Tips to Thriving Amidst Change and Disruptions

WYNTHIA GOH

Member, SCS SG100WIT List 2020 Head of NEXT Digital, NCS

As companies adopt new technologies and invest in building new skills, tech professionals should look at managing your careers to grow valued expertise and stay relevant in a rapidly digitalising economy. For example, at NCS NEXT, our specialists are tasked to help organisations with their digital transformation. Hence, the need for our people to continue growing professionally – for themselves, NCS and our customers – is a constant priority.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO MAKE LATERAL MOVES

The idea of a straight up career ladder no longer applies in a world where companies are facing a lot of disruption. As companies adapt their business strategies to an ever-changing environment, you can expect to see types of roles and opportunities evolve in tandem. Therefore, don’t get too comfortable – because the things you know how to do very well today may not be what will be valuable tomorrow. This is especially so when we see the amount of innovation happening in the technology sector.

Sometimes, the right lateral move is a better way to try and advance your career than to continue in an existing role you are comfortable in but no longer stretches you. Lateral moves can expose you to new areas offering professional development. Similarly, the new project you are taking on could provide opportunities to play a bigger role in the company, thereby putting you on a better career path.

BE CURIOUS, VERY CURIOUS

The most successful technology professionals are the ones who are highly curious about what their field will look like in the future. This is the hard truth – the decay rate of what we know increases with the pace of tech innovation. In nearly every tech sector domain, there are new knowledge, new technology, and new ways of organising and operating. Each of them has the potential to upend the current norm, particularly when we think about trends like adoption of cloud-based technology and the use of algorithms to automate processes and decision-making.

Look for opportunities to work on projects where you can gain exposure to innovation. Or raise your hand to participate in new initiatives. Throughout your career, you should expect to not just refresh your skills and knowledge many times over, but also continuously refuel and recharge them. A successful career is a marathon, not a sprint. Given the amount of access we have to online, remote or virtual learning today, you can take charge of your learning journey instead of waiting for your company to offer you structured learning opportunities.

TAKE A “TOUR OF DUTY” MENTALITY TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING

Against the backdrop of changing job nature and career aspirations, I’d like to borrow the concept of a “tour of duty” from the military to make reference to employment and careers in organisations. A “tour of duty” approach towards your job is recommended because it will put in perspective what you need to know – your mission, what you are asked to deliver and how that benefits you and your company.

Along with the concept of a tour of duty is the heightened awareness that your mission is time bound – you are expected to deliver within a certain time. In addition, there is also the suggestion that future tours may be different from the one you’ve just completed. This sets you and your company up for meaningful discussions – what is next and what is needed for you and your company to be successful in the next mission.

Adopting a “tour of duty” approach conditions the mind to not just accept your job as an ongoing employment status, but also recognise that your mission can change from one tour to the next, within a continuous period of employment. Significantly, it prepares one for a career pathway that is dynamic and progressive.

LEARN TO ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF

Wherever you are and whatever your role, you are competing in a global talent marketplace. It is not uncommon for people who are great at what they do to be uncomfortable with talking about themselves, seeing that as unattractive acts of selfpromotion. But from the perspective of sustaining a career in a globally competitive marketplace – if a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, did it make a sound? Perceived existence is important!

You need to find ways to advocate for yourself that works for you. This can take the form of participation in forums, and taking up opportunities to share what you know whilst learning from others in your field. Advocate for yourself through talking about your work, sharing your knowledge, and networking with peers and leaders who are interested in what you do. Such opportunities are always available – both in your organisation and the industry.

WOMEN IN TECH – What Does it Take to Thrive in a (Mostly) Men’s World?

RAMA SRIDHAR

Member, SCS SG100WIT List 2020 Executive Vice-President, Digital & Emerging Partnerships, Mastercard First Coding Experience: Coded linear programming systems with COBOL Currently Learning: Sitar – a stringed instrument originating from the Indian subcontinent Just Watched: The Social Dilemma on Netflix Must-have Apps: Google and WhatsApp Last Browsed Tab: The Wall Street Journal Pet Topic: State of political leadership Favourite Way to Relax: A book, a cup of tea and some soft music

In a recent study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in Singapore, the number of women in tech in Southeast Asia beats the global average at 32%. Yet, while women in tech have come a long way in the past three decades, it’s a fact that the tech industry is still far from being fully gender diverse. The IT Society talks to Rama Sridhar, Executive Vice-President, Digital & Emerging Partnerships at Mastercard to take stock of progress made and what else needs to be done.

Q: Question, RS: Rama Sridhar

Q: Congratulations for making it into the inaugural Singapore 100 Women in Tech (SG100WIT) List. Can you share with us a little about your journey in tech?

RS: I have been in the tech industry for over three decades, and in the early years, it was common for me to be the only woman out of 20, 500 or even a thousand in the room. Things changed in the mid-nineties with more girls getting into the tech space. However, many didn’t progress very far before dropping out. It wasn’t because they weren’t good but the social support infrastructures across Asia, and even globally, were lacking. the impact with a lack of women representation at the senior leadership and executive levels. The good thing is, there is an increasing awareness about the problem in the industry and around the world – governments and companies are now making conscious efforts to support career development of women in tech.

Q: What is driving the growing awareness for greater gender diversity?

RS: There are clear benefits for having a gender diverse workforce. Research shows that gender diverse companies are more profitable. In addition, companies with women comprising over 20% of the management team enjoy 10% higher innovation revenues. Actually, these numbers coincide with our data at Mastercard, which records that over 80% of all consumer purchasing decisions are driven by women. What this means for businesses is that it’s not just men’s opinions that matter – women’s are equally important. When product designs, engagement platforms, etc. cater to women’s needs, they perform better.

But how else can you do that besides directly engaging women in the process? In essence, women are driving new thinking, solving new problems and enabling businesses to tap into new opportunities. And if we pull all these facts together, there is really never a better time than now to force the subject of diversity in all spaces, whether tech or business.