. Today, Cicci is the Director of GIR (Global Industrial Refrigeration) Asia Product Technology where she leads a team of more than 100 employees to develop new business models and focus on long-term growth of industrial refrigeration products in the region. Her wealth of experience encompasses marketing strategy, communications, and growth marketing.When asked about her ‘secret’ of success, Cicci shared: “I enjoy the process of creating something from the ground up. When I work on any project, I’ll first plan out a long term vision and short term goals, and I’ll work methodically to meet the set milestones. This systematic approach keeps me on track to see a project to fruition and deliver results.”Leading the Women Global Network (WGN)Cicci’s other passion is working on creating inclusive environments in the male-dominated engineering industry for women. She’s a strong advocate for greater inclusivity and diversity at the workplace, and believes in bringing different energy and perspective to the company. “I find that women are suitable for science and engineering. The disciplines require logical thinking and patience — traits that are natural to women,” she reasoned. Her tireless efforts have earned her numerous accolades within the industry, including the prestigious Golden Chain “Extraordinary Women of the Year” award that she received in 2012.Cicci has been leading the Johnson Controls’ Women Resources Network team in China since the global initiative was launched in 2014. Working together with a team of volunteers, she had organized workshops and forums where the company’s women leaders “shared their knowledge and experiences on career development, such as management and work-life balance issues, with fellow female co-workers,” she said. Following the recent relaunch of the initiative Women Global Network, Cicci is now overseeing the APAC region and developing the strategy, structure and resources to nurture female talents and future leaders, and to recognize their achievements in the diverse and inclusive workplace.Going forward, Cicci thinks that it’s time our society encourage more young girls to study STEM subjects in schools. “We should address stereotypes that STEM course work are difficult for girls to handle. Instead, we should find ways to build the interest and confidence of our young female generation in the sciences and engineering courses,” she said.The original article was published here.

Don’t limit women to what we can or can’t do: Saisunee Jommed

Empower young women to advance in the STEM professions by giving them role models and support, says Johnson Controls Thailand’s head of country services Saisunee Jommed.In many countries, the STEM professions are heavily male-dominated, and it is not common to find women working in STEM-related fields, let alone rising to senior positions. When they do, however, they become important role models for the next generation.Saisunee Jommed, the first woman to head the country services team for the Thailand operations of smart buildings specialist firm Johnson Controls who has spent almost two decades with Johnson Controls Thailand and was appointed to her current position in 2018, received a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Rajamangala University of Technology and a Master’s Degree of Entrepreneurship and Innovation from College of Management Mahidol University. Her career has been hands-on all the way, and she shared as well that it was in fact the hands-on curriculum of her college days that drew her to the field in the first place.Here are the highlights of the conversation.When you first started working as an engineer with Johnson Controls in 2001, how common was it to have women in engineering roles?Engineering is traditionally one of the most male-dominated professions and in my early days working as a Project Engineer (in 2001), it was not common to have women in engineer roles. This could be due to the daunting job scope and tasks assigned which might cause women to doubt their problem-solving abilities.However, being in this industry for more than 18 years, I have seen more and more women venturing into engineer professions and climbing up the career ladder, which is very heartening.What do you think has helped bring more women into the field?I can speak for Johnson Controls, where I am proud to have seen and worked with strong and capable women engineers. We have a strong culture of diversity and inclusion and we offer women equal opportunities to explore the challenges at work. We take pains to ensure that our hiring slate always includes female candidates. An example of this is in Japan, where we continue to hire more female engineers than the industry average.Of course, we are not just looking for the best women employees, we want the best employees, period.I myself have been given many opportunities to grow professionally and to learn on the job. Promotions are based on merit and performance, and not dictated by gender.From your own experience, and from seeing those around you, what do women in the STEM professions need most to advance their careers?Work ethics and dedication is key for women in STEM to advance their careers. At the same time, it is crucial for these women to be provided with an inclusive working environment which extols fairness, full participation and creates employee engagement.For example, at Johnson Controls, we have a women professionals network where female colleagues can discuss the challenges they face in the workplace and brainstorm ideas on improving gender equality. We have also established a company-wide, organizational support system that not only empowers women, but also supports them to be successful at work and at home. “It is important for young women to have someone to look up to. As such, strong and inspiring women leaders in STEM professions must be good examples and continuously inspire these young women.”Being leaders in this field, we need to work together and change this stereotype that STEM is a “male-centric” field with limited opportunities for women. We should not limit women to what we can or can’t do but instead empower them to take up the challenge and pursue a fulfilling career in STEM.As a leader, what would you say is your best characteristic?My attention to detail is one of my strongest traits. I am able to pay more attention to each and every one of my team members, allowing me to mentor them closely and provide them with important guidance as they advance in their careers.What inspires you the most?Today, what continues to inspire me is my fellow women in this industry. I strongly believe that the knowledge and experience we have acquired will drive the technological innovations and advancements in Thailand and the region.The original article was published here.

She is Up for the Tech Challenge to Create Smart Buildings

Spunky and talented, our software engineer based in Pune, Hemlata Tiwari, helmed one of the winning teams in this year’s Tech Challenge.For the seventh year running, Johnson Controls Tech Challenge showcased future-focused innovations that solve business challenges, tapping the expertise and creativity of more than 1,000 Johnson Controls engineers around the world.Tell us about your team’s winning innovation. Our team’s winning innovation solves day-to-day problems that building managers face such as asset location tracking, integrating the Building Management System (BMS) or Building Automation System (BAS) with other enterprise applications, as well as providing intelligent insights by predicting various events. Our solution is an integration of our flagship OpenBlue Enterprise Management, Digital Twin, and Dynamics 365, providing a single pane of glass with smart analytics to enable smart building operations.What were the highlights of Tech Challenge 2020?Because of the global pandemic, Tech Challenge 2020 was completely virtual for the first time. However, it was so well-organized that I did not feel any disconnect. The four-day event brought together colleagues from different countries despite these trying times to champion innovation and collaboration. I was fully engaged and took away great insights from our business leaders and industry speakers.Why did you choose technology as a career?I have always wanted to understand and solve real-life problems. A career in technology allows me to do this. As a software engineer, I use technology every day to solve problems that affect people, businesses, and communities. This is my contribution to society and why I joined Johnson Controls three years ago.Working in a future-focused company with a level playing field fuels my passion for innovation. I believe in staying motivated and curious, encouraging my colleagues to keep pushing the boundaries together and feeling the satisfaction of contributing to society. It doesn’t even feel like work because this is my passion.I am inspired by my role model, the late A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, aerospace scientist and former President of India, as well as technology giants like the late Steve Jobs and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella.Like many accomplished female employees in Johnson Controls, Hemlata wears several hats. She is also a mother of a toddler.The original article was published here.

Getting to Know Kuniko Ogawa Managing Director, Japan at Equinix

Renowned as a land of inspiration and innovation, Japan has always fascinated the world with its new ideas and technology. In this latest post in the ‘Getting to know’ series, we are glad to invite our Japan Managing Director, Kuniko Ogawa, to share her insights on the country’s technology landscape and memorable experiences from her career.Kuniko Ogawa (KO)As a relatively new joiner to our team, what are the three key takeaways of your first 100 days at Equinix?KO: What has impressed me most is the company culture. I witnessed how the company helped its employees navigate the challenges we are facing in 2020 with a whole heart and am deeply moved by the genuine interactions among employees. I bond with the team quickly and am inspired by how the culture truly embodies Equinix’s DNA.I have been impressed by Equinix’s work in changing the perception of the data center industry. The vision has helped to elevate the understanding of what we do, from a simple server farm-based colocation business to a global digital infrastructure company. Businesses can harness our trusted platform to bring together and interconnect the foundational infrastructure that powers their success, as well as facilitating the digital economy. This doesn’t put us at odds with on-premise data centers, but instead a value-added platform to on-premise facilities.Moreover, Equinix’s development strategy in Japan is also notable. While Tokyo has long been known for its business potential around the world, very few providers have thought to position Osaka as a strategic metro despite its high growth. Equinix is one of the few companies that has spotted and invested in this trend and I’m incredibly excited to work with my team to unlock the metro’s potential.We have seen more and more world-class Japanese companies expanding globally. What challenges are they facing and how can they grapple with them?Japanese enterprises have long been known for their innovation capabilities, but agility, data compliance and latency are posing challenges to their overseas expansions. Therefore, right now all they require is a trusted partner like us to provide them with the world-class digital infrastructure needed to expand globally. Our footprints across the globe enable local businesses to innovate, giving them the connected data center platform they need to quickly localize infrastructure, and accelerate the launch of new products and services to new and diverse markets with high-speed, low-latency and secure connectivity.Take for example our recent partnership with Rakuten Mobile Singapore Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan’s leading network operator Rakuten Mobile, Inc., in delivering its Rakuten Communications Platform (RCP) to global operators and enterprise customers.With Platform Equinix® as its foundation, Rakuten Mobile can interconnect with our diverse ecosystem of over 2,900 cloud service providers (CSPs) and 1,800 network service providers (NSPs). In addition, the company is also able to deploy and connect virtual network services at the edge in minutes, on demand to address the dynamic interconnection bandwidth requirements and network spikes, opening up potential business opportunities around the world.Japan is one of biggest data market markets in the world, as well a key market for hyperscalers. Earlier this year we announced our joint venture with GIC in developing hyperscale data centers in Japan. What is your view on the xScale market in Japan?KO: Undoubtedly, Japan is one of the world’s largest data center markets. However, the country is lagging behind in some areas when compared with other developed economies. It ranked 27th in the IMD World Digital Competitiveness ranking in 2020[1] and in terms of corporate agility and the use of big data was the lowest among the 63 countries ranked.The aging of corporate IT systems is a big hurdle to data center development in Japan. More than 20% of IT systems in Japan have been deployed for more than 20 years, accounting for 40% of the systems used for over a decade.Moreover, with traditional Japanese business culture regarding face-to-face meetings as a mark of respect for customers, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a drastic shift from in-person to online, becoming an unexpected driving force in data center development.With the Japanese government taking the lead and now using Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host information data platform[2], this is a great opportunity for others to explore the benefits of cloud and digital solutions.All of this mean it is foreseeable that there will be a surge in demand for hyperscalers, and the trend will definitely help further transform Japan into an innovative country backed by robust data center services.Before joining Equinix, you worked at some of the world’s biggest tech companies. How has your experience helped shape your leadership style?KO: First of all, it has trained me how to use logical thinking. When I began my career, my managers have always asked me to put my points together and present in a very short period of time. At first I didn’t understand the urgency but gradually I realized the importance of logical thinking, and I started training my teams to take the same approach as I believe it is an essential ability to succeed in a global and fast-paced business environment.Secondly it has taught me the importance of “commitment”. To me, commitment means working with my heart and soul to achieve my company’s goals – no matter how high those goals are. This includes making full use of all available resources and overseeing all stages of execution. That’s my working style and one of my greatest strengths.Lastly is how it has shown me the value of team building, which is key to creating a shared vision. Teams can work independently or collaborate with each other to achieve the best results, and culture is crucial to making our work possible and rewarding. Often this is easier said than done, but I am thankful for all of the experiences and lessons I have gained throughout my career, which have given me the chance to equip myself with essential qualities to make this happen.As a strong advocate of supporting the next generation of female talent, what is your advice to young women leaders?KO: To answer this I’d like to share a story. In the early years of my career, I was lucky enough to have a great mentor who said, “advice when most needed is least heeded”. In other words, you should look for someone who can directly point out your weaknesses. Also, being honest enough to admit your weaknesses and overcome them will definitely bring you to a new level.Last question, tell us something about yourself that we don’t already know.KO: I am a big fan of Korean drama; I watch them every day before going to bed. It’s a good way to relieve stress!Brandi Galvin Morandi is Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel & Secretary of Equinix and the article was orginally published here.

IBM X HTS: Leadership Agility In Times Of Change And Crisis

Businesses, leaders and workers have faced crises, before, but COVID-19 is a uniquely complex and unpredictable crisis. Lockdowns, social distancing and work from home orders have impacted every aspect of organizations and the workforce. It has also impacted the traditional held beliefs on what leadership should look like – the crisis today, requires a new type of leadership that is clear considered and compassionate. But even more important, is for leaders to demonstrate leadership agility defined as: the ability to make smart and effective decisions in a rapidly changing world. Many business leaders are facing the most complex business, social and economic transformation that we have seen in a generation. In this webinar, we’ve brought together some of the most prominent female leaders from IBM to share with you what it really takes to lead during a crisis, and why we all need to know how to do it (yes, even if you’re a man). During this webinar, you’ll discover: How the crisis has reshaped and transformed industries related to IBM. How a new normal of leadership style will transform the workforce. How IBM culture has empowered its leadership teams during the crisis. How the Pandemic will impact the future of work and the role diversity and inclusion will play in reshaping it.

Happy Mother’s Day Special!

In honor of Mothe'rs Day, half the sky spoke to two working mothers and we talked about all things motherhood - how to manage homelife and excel in their careers at the same time while raising kids and their advice to newborn moms who’s returning back to work and many more. Rachna Sampayo, a mother of two and currently the Vice President of Human Resources for ASEAN & SAGE countries atOracle. Rachna has shared with us that she had moved countries and to bigger roles after giving birth to her two daughters, her most defining moment as a working mum which brought us tears and goosebumps, things to consider before starting a new employment for professional mothers, her advice to newborn moms who’s returning back to work and the importance of ME time. Charlotte Thng, a mother of three and currently the Head of Human Resources for Singapore, Australia and ASA Cluster Markets at Standard Chartered Bank. Charlotte has shared how by telling herself - “I am not a super women” has helped her to deal with mum guilt, support structure she has at home to enable her excel in her career and her advice to newborn moms who’s returning back to work.About half the skyhalf the sky (HTS) is a career platform for women in Asia. We connect women to career opportunities at companies that care. We also want to equip you with information, tips and strategies to navigate the workplace today and the future.Sign up to find better jobs, get career tips and job alerts directly to your inbox!

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