Welcome to the Women in Tech Leadership Series. In this week’s series, we are featuring 3 mentors- Sandy Khoo, the Associate UI/UX Designer at Lazada Group based in Singapore 🇸🇬, Jessica Pang, a Senior Product Designer at Airwallex based in Australia 🇦🇺 , and Ermi Isais, the Product Design Lead at Prospa also based in Australia 🇦🇺
We hope their stories and career advice will inspire you to overcome obstacles and fearlessly conquer the tech industry 🎯.
Find a comfortable spot and let’s start reading! 🛋️🧋
“I grew up in technology and have always enjoyed the benefits of technology. I got my first non-smartphone when I was 10, and my first personal computer at 13. As it has given me the luxury of making life more convenient, engaging, and overall better, I feel that I should make it a point to contribute back to the industry. I was a science student through and through, even got my Bachelor’s in Engineering. But, I was not convinced that this was something I would be doing with the rest of my life. So after my first year in University, I have decided to attempt all the paths I could, from Project Management in Materials Engineering, then a foray into learning Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Business Development from start-up founders in Indonesia, Sweden, and Singapore, a short detour into Product Management through a Bootcamp, and finally landed User Experience Design. It is a perfect mix of what I wanted to go – an Ikigai of some sorts, to be a problem solver in people’s daily experiences with technology!”
“Excited by how much software can empower people, create efficiencies and make our lives easier!”
“There's always something new and emerging in the tech industry that combines great research and product design so it's an exciting industry to be in!”
“To me, self-taught pretty much coexist with self-doubt. It is always much harder to feel you’re doing alright and well-qualified when the only checker is yourself. I try to frame my doubts into actual problems. This makes the doubt more ‘real’ and something that I could solve. If the doubt is in my skills of design tools, I will find out what I do not know and start learning that particular skill (eg. making a rolling banner)."
“I reached out to as many designers as I could to learn about the different paths I could take. I studied all things design after work hours, read all kinds of books, and listen to podcasts as a way to seek mentoring by listening to other designers’ journeys.”
“I would raise my hand for a different team and delivery initiatives, and always tried to get my hands-on projects that challenges my visual and UI design skills. Exposing myself to so many things helped me figure out what I really loved and what my weaknesses are, and that helped me formulate my improvement plan.”
“Yes, it's common to feel self-doubt and "imposter syndrome" because the industry is so competitive and filled with many talented designers/leaders so it's common to wonder if you measure up. In moments of doubt, I look to the evidence to reaffirm my confidence and experience.”
Read How Introverted Women Can Overcome Self-Doubt and Skyrocket their Self-Confidence.
“As a younger woman in Tech, I have been very lucky to not face as many challenges as a woman in tech. I still struggle with the eventual concept of balancing family planning and my career growth as a designer in tech.”
“Coming from a non-design background. Feeling that someday I might have to sacrifice between career and starting a family, but knowing that many women leaders are juggling this successfully is reassuring.”
“Whether it’s across gender, culture, or ethnicity. Sometimes when senior leadership lacks that diversity, they’re not necessarily aware of some of the challenges women or other cultures might face. Unfortunately, in some work environments, there isn’t that psychological safety to share that feedback openly. When people generalize what women do or don’t do well and assume that because you are a woman, you like it by default.”
“Working in a team as the only women can sometimes make feel isolating and disconnected, so seeking other women co-workers can help create a more supportive environment.”
“Take advantage of your juniority to ask questions, ask stupid questions to get the learning that you want.”
"Be it big or small.”
"So that, my skills remain relevant, reading daily UX articles to maintain my UX knowledge, strengthening my confidence so I can be a strong and kind leader, developing persuasive communication skills so I can negotiate my salary when starting new roles, continuing to progress in my career as a female leader in tech so I can carve a path for other women to show them it can be done, regardless of the challenges.”
“Keep a weekly journal for your programs (Bootcamps, courses, self-taught period) and internships. Trust me, you’ll be surprised what you’ve done and achieved. Protect your time and worth because no one else is going to do it for you.”
Read the 8 Reasons Keeping a Journal Can Help You Reach Your Goals.
“Sometimes, people are too focused on what companies or industries they want to be in that they close themselves off from good opportunities. If it’s your first role in the tech industry, focus more on what the role can offer you rather than the industry. Once you have the right experience, it will easily become transferrable to your dream company or industry.”
“It was hard at first, and this was something I learned to do over the years. But I would start drafting my response so when I do have the conversation or speak up, I would already have my key points structured and sound more confident. If something bothers you for more than a day, then it’s probably not a small issue and something worth raising.”
“This could be finding other design peers, friends who work in the tech industry, or other designers you respect and aspire to become.”
“It's ok to say "I don't know" then go out and learn the thing!”
“Your life will be more exciting when you say YES to opportunities and will open up so many doors you never knew were possible by playing it safe.”
“Always try and negotiate your salary. Worst case scenario, they say no. Best case scenario, they say YES!”
“Focus on your abilities and what makes you unique. Blaze your own trail!.”
Read other Women In Tech series by ADPList mentors or book a free 1:1 mentoring session!
Contributors:
Sandy Khoo (ADPList Mentor)
Associate UI/UX Designer at Lazada Group
ADPList account: https://adplist.org/mentors/sandy-khoo
LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-khoo/
Jessica Pang (ADPList Mentor)
Senior Product Designer at Airwallex
ADPList account: https://adplist.org/mentors/jessica-pang
LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-pang/
Ermi Isais (ADPList Mentor)
Product Design Lead at Prospa
ADPList account: https://adplist.org/mentors/ermi-isais
LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ermiisais/
Editor and Writer:
Farah Radzi
Content Marketer and Writer at ADPList
LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/famr/
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