MCI (P) 068/04/2021
CELEBRATE: FROM GIRLS TO WOMEN IN TECH 02 What It Takes to Grow from a Tech Novice into a Tech Native 04 How to Fast Track Your Career Growth in Tech? 06 6 Reasons Why Women Should Invest their Future in FinTech 08 Tan Lee Chew Chats About the Importance of Women Participation in Tech 10 Stephanie Davis Shares Her Hopes for Women in Tech
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03 2021
Contents Vision To be the leading infocomm and digital media professional society in Singapore
Mission Lead the Way To lead and contribute to the vibrancy and growth of Singapore’s infocomm and digital media industry
Add Value To add value to the infocomm and digital media professional’s career and personal development
EDITOR’S MESSAGE
POWER BOOST
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Everyone Wants the Same Thing
THE BIG IDEA 02
What It Takes to Grow from a Tech Novice into a Tech Native
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How to Fast Track Your Career Growth in Tech?
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6 Reasons Why Women Should Invest their Future in FinTech
SPOTLIGHT 08
Tan Lee Chew Chats About the Importance of Women Participation in Tech
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Stephanie Davis Shares Her Hopes for Women in Tech
Be the Voice
How Women Made the Technological Revolution Possible
#LATEST@SCS 15
2021 Singapore 100 Women in Tech List Released
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Highlights at Tech3 Forum 2021
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Achieving New Milestones in AI Ethics and Governance
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SCS Splash Awards 2021
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SCS Medals and Awards Winners
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Join or Renew Your SCS Membership Now
GEEK SPEAK 29
An Open Letter to Aspiring Women in Tech
To engage and be the voice of the infocomm and digital media community
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The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society
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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
9:41 AM
We All Want the Same Thing – Girls or Boys, Women or Men
T
ech is a fast growing sector – and an engine of growth for many economies. What this means is that tech presents a great place to work and grow for everyone – men or women – in FinTech, research or tech consulting. That’s good news, right? But the better news is that many tech skills – including the ones that turbocharge our careers – are really gender neutral. And at the heart of it all, regardless of gender, we all aspire towards better lives and careers. Even though tech does better than some engineering fields, early childhood education or nursing, the gender participation gap still exists. And this gap is apparent when it comes to leadership roles. However, this isn’t always the case. We only need to peek into the history of tech to find amazing contributions from women in tech.
From the sharing and experiences of tech women leaders – Ms Tan Lee Chew and Ms Stephanie Davis, we learnt that no single actor can change the current narrative alone. It takes the collective efforts of schools, families, companies, governments, the women themselves and, most importantly, the other half of the population – men – to do this together. What’s heartening is that SCS has gotten the ball rolling – honouring 100 Singapore Women in Tech and 18 Singapore Girls in Tech after the inaugural list last year. This is a good start, but we are in the early days. As the next step, how about we – men – who make up the majority in the tech industry show more encouragement by telling our daughters, our wives and our female coworkers and even bosses, “You are doing great!”. Because when they are great, we all become greater together. Enjoy the read!
What has triggered the imbalance? And more urgently – how can we get more girls and women to join tech? After all, we have a labour crunch in tech, and females making up half our population represents a sizeable tech workforce.
EDITOR Tan Teng Cheong CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Irene Lim Ng Wee Wei Pavitra Krishnaswamy Vladyslav Koshelyev EDITORIAL SUPPORT Claudia Lim
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TAN TENG CHEONG Editor Fellow, SCS tan.teng.cheong@scs.org.sg
FEEDBACK We value your feedback for this magazine. Simply email scs.secretariat@scs.org.sg with your comments to help us produce an even more interesting and relevant magazine for you in subsequent issues. You are welcome to submit articles for inclusion consideration. For advertising enquiries, please call 6226 2567 or email scs.secretariat@scs.org.sg. The IT Society is the official publication of the Singapore Computer Society. Any part of this publication may be reproduced as long as credit is given to the publisher, Singapore Computer Society. All views expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Society.
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THE BIG IDEA
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2021
MY JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION:
From a Tech Novice to a Tech Native
The technology industry is a competitive one, and it is challenging to attract, groom and retain the right talents. Then there is also the perception of tech being a male-dominated field. That explains why in the recent study conducted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority Singapore1, women only account for 41% of the tech industry workforce in Singapore. This is not only less than men’s 59% in the tech industry, but also that of women (48%) in other industries. Despite the numbers however, my experience presents a different side of the story – and continues to fuel my passion today.
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NG WEE WEI Senior Member, SCS Honouree, SG100WIT List 2021 Country Managing Director, Accenture
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joined Accenture, then Andersen Consulting, straight out of school. Coming from a non-tech background and being a woman placed me in a unique position. WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS While I had done well in school, being in the workforce is different from being in school – as I’m sure many of us have experienced. Studying can be conducted alone with the occasional project work but working is about collaboration, especially in consulting – being able to communicate and influence others with ideas can make or break the project and even one’s future in the business. Challenging as it was, I embraced the spirit of consulting – change. Of course, without Accenture being a great change agent to provide me with opportunities to do things I never imagined possible or a supportive and inclusive environment, my professional growth and latent potential may never be realised. WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GETS GOING Learning is hard work. I had to learn new skills such as challenging myself to rise to occasions, making myself heard and contributing to the team in visible ways. I also had to learn to be
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comfortable with myself in a crowd that does not look like me – not just gender but also culture and personalities. To better appreciate how tough this was, you’ll just need to talk to people who knew me from way back to find out how much I’ve changed from that shy girl who first joined the workforce. Today, as far as I see it, to be a tech woman is about being unafraid to be authentic, and embracing and celebrating diversity – because that’s how we contribute to better decisions and managing uncertainties. Having greater diversity in tech, be it gender, age or experience, helps to create more inclusive digital solutions and drive innovation. KEEPING THE END IN MIND WHILE ENJOYING THE MOMENT The diversity of views, backgrounds and disciplines in the Accenture team has empowered my team and I to create better solutions for our clients. It is also central to what has kept me going in Accenture for the past 26 years – the belief that technology is not an end but a means, as well as our purpose in combining human ingenuity with technology to help clients pivot, scale and create new sources of value and experiences in a fast-changing environment. I’ve been in this industry for over two decades now and the kind of work we do – helping clients shift left to realise a bigger business potential – continues to excite me greatly. It is especially rewarding when we help clients address fundamental core issues and transform their business. EVERY DAY IN TECH IS LIKE THE FIRST As a firm that offers end-to-end services – from Strategy & Consulting, Interactive, Technology to Operations – to over 6,000 clients across 120 countries, staying at the forefront of change is a must. This means that the
THE BIG IDEA
upscaling of employees has to be taken seriously. Each year, Accenture invests around US$1 billion in reskilling, training and learning initiatives for 624,000 employees globally. Through this digital and workforce transformation journey, insights are gained on what’s at stake and how to better help other organisations go through their journeys. But more importantly, it is programmes like Technology Quotient which helps employees like me to understand and explore the application of emerging technologies to our changing world in new creative ways. Similarly, innovation spaces such as the Accenture Singapore Innovation Hub – Future of Cities and Applied Intelligence Innovation Studio present safe spaces for me to collaborate with clients, challenge existing norms and come up with inclusive solutions. THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT FRESH POSSIBILITIES Fast forward to present day, digital transformation has enabled navigation of the many changes in our work and personal practices – work-from-home, shopping and healthcare. Particularly, workplace changes emphasise the need for programmes that support mental well-being and a balanced lifestyle. Mindful of different physical and emotional needs of different groups, be it parents or singles and men and women, I always make a conscious effort to understand our people’s needs and connect with them directly. Additionally, I recognise the importance of supporting career aspirations and how it could be a determining factor between keeping or losing good people in a tight labour landscape. Hence, I advocate for tech women to have access to continuous learning opportunities – so that we can thrive and remain future-ready in the post-pandemic world.
https://web-assets.bcg.com/6f/8c/a3914ef6482c910d76e00c2efde2/bcg-boosting-women-in-technology-in-southeast-asia-oct-2020.pdf
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2021
Tips to Turbocharge Your Career Growth in Tech
As big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) pervade our lives, they are also rapidly transforming work and business operations across industry sectors. To ride the wave of this transformation, tech professionals should equip themselves with new skills to differentiate themselves and grow their careers in the emerging digital innovation economy.
PAVITRA KRISHNASWAMY Honouree, SG100WIT List 2021 Senior Scientist & Deputy Head, Healthcare and MedTech Division, Institute for Infocomm Research
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EMBRACE INTERDISCIPLINARITY Companies are increasingly seeking to use data to fuel better decisions, products, and insights for their customers. Delivering deep value in these endeavours often requires infocomm and tech professionals to go beyond applying analytical techniques on the data, and bring on board key data, domain, or problem knowledge. In other words, professionals who have relevant technical expertise, and gut-level intuition for dynamics governing data, context of the domain or problem and/or needs of the customer are higher valued. Becoming conversant with relevant industry and application domains, key horizontal and vertical problem-solving strategies, and how to interface these effectively is increasingly critical.
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value-add that upskilling yourself in this strategic area could provide and find ways to develop yourself in this area through on-the-job learning or formal courses. By doing so, you will be able to better relate your work to the bottom line, and even get fresh inspirations that can shape your core outputs in fundamentally novel directions.
Cultivating this ability to think across and between disciplines has been immensely rewarding in my own experience – interfacing MedTech and AI. Often, in our projects, interpreting data requires deep understanding of the domain within which the data arises; and designing the most optimal AI strategy also requires insights into real clinical needs and a holistic appreciation of features that will drive value in care delivery.
DEEPEN COMPUTATIONAL THINKING SKILLS Technology professionals who rise to leadership roles tend to be adept at intuitively leveraging computational thinking to address different problems. The truth is that today’s tech professionals are working on increasingly complex systems for a variety of high stakes consequential applications (e.g., algorithmic trading, healthcare, autonomous driving, government functions). These tasks are often complex – entailing several moving parts, many immense uncertainties, and different levels of solvability at different timescales. Tackling these challenges requires problem solving skills that go beyond those typically used to address more structured bite-sized development tasks.
These same skills are equally useful in other branches of tech. Therefore, if you are looking to differentiate yourself as a tech professional – embracing interdisciplinarity is a must. Identify one strategic area that is outside your core discipline. This could be an adjoining technical area (such as systems, DevOps, distinct machine learning approaches, etc.), application domain (usually the domain of the end-user or primary stakeholder impacted by your work), or business activity interfacing with your scope (like product engineering, operations, etc.). Assess the specific
Generally, for complex tasks with few established precedents, the ability to intuitively deploy computational thinking for problem solving can be a deciding factor that impacts the eventual outcome. From my experience in research and emerging application domains such as digital health, I can attest first-hand to the value of computational thinking. Identifying on-the-job or self-learning opportunities to enhance your computational thinking skills is essential for enabling your growth into key strategic decisionmaking roles.
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It is evident – if your aspiration is to define yourself as a leader and strategic problem solver, deepening your computational thinking skills is an advantage you need. Learn to be comfortable with decomposing complex multifaceted problems into their component parts. For each part, consider comparable patterns of related problems that have been solved, abstract it to the simplest but most critical piece, and come up with steps to address it. In parallel, accumulate experience in projects that demand integrating solutions across work components, and get familiar with how to assess iterations required on the component level. Develop people and project management skills to help you cycle through this problem-solving process while keeping strategic priorities and focus on refining and defining specific parts. There is no doubt that the tips above are gender neutral. But women tech professionals may just have a slight edge over our male counterparts. Women often have to play many different roles as mother, daughter, wife, caregiver and professional. The demands of these varied roles hone their abilities to embrace different points of view and serve as effective bridges between disciplines. In addition, engaging in complex everyday tasks ranging from designing recipes to childrearing and running households calls for women to proactively apply intuitive computational thinking approaches. Hence, my recommendation for girls and ladies who are keen to make forays into the worlds of tech and AI is to use the interdisciplinary slant to your benefit. But don’t stop at that, find ways to also leverage your computational thinking skills in your professional life. Before long, you will see yourself thriving on unexpected growth paths.
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2021
Why Women Should Invest their Future in the FinTech Space
FinTech, as with the larger technology sector, may seem male-dominated. However, women are increasingly embarking on careers in FinTech, and many more are working their way up to senior management positions. With diversity being a big theme in tech, and more specifically FinTech, and the ceaseless search for innovative products that break down cultural and gender barriers, now is the perfect time for women to consider a FinTech career.
IRENE LIM Member, SCS Honouree, SG100WIT List 2021 Executive Director, APAC Technology Management Office, Singapore Technology Centre, J.P. Morgan
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rmed with a business degree in Financial Analysis with no STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) background, a career in tech was naturally not a top-ofmind choice for me. Being unfamiliar with the tech sector also added to my apprehension. Undecided, I was inspired by the words of a senior female leader at one of the career seminars held in Nanyang Technological University. She said to me, “If you are passionate and willing to learn, no one can stop you from having a successful career in Technology!” PLENTY OF LEARNING AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES That was 20 years ago – when I joined J.P. Morgan as a management graduate trainee, focusing on the Technology business. Since then, I have taken on multiple portfolios in the Corporate & Investment Bank and Enterprise Technology departments. That single decision has not only seeded my career growth in Singapore, it has also given me opportunities to work in various headquarters and branches of J.P. Morgan around the world, including New York, Hong Kong and Japan. FRONT-ROW SEAT TO SOME OF THE BEST TECH ACTIONS The financial industry has undergone some major transformation over the years and technology is at the heart of these rapid changes – whether it is to improve customer experience or business operations. From mobile banking, e-payments to cryptocurrency, I don’t just get to spectate the trends, but experience them first-hand, and in some cases even contribute to them. The pace of innovation will only get faster, and to join FinTech now is to opt in on this exciting growth and be an agent in pushing the financial sector to the next frontier.
JOINING FINTECH IS CHOOSING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR WOMEN As technologists, we play an important role in positively impacting communities – building better, safer, faster solutions for our clients, our employees, our communities and the world. According to the World Economic Forum statistics, women account for 55% of the world’s unbanked population1. For many of these almost one billion women, they have no access to banking or insurance products. Tech is the catalyst for change. J.P. Morgan invests US$12 billion in technology annually and hires 50,000 technologists worldwide – processing 26 million transactions a day worth between US$6-8 trillion a day across over 130 currencies, and innovating and creating products at scale (e.g. JPM Coin – a digital coin that leverages blockchain technology to enable instantaneous payments). At the heart of all that we do, we are working to build a more equitable and inclusive world. WOMEN CAN EXCEL IN THE FINTECH SPACE As a self-taught technologist and now advocate for women in STEM, I feel strongly about females having the same opportunities as men in FinTech. It is also my belief that women can make good tech leaders. Just like how I was inspired by a female senior leader, I hope to inspire other girls and women in Singapore to join and build their careers in tech. Hence, I have pioneered programmes promoting women in STEM fields.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/women-banking-digital-divide/
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One example is the “Winning Women in Technology” initiative launched in 2017 in J.P. Morgan Singapore. Since its launch, we saw a significant increase in female graduate hires in our Software Engineer Programme. This initiative has since been expanded beyond the technology function to become a company-wide Women Mentoring Programme, benefitting more women across the various lines of businesses in J.P. Morgan. FINTECH NEEDS WOMEN The FinTech industry needs a diverse technology workforce for a long-term strategic purpose, pronto. The financial services industry is one of the fastestgrowing industries and needs women who are passionate about technology to fill positions in Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud, blockchain and data analytics. At J.P. Morgan, our strategy is to promote greater diversity, equity, inclusivity and accessibility by focusing on engagement, education and empowering. FINTECH OFFERS A FULFILLING CAREER As part of my personal goal to pay it forward, I carve out time to coach, inspire and sponsor girls and women, both within and outside J.P. Morgan, to help them discover their potential and pursue a career in tech. It is my hope to lead by example the importance of being open minded and unafraid to try and learn new things – be it tech and digital skills or professional and social skills. I am confident that as long as we build appropriate attitudes, we will be well poised to keep our career progressing on the right track.
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2021
THE GREAT TALENT CRUNCH:
Finding the Missing Half TAN LEE CHEW Senior Member, SCS Honouree, SG100WIT List 2021 President, SCS Women in Tech Chapter President Commercial, ST Engineering Earliest Tech Experience: Lugging around a Macintosh Portable (about as heavy as a sack of rice) Currently Reading: HBR Emotional Intelligence series article on Resilience An App You Can’t Live Without: TraceTogether Last Googled: Ian Bremmer on big tech becoming geopolitical actors Pet Topic of the Moment: Digital skills Favourite Way to Relax: Walking and golfing
With tech giants from Alibaba to Zoom setting up headquarters in Singapore, the tech talent crunch is getting real. While we produce 2,800 tech graduates every year – an estimated 60,000 tech professionals are needed over the next three years. How are we going to make up for this shortfall – and can women be key to solving this? We speak to Tan Lee Chew, President Commercial of ST Engineering to find out. Q: Question, LC: Lee Chew Q: We’ve heard a lot about the tech talent shortage – and calls for greater women participation. What is your take? LC: The fact is that we just don’t have enough digital talents, and the pandemic has accelerated the race for great talent. This whole shortage is driving the entire industry to think beyond the resource pool coming out of universities, and making us realise that we cannot ignore half of the working population. On the bright side, findings show that while women only make up 29% of tech graduates in Singapore, they make up 41% of the tech workforce1. Which means Singapore is already doubling down to attract women from non-tech backgrounds.
Q: You graduated with a degree in philosophy yourself. How did you end up in the tech industry? LC: I got into the industry by chance. I wanted to do something different after two years at the Ministry of Finance, so I went to interview for a job selling Apple Macintoshes. I remember the interviewer asking me, “You have no IT background and no sales background. Why would you be successful in this job?” Then maybe to scare me off, I was asked to submit a paper on how I would market the Macintosh. That afternoon I bought every Mac and Apple magazine there was from a bookstore. The more I read, the more intrigued I was by the technology and its
potential as a productivity tool. To this day, I don’t know how my paper fared. But I landed the job – and I like to think my resolve moved the interviewer to give me a chance. And over the years, my tenacity and adaptability continue to serve me well. I relish rising to challenges in a fast-paced industry – one that allows me to be always learning and doing things that are new and foreign to me. Q: A recent study showed that 50% of surveyed women tech workers drop out by age 352. Why is this so, and how was it different for you? LC: I can’t say if that figure is the same for Singapore, but I can think of a few reasons. Working in the tech
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industry can be very consuming – it is not for everyone. If you add to that society’s expectations of women playing multifaceted roles and the fact that tech is a male-dominated industry, you can see why there’s a high dropout rate of women workers. For myself, there were two things I learnt when I dropped out of tech for a couple of years. When I became the Senior Vice President for Sales in State Street Investment Bank some years back, I learnt that – first, I really love tech after all. There’s so much sharing and energy in tech, it’s always vibrant and changing. That’s not necessarily something you
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find in every industry. The second thing was that many skills are transferable. I knew I could apply my sales skills, strategic thinking and ability to operate at different levels across multiple countries in different job roles. I guess these moments liberated me, because I realised that I could do almost anything I’m interested in. As long as I continue to learn, add value and make a difference. Q: What about further up the career ladder – when women become tech leaders? LC: There are plenty of leadership traits that are gender neutral – things like being authentic, visionary and inclusive. Early in my career, building inner confidence – and knowing I didn’t have to be like men to be successful was important. Women can lead in ways that
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are no less charismatic than their male counterparts. And there may be some areas in which women do better simply because they inspire and see things differently. A female leader in any organisation is in a very unique position. Having more women leaders will encourage diverse hiring – it has a natural halo effect. The other thing is that leaders set the tone for any business. Being in a leadership position, women can shape conversations and put in place mechanisms to support women workers in different phases of their life. Deliberate effort in developing female talent is necessary in enabling us to better build a bigger resource pool and a resilient industry capable of creating relevant and needful solutions for our societies.
“I hope more women will join me in the tech industry, and more men will step up to celebrate and support women in tech. Tech changes the way we live, work and play, so it’s truly a privilege to be in tech – and I think women can play a significant role in adding vibrancy to the industry.”
How does women participation contribute to better business for everyone?
What are must-have attributes for women to succeed in tech?
What is the showstopper for women to join tech? And progress up the career ladder in tech? What is an advice you have for women who are non-tech native and thinking of joining the tech industry?
I am looking forward to the day when…
BCG, Boosting Women in Technology in Southeast Asia, https://www.bcg.com/publications/2020/boosting-women-in-southeast-asia-tech-sector (2020) Accenture and Girls Who Code, Resetting Tech Culture, https://www.accenture.com/_acnmedia/PDF-134/Accenture-A4-GWC-Report-Final1.pdf (2020)
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PLAYING AT THE TOP –
A Role for the Strong And a Place for Women in Tech
Close your eyes and think “boss”. Is “boss” a he? Or a she? You are likelier to conjure a male rather than a female image regardless of your own gender – and that’s expected. After all, women chief executives only account for a mere 8.1% in Fortune 500 businesses. To understand how this number translates in the male dominant tech industry, The IT Society chats with Stephanie Davis, Vice-President, Southeast Asia, Google, to find out.
THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2021
STEPHANIE DAVIS Fellow, SCS Honouree, SG100WIT List 2021 Vice-President, Southeast Asia, Google Earliest Tech Experience: 1982 – Commodore 64, an 8-bit home computer, at a friend’s place, a school bus ride away Currently Reading: Taking a break from The Power of Geography by Tim Marshall to read Nothing is Impossible: America’s Reconciliation with Vietnam by Ted Osius A Google App You Can’t Live Without: Search, with an average of 50 queries a day Last Googled: When is Singapore’s monsoon season, really? Favourite Music Genre: Folk, with John Prine at the top of the list, but love being introduced to new artists, like Singapore’s Jasmine Sokko Pet Topic of the Moment: Climate change Favourite Way to Relax: Tennis (learnt it during pandemic), sailing (on most weekends), long walks in the evenings
Q: Question, SD: Stephanie Davis Q: There’s a growing focus on gender diversity in tech. Why is this so? SD: Roughly 50% of the world’s population is women, and as tech sets up to change the world for the better – it just makes sense to include women. For example, Google’s mission is to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful to everyone. And without women leaders, or without female software engineers and coders, we will be missing an important link in our mission delivery.
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But while we need women coders and engineers to do good by women globally, we need to remember that every tech company is a business too. It has the same functions that every non-tech company has. And as a growing sector, tech offers many opportunities. One doesn’t have to be a technologist to bring value to the tech industry. Women can contribute in many ways. Q: In a 2020 Boston Consulting Group report, Southeast Asia came up tops in women participation in tech. What is the significance of this achievement? SD: Let’s smile at the fact that there are more women in technology in this part of the world. But while that is positive, let’s keep in mind that the number is just 32%. Southeast Asia may be ahead of the global average when it comes to women participation in tech, but we need to remember that the global figures we are using as a yardstick to measure success are too low. So doing better than global is – not good enough. For that matter, in the list of Fortune 500 companies, there are only 41 women CEOs. This is a sobering fact – there is not only not enough women leaders in tech, but in all industries. To address this issue, it calls for a collective private-public effort involving governments, companies, nonprofit organisations such as Singapore Computer Society, and schools. Q: What more can we do to improve women participation in tech? SD: There are a variety of reasons why there are fewer women in tech than men. It starts with gender stereotyping at a young age, of girls’ ability in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. But there is no
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grounds in this belief – and both girls and boys should be exposed to a wide array of possibilities, and be encouraged to dream and pursue anything they love. Parents must embrace this mindset. Our education system likewise should break down barriers to create a more balanced learning environment.
pay differences and care duties. These circumstances were exacerbated during the pandemic through job loss, greater financial strain and heavier care duties which resulted from home schooling. Therefore, it is fair to say that women were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
Being equipped with the knowledge and qualifications is just the beginning however – companies must provide the network, mentorship and programmes that can empower and support women in their career growth and development. For example, from Google’s experience with the #IamRemarkable initiative, we realise that having role models is incredibly empowering for women who often found it harder than men to talk openly about their accomplishments in the workplace. What we found is that when we give women a platform to celebrate their achievements, they become more confident, happier and more engaged employees.
The silver lining is that during this period, there has been a massive upswing in tech adoption among consumers and businesses. This has in turn created more jobs and opportunities for both men and women. What’s important then is to ensure that women have equal, if not more, access to this creation of jobs and career opportunities. Potentially, tech can help women to score some wins in this pandemic, and even gain some new ground.
Aside from that, it is also important to have people-centric policies that cater for women in different life phases. Life is a tug-of-war of responsibilities, and in the face of conflicting obligations, women sometimes feel they have no choice but to leave the workplace. In such instances, programmes such as part-time work arrangements and job sharing offer flexibility and help retain employees who would like to return to the workforce when the situation at home improves. On a related note, I will also like to give credit to Singapore Computer Society for organising the Singapore 100 Women in Tech (SG100WIT) List. Programmes like these inspire women to join the tech industry and make a difference. Q: Has the pandemic set women back or propelled them forward? SD: Before the pandemic, women were already subjected to inequalities such as
Q: As a female tech leader, can you share some valuable lessons with other tech ladies? SD: Women leaders may lead differently from men. That’s okay. While I had the fortune to learn from many wonderful male leaders, I have come to learn that they do not represent the full spectrum of leadership styles – no gender does – and there’s no need for me to lead like others. Instead, I should be confident in my own style. Additionally, it is not uncommon for people to think that you need to be the most capable and the strongest in order to lead. But really, sometimes it matters just as much to have the empathy to connect with people and harness their strengths to work with one another. Simply by doing so, we build strong teams – and that counts. Last but not least, I think many women like me are driven by a strong sense of purpose. If we can work for a cause that aligns with our being, we can be authentic, overcome challenges and, most importantly, make a difference.
“It is my hope that in 10 years’ time, every leadership table will have an equal representation of males and females – and not just to fulfil certain governance requirements. Rather, every person (both men and women) of every background shares the realisation that diversity, equity and inclusion is essential for tech and businesses to reach their full potential.”
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How Women Made the Technological Revolution Possible Knowing the past can give a glimpse into what the future holds. That explains my interest in the history of tech. Interestingly, this exploration has led me to better appreciate women in tech and their contributions.
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n the many books I recently read about technology, women were the main protagonists. This is not only a sign that our understanding of history has become more inclusive, but also revealing in terms of the critical roles women played in bringing about the current technological revolution.
she also wrote the first general-purpose algorithms (or applications) that extended computer functionality beyond pure calculations. Over 100 years later, when Steve Jobs marketed the first Apple computer as the “bicycle for the mind”, he was building on the legacy of Ada Lovelace.
THE FIRST COMPUTER PROGRAMMER – ADA LOVELACE Ada Lovelace stands at the very origins of computing – and is rightfully called the world’s first programmer. In the mid-nineteenth century, Ada created the first known description of the “analytical engine”, and its workings became the base for future mechanical computers. Not only was Ada ahead of her time,
Not only was it a woman who ideated the first mechanical processor, women were actually called “Computers” for the longest time. Books such as “When Computers Were Human” and “The Glass Universe” describe how prior to the invention of silicon chips, people did all the complex mathematical, scientific calculations – first entirely by hand and later with early mechanical calculators. Computer teams comprising almost entirely of women made critical calculations for scientific and technological advancements, including NASA’s first space launch into orbit.
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VLADYSLAV KOSHELYEV Member, SCS Product Marketing, Meta Founder, The Koshelyev Company
AMERICA’S FIRST FEMALE CRYPTANALYST – ELIZABETH SMITH That’s not all. In books such as “The Woman Who Smashed Codes” and “Code Girls”, we found out just how much we owe scientists such as Elizabeth Smith and her colleagues for their invention of modern cryptology, which helped break enemy codes during World Wars I and II. While many books and a Hollywood blockbuster deservedly gave the credit to Alan Turing, he was standing on the shoulders of giants when he cracked the “Enigma” code. PIONEER OF CRISPR GENE-EDITING TECHNOLOGY – JENNIFER DOUDNA Speaking of codes, today we know that the DNA code lies at the base of human biology. The book “The Code Breaker” explores the story of Jennifer Doudna who pioneered the CRISPR gene-editing technology that is revolutionising modern science and medicine, and ushering in a new era in biotech. Thanks to it – cures for diseases that were recently considered fatal are already on the horizon, and we are only scratching the surface of what CRISPR and the future innovations it enables will bring. These books and stories show the significance of women’s role in creating the three most fundamental technological paradigms that define the 21st century: Computing, Cryptology and Biotech. The fact that Singapore and Southeast Asia account for more women in tech than other parts of the world is indicative of this region’s future in the global economy.
Technology and Innovation It’s time to future-proof your business We’re there with you every step of the way – from insight-driven strategy to impactful transformation necessary for your business to thrive. Connect at www.deloitte.com/sg
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2021 Singapore 100 Women in Tech: Honouring Trailblazers
T
he 2021 Singapore 100 Women in Tech (SG100WIT) List was unveiled by Mrs Josephine Teo, Singapore’s Minister of Communications and Information, and Patron of the Singapore Women in Tech (SGWIT) movement, on 15 October 2021. The SG100WIT List, jointly organised by SCS with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), recognises and celebrates women based in Singapore who have inspired their communities and made significant contributions to the tech industry. This year, in tandem with 2021 being dedicated as the “Year of Celebrating SG Women”, the SG100WIT Committee selected 100 women in tech, as well as introduced an all new “Girls in Tech” category which showcased 18 female students from schools and institutions in Singapore who are pursuing their passion and interest in technology.
In total, more than 600 nominations were received following an open call for SG100WIT nominations. The 100 women who made this year’s list were evaluated by a panel of influential leaders from the business, technology and academic communities, including several SG100WIT 2020 honourees. Sharing about the evaluation process, Professor Alex Siow, Chairman for the SG100WIT Selection Committee said, “The pool of nominees for the 2021 SG100WIT List showcased the breadth and depth of women talent in Singapore’s tech industry. Every nominee – her technical expertise or entrepreneurial spirit, her achievements and contributions, her ability to lead and inspire those around her – was carefully considered throughout the rigorous selection process.” Dr Chong Yoke Sin, President of SCS added, “We are delighted to announce such an accomplished SG100WIT List for 2021. Our awardees are outstanding youths, professionals and leaders
from across the spectrum of industry, government and community. This year, we are also pleased to include our first batch of aspiring girls in tech. Every one of these women and girls has a unique story and is a role model who has achieved much in Singapore’s ever-evolving and dynamic tech sector. They reaffirm the diversity of opportunities and roles for girls and women.” Congratulating the awardees and SCS on the success of 2021 SG100WIT List, Mr Lew Chuen Hong, Chief Executive, IMDA, said “In organising SG100WIT List for the second year, we celebrate achievements of the top 100 women in tech. It is heartening to see the diversity and the positive impact they have made. We hope to continue to inspire a strong pool of women and girls, to pursue opportunities in the vibrant tech sector, and achieve their potential.” The next edition of the biennial SG100WIT List is slated for 2023.
At the SCS Tech3 Forum. Standing 6th and 7th from the left: Dr Chong Yoke Sin (SCS President) and Prof Alex Siow (Chairman for the SG100WIT Selection Committee) celebrating the unveiling of the 2021 SG100WIT List.
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2021
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SINGAPORE WOMEN IN TECH LIST 2021 HONOUREES
Agarwal Neha
Ahmed Anansa
Anees Ayesha OrdiSense
Singapore University Technology & Design
Cai Kui
Chan Chi Ling Better.sg
Standard Chartered Bank
Chan Queenie
Chan Wei Ee Gayle
Chan Yiwen Alexis
Chawra Jaanvi
Chen Nancy
Chen Petty
Chiang Yoke Fun
Chong Boon Sim
Chong Isabel
Chua Eileen
Chua Horng Shya
Dang Thao
Davis Stephanie
Devanathan Sandhya
Duhamel Wu Ling Aurore
Citibank
OCBC
Chua Jacqueline HP
QuikPath
A*STAR
Thoughtworks
ASUS
ST Engineering
Gin Sharon
Singapore Airlines
Ho Grace
Ho Sabrina
Hwee Susan
Jialdasani Rajasa
Knox Aliza
Ko Sharon
Standard Chartered Bank
Singapore University of Technology & Design
SWAT Mobility
Jiang Jing
Johnson Shelley
Kalidasan Viveka
Kan Geraldine
Kankanhalli Atreyi
Koh Li-Na
Koops Gordana
Krishnaswamy Pavitra
Kwan Natasha
Singapore Management University
Koh Joanna PayPal
Lee-Lim Sok Keow Temasek Polytechnic
Liu Jinyue A*STAR
Ubisoft
Infocomm Media Development Authority
A*STAR
Ciena
HP
Oracle
Gao Yvonne
Heravizadeh Mitra
National University of Singapore
IBM
A*STAR
Fauzi Liyana
SAP
National University of Singapore
Harvey Brenda IBM
Eaton
Hire Digital
Government Technology Agency
Goh Yiping
Quest Ventures
Herremans Dorien
Razer
Defence Science & Technology Agency
Half The Sky
Khoo Mui Kheng
UOB
Housing & Development Board
Boston Consulting Group
Lee Pooi See
Lee Sook San Susan
Nanyang Technological University
Qritive
Microsoft
Lee Wan Sie
Singapore General Hospital
Infocomm Media Development Authority
Leo Xanne
Leow Clara
Li Shiying Chloe
Liau Charis Minterest
Tech For She
J.P. Morgan
Lim Irene
Liu Fei
Loke Hui Yi
Mahmood Syarah
Malhotra Neha
Mercz Alexandra
Mishra Seema
Nai Sharon
Ng Daphne
Gorilla Mobile
Government Technology Agency
WhiteCoat
Ubisoft
Johnson Controls
JP Morgan Chase
Gojek
Liew Kay
Esri
Pinkstripes
A*STAR
Huawei
Dedoco
The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society
Ng Wee Wei Accenture
Rajendram Naomi Accenture
Tan Dawn
Nguyen Yen Ngoc Mabel
Ong Chen Hui
Ong Hwee Yee
Elocare
Rastogi Vaishali
Rouam Sigrid
Roy Sharmili
Savage Hazel
Tan Lee Chew
Credit Suisse
HP
Tokopedia
Singapore University of Technology & Design
Government Technology Agency
Tan Jean
Tan Jenny
Tan Josephine
Tham Loke Kheng
Thing Vrizlynn
Vetrivillalan Vennila
Wang Cherie
Mediacorp
Ong Lorraine
Infocomm Media Development Authority
Boston Consulting Group
ST Engineering
ISACA
Singapore Management University
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McDonald’s
Planner Bee
Government Technology Agency
Musiio
Ooi Sim Leng Maybelline
Ow Serene
Saw Michelle
Silveira Beatriz
Tan Alina
Tan Si-Hui
Teo Peiru
Digital Realty
VIRTUAI
Dell
Tan Shui-Min
ST Engineering
National University of Singapore
Wang Rong
Wong Geraldine
Nanyang Technological University
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Grab-Singtel Digital Bank
Purswani Ramchandani Nuri Visa
Citi
Horizon Quantum Computing
Wong Gin
Singapore Pools
Dyson
KeyReply
Wong Sylvia
Integrated Health Information Systems
Read their citations here: https://www.scs.org.sg/ sg100wit-2021-list-citations Yang Le A*STAR
Yeong Wai Yee
Nanyang Technological University
Young Yoke Mun Janet
UNDER SG100WIT LIST 2021
Temasek Secondary School
Lew Ellie
Nanyang Technological University
Capgemini
UOB
18 GIRLS IN TECH HONOUREES
Kulkarni Mrunal Makarand
Zhao Jingyuan
Lim Yun Shi Krystal Temasek Polytechnic
Arora Srishti
Nanyang Technological University
Low Desiree
Singapore Management University
Boo Rui Yan Chanz Raffles Girls’ School
Malani Surabhi
Nanyang Technological University
Chen Zixian
Methodist Girls’ School
Ng Ren Yu
Methodist Girls’ School
Heng Wei En Christy Ann
Jiang Tongyu
Raffles Girls’ School
Admiralty Secondary School
Paul Mahasweta
Nanyang Technological University
Peh Yu Yun
Nanyang Technological University
Read their citations here: https://www.scs.org.sg/sg100wit2021-list-students-citations Ramjoo Inshirah
Singapore Polytechnic
Senthil Kumar Kirthika
National University of Singapore
Tan Si Yu Sarah
Raffles Girls’ School
Tong Yu Hng Sharlene
Admiralty Secondary School
Wee Qihui Glenda Duke-NUS Medical School
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Tech3 Forum Explored the Need for Resetting and Rebuilding in the Post Pandemic World
T
hemed “Reset or Rebuild? Thriving Responsibly in the Post Pandemic World”, the SCS Tech3 Forum was held on 15 October as a hybrid event. Its scale with 125 in-person and 400 virtual participants was the largest since the pandemic started.
Opening remarks by Mrs Josephine Teo (Minister for Communications and Information)
Keynote Presentation by Mr Piyush Gupta (Group CEO, DBS)
Aligned with the theme, Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information, urged the audience to deliberate the next bound of growth for Singapore’s digital economy: • How can we harness the power of digital to rebuild our economy, to create new opportunities for our people? • How do we wield this power responsibly, to build a sustainable digital future for everyone?
“There is no doubt that digitalisation will be an increasingly pervasive force in rebuilding our economy. But given the pervasiveness and power of digital technology, it has become an imperative to also think about how to harness it responsibly. Responsibility can be considered in at least two ways – inclusion and safety. – Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information
• How might we take this opportunity to redefine and set the values that shape our community, so that all of us have a stake in this digital future? Keynote speaker, Mr Piyush Gupta, Group CEO of DBS, subsequently inspired the audience with his answers – “Reset and Rebuild” and the need to stay anchored and continue strengthening what we have built as people, as a society, as humanity and our world economic systems. Panel Discussion. From Left: Prof Annie Koh (SMU), Mr Kiren Kumar (IMDA), Ms Soh Siew Choo (DBS) and Mr Jayson Goh (Changi Airport Group)
Missed the Tech3 Forum or keen to relive some of the moments from the event? Keynote by Mr Piyush Gupta, Group CEO, DBS: Dawn of a New Age: COVID-19 Reflections and the Way Forth for Businesses
Panel Discussion moderated by Ms Annie Koh, Professor Emeritus of Finance (Practice), Lee Kong Chian School of Business, SMU: Reset or Rebuild? Thriving Responsibly in the Post Pandemic World
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SCS Scores New Milestones in AI Ethics and Governance
T
he use of AI in our everyday lives has brought about great benefits for businesses, communities and the society at large. Yet its power has also sparked concerns about its biases and potential exploitation by unethical businesses and individuals. For that reason, SCS actively takes the lead to drive advocacy for ethical AI in Singapore. EDUCATING YOUTHS ON AI ETHICS WITH HUMAN CENTRICITY Recognising the importance of an AI Ethics education to the development of a talent pipeline for an ethical AI ecosystem in Singapore, SCS collaborated with five local polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to infuse AI ethics with human centricity into the existing AI Literacy programme, across all disciplines. Commencing in April 2022, the programme is expected to equip 35,000 students with a good foundational understanding of AI Ethics issues each year. CERTIFICATION IN AI ETHICS & GOVERNANCE (ASSOCIATE LEVEL) Another new collaboration with the five polytechnics and ITE will see Certification in AI Ethics & Governance (Associate Level) be made available to tertiary
students. This joint certification offers a pathway for students to progress to the higher certification at the Professional level, be equipped with relevant tech skills, and gain access to more career opportunities. The certification will be introduced to over 20 diplomas, and targets to award at least 2,000 students with the Associate Level joint certification every year, beginning April 2022. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between SCS and the institutions to formalise this collaboration. CERTIFICATION IN AI ETHICS & GOVERNANCE (PROFESSIONAL LEVEL) The AI Ethics & Governance certification course – jointly organised by SCS and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) – is a recognised standard for AI Ethics & Governance competence. This certification course has drawn participation from leaders and subject matter experts in AI deployment and implementation in critical industries such as banking, transport, healthcare, etc., with about 120 professionals trained and 80 professionals certified to date. The 5th intake is currently open for registration.
GOVERNANCE FOR AI ETHICS CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION SCS had established two high level independent boards – Evaluation Board and Appeals Board – bringing together leaders, policymakers and experts to ensure proper governance of the certification and accreditation framework. The Appeals Board, chaired by Senior Counsel VK Rajah, Former Attorney-General & Judge of Appeal, together with the Evaluation Board, chaired by SCS President Dr Chong Yoke Sin, will provide accountability, independence and objectivity in analysis and decision-making for AI Ethics and Governance certifications and accreditation of trainers. ADVOCACY IN AI ETHICS Since October 2020 when SCS initiated the AI Ethics Movement, more than 130 organisations have pledged their support and the number continues to increase steadily. The growing bench of organisations joining the movement augurs well for the development of a healthy, robust and ethical AI ecosystem.
SCS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with five polytechnics and ITE on 15 October 2021 at the Tech3 Forum graced by Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Industry.
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2021
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SCS Splash Awards 2021 Sparks Imagination about Possibilities in the Post-pandemic World
W
hat will the post-pandemic world look like? How can we leverage cloud technology and digital intelligence to give Singapore a competitive edge?
relevant. Seeing how these student participants gamely rose to the challenge we set them, I feel optimistic about the future for Singapore and our infocomm industry.”
The Splash Awards student participants were challenged to find solutions to these tough questions in the 18th edition of SCS Splash Awards 2021 themed, “How will Digital Intelligence & Cloud Transform Singapore in a Post-pandemic World?” Commenting about the theme, Dr Chong Yoke Sin, SCS President said, “The post-pandemic world promises to be very different from the pre-pandemic one. And it is clear that adaptability and innovativeness are what will make Singapore remain competitive and
Amidst the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the Splash Awards competition went virtual for the second consecutive year. Out of a total of 72 entries received, 12 finalist teams made it to the finale. After an intensive round of presentations and judging, Dunman High’s RAYMC emerged as the champion in the Pre-tertiary category while Singapore Polytechnic’s Engaging Rehabilitation claimed the top prize in the Tertiary category. Additionally, winners were also awarded for five sub-themes
– Community Building, Cybersecurity, Healthcare, Sustainability and Transport. Impressed by the youths’ technical competence, ambition and passion in using technology to make a difference in the lives of fellow Singaporeans, Guest of Honour, Minister of State, Tan Kiat How, Ministry of Communications and Information shared, “Initiatives like Splash Awards play an important role in igniting our youths’ interests and developing their skills in emerging technologies. I welcome industry partners to partner the Government in nurturing our next generation of tech innovators and leaders, and help Singapore seize exciting new opportunities in a more digital future.”
174
student participants
Mr Tan Kiat How Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information
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Dr Chong Yoke Sin President, Singapore Computer Society
sessions were conducted (14 training sessions + 48 one-on-one clinic sessions)
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PRE-TERTIARY CATEGORY
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SUB-THEME WINNING TEAMS
Prize
Team
School
Sub-theme
Champion
RAYMC
Dunman High School
1st Runner-up
error:SST
School of Science and Technology
Community Building CyberFence sponsored by Singapore Pools
Singapore University of Technology & Design
2nd Runner-up
The Green Sisters
Cedar Girls’ Secondary School
Cybersecurity sponsored by Cyber Security Agency
SafeShop
Dunman High School
Healthcare sponsored by IHiS
Har Cheong Gai
Nanyang Polytechnic
Sustainability sponsored by GIC
GoFresh!
Singapore Institute of Technology
TERTIARY CATEGORY
Team
School
Prize
Team
School
Champion
Engaging Rehabilitation
Singapore Polytechnic
1st Runner-up
Smart Carpark
Republic Polytechnic
Sustainability sponsored by Huawei
The Green Sisters
Cedar Girls’ Secondary School
2nd Runner-up
CyberFence
Singapore University of Technology & Design
Transport sponsored by NCS
Smart Carpark
Republic Polytechnic
44.5 hours of training over 4 months
Pre-tertiary Category CHAMPION RAYMC from Dunman High
662
students and professionals benefitted from the training
Tertiary Category CHAMPION Engaging Rehabilitation from Singapore Polytechnic
4
-month
long competition
Group Shot with the 12 Finalist Teams
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#LATEST@SCS
Youth in Tech: Young. Talented. And Appreciated. SCS OUTSTANDING IT YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Andre Chia Wei Song
Nanyang Polytechnic Diploma in Cyber Security & Forensics
THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2021
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T
he information communications sector would need another 60,000 professionals over the next three years according to Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative. Hence, it is important to build a strong pipeline of talents by recognising youth potential and achievements in tech. This year, SCS Medals and Awards were awarded to 20 youths.
SCS OUTSTANDING PROJECT WORK AWARD Chan Yong Jie
Nanyang Polytechnic Diploma in Financial Informatics
“Diving into the world of Information Technology allows one to understand the potential and future of technology. I am glad to begin my journey early and can partake in an ever-growing industry where passionate innovators drive breakthroughs.”
“Technology has improved lives, put information into our hands and exponentially sped up business processes – creating endless opportunities, hopes and dreams for many. I would like to leverage technology to make this world a better place.”
– Andre Chia Wei Song
– Chan Yong Jie
Ryan Lucas Ho Shi Chang
Nanyang Polytechnic Diploma in Information Technology
Kainoa Ho Wei Jie
SCS SILVER MEDAL Karen Chang Kai Ling Singapore Polytechnic Diploma in Business Information Technology
Dong Qianbo
Singapore Polytechnic Diploma in Information Technology
Ruth Lee Jia En
Ngee Ann Polytechnic Diploma in Information Technology
Nanyang Polytechnic Diploma in Infocomm & Security
Venus Lim Jia Yi
Singapore Polytechnic Diploma in Infocomm Security Management
Yee Yan Hwee
Ngee Ann Polytechnic Diploma in Animation & 3D Arts
“I have a natural curiosity and affinity for problem-solving, and in my course of computer science studies, I get to tackle a myriad of interesting real-life problems and applications across various fields. I aspire to contribute to this vibrant field and make a positive impact on our society in the future.” – Yee Yan Hwee
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SCS FINAL YEAR BEST CAPSTONE PROJECT
#LATEST@SCS
SCS SPECIAL INDUSTRY PRIZE
Marilyn Kor Yan Ling Ngee Ann Polytechnic Diploma in Animation & 3D Arts
“Many design career prospects would have been impossible without tech innovations. Work efficiency and quality are maximised thanks to individuals and companies sharing their tools and programs through tutorials and online courses. I look forward to utilising these skills and techniques to fuel my passion in design.”
Low Qing En
Singapore Institute of Technology Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Information and Communications Technology (Software Engineering)
Muhammad Azman Bin Mohd Salleh
Singapore Institute of Technology Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Information and Communications Technology (Software Engineering)
– Marilyn Kor Yan Ling
Zhu Zhanyan
Ngee Ann Polytechnic Diploma in Animation & 3D Arts
SCS GOLD MEDAL AND PRIZE Kang Sing
National University of Singapore Master of Computing Programme in Infocomm Security
Harish Venkatesan
National University of Singapore Master of Computing Programme in Information Systems
“Today, technology is at the core of everything – the way we live, think and interact. My goal was to level up in technical skills and understand how to digitise and reinvent businesses. For which, my studies have enabled me to gain valuable knowledge, skills, and friendships. It has been a truly rewarding journey!” – Harish Venkatesan
“The pandemic has proven how technology could enable industries to remain productive while working remotely. As such, as a soon-to-be tech professional, I feel empowered to use my skills to benefit our society in the years ahead.” – Muhammad Azman Bin Mohd Salleh
Gan Kah Loke
Temasek Polytechnic Diploma in Game Design & Development
SCS SKILLS MASTERY AWARD Muhammad Juraimi B Rafinyi
Temasek Polytechnic Diploma in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics
“The tech Industry is continuously growing with new innovations – that provides me with many opportunities to pick up and apply new skills. I am looking forward to what the future holds for the industry!” – Muhammad Juraimi B Rafinyi
SCS EXCELLENCE AWARD Koh Hui Wen
Singapore University of Technology and Design Bachelor of Engineering (Information Systems Technology and Design)
SCS BEST FINAL YEAR STUDENT AWARD Li Kang Zheng
Singapore Management University Bachelor of Science (Information Systems)
Kenneth Soh Woon Hao Temasek Polytechnic Diploma in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics
25
In support of:
go.gov.sg/SGDscholarships
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P Embark. Engage. Empower.
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lug into our wealth of knowledge, engage our communities of practice and take potential further with us. While at it, why not also invite your friends and colleagues to join you in supercharging their career goals and aspirations? For a limited period, we are waiving the entrance fee of $85.60 for new members. That means both you and your invited friends and colleagues get to join SCS for free. For existing members, renewal eVouchers and CapitaVouchers are up for grabs – so don’t forget to renew your membership if it is expiring soon.
NEW MEMBER * Waiver of $85.60 Entrance Fee *
1-Year
Membership Only $139.10
3-Year
Membership $374.50 (U.P. $417.30)
5-Year
Membership $556.40 (U.P. $695.50)
EXISTING MEMBER * Renewal Gifts Up for Grabs * 1/3/5-Year Membership
$15 Renewal eVouchers (First 500 online renewals) $10 Renewal eVouchers (Next 500 online renewals)
3/5-Year Membership
$20 CapitaVouchers (First 200 online renewals)
Check out your Member Profile and ensure that it’s current. Be sure to also renew your membership and access our activities and digital resources to stay in the know. Reach out to membership.dept@scs.org.sg if you need any help to login to the Member Portal.
Bridging the digital divide is key to building financial inclusion Rama Sridhar, Executive Vice President, Digital & Emerging Partnerships and New Payment Flows, Asia Pacific, Mastercard This article originally appeared in Forbes. When Indonesian e-commerce platform Bukalapak recently carried out a successful $1.5 billion stock market listing in Jakarta, it came on the heels of an announcement by Singapore-based rival Grab that it plans a listing on Nasdaq that could value it at up to $40 billion. The meteoric rise of e-commerce businesses in Southeast Asia has certainly caught the attention of investors, who are waking up to the potential of ride-hailing, digital wallets and logistics as the region’s 400 million internet users embrace cashless payments systems and life-changing delivery offerings. The region’s digital economy is projected to hit $300 billion by 2025, according to a 2020 report by Google, Temasek, the Singapore state investment company, and consultancy Bain. Yet behind the headlines and impressive numbers lies a stark challenge for any business engaged in Asia’s e-commerce and payments revolution, which is very much underway in India too: tackling the digital divide and boosting financial inclusion.
Assessing The Digital Divide A harsh spotlight was thrown on this during the Covid-19 pandemic. As lockdowns kicked in, people turned to the digital world to purchase more goods and services online, raising e-commerce’s share of global retail trade from 14% in 2019 to about 17% in 2020, according to a report published in March by UNCTAD. But for millions of others, it was a different story. According to the World Economic Forum, the pandemic worsened the digital divide for the estimated 55% of the world’s population that remains unconnected. In Southeast Asia, around (download required)150 million adults — 31% of the population — are digitally excluded, mostly due to illiteracy, low income, the fact that economic activity is concentrated in urban areas and lack of access to capital for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). This means there is an urgent need to narrow the digital divide and thereby boost financial Brought to you by Mastercard
inclusion so that as many people as possible can access anything from basic payments to savings and investments. That’s particularly important for those with lower incomes, the less educated, the elderly, people living in rural areas and women. Populations that are locked out of the formal digital economy are often deprived of technological empowerment, tend to be exploited through higher fees and can face exposure to more intermediaries as well as higher-risk systems. They also find it hard to educate their children to be fully digitally conversant. And finally, most perniciously, their continued reliance on cash, combined with constrained access to credit, means they cannot break out of a vicious cycle of poverty. That puts digital inclusion on par with universal suffrage: it’s a fundamental right.
Economic Benefits The economic benefits of digital inclusion are clear. It has been estimated in research commissioned by Mastercard that a fully realized digital dividend could add $1 trillion to the gross domestic product of countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by 2025. After adding India’s dividend to the equation, this represents a staggering $2 trillion in potential dividends in the region. Tackling digital inclusion must start with digital identity. More than 1 billion people lack access to a form of identification. A key enabler is having a robust digital identity verification system in place that all participants use to verify the counterparty they transact with. One of the most striking examples of this is India’s Aadhaar system. Launched in 2010, it has given digital identities to about 1.2 billion Indians through the use of biometric scans and fingerprinting, giving each citizen a unique 12-digit number, paving the way for millions of unbanked people to sign up for bank accounts. The result has been that the percentage of people aged 15 or over with bank accounts rose to 80% in 2017, from only 35% in 2011, according to the World Bank.
A second building block is expanding internet availability, coupled with access to internetenabled devices at different price points. Tackling cyber risk and fraud is a third. Fourth, payment infrastructure is required that uses the best of what’s available globally, provides choice to consumers and merchants and creates interoperability between different national and legacy payment systems.
There is an urgent need to narrow the digital divide and thereby boost financial inclusion so that as many people as possible can access anything from basic payments to savings and investments Work is already underway by the private sector to tackle many of these challenges. Gojek, another Indonesian e-commerce company, and Grab both operate programs to digitize the operations of their “micro” business partners and SMEs. In early 2020, Mastercard partnered with Grab to launch GrabPay Card, Asia’s first numberless card that aims to bring financial inclusion to the millions of underbanked and unbanked in Southeast Asia. None of this can happen in the right way without regulation that facilitates digital commerce, covering licenses for digital banks, data rights and protection, access to data for third parties, and competition rules. Every time we pull out a smartphone or card to pay for something, we ought to be reminded that not everyone is yet on the digital train and that there is still work to be done on digital inclusion. With the pandemic having highlighted the urgency, there is even more motivation to reshape existing economic models through the efforts of business development leaders.
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GEEK SPEAK
An Open Letter to Aspiring Women in Tech
D
ear women colleagues and colleagues-to-be,
(sibling rivalry) – who can resolve the bug faster or code more cleanly.
I am Francesca – the one and only sister of Frankie (whom you’ll remember as the one who used to write this column). You may not know, but like my brother, I am in tech. I am a coder.
But I belong to the fortunate few. Not every girl or woman has a brother like Frankie. And frankly, this coding business or even the whole tech industry feels like it’s a men-only world. Scary!
Actually, come to think of it, some of you may have seen me at meetings. After all, I am kinda hard to miss since I am often one of the few (if not only) women in the room. WHY AM I WRITING THIS LETTER? You must be wondering what I am doing here. Well, my brother Frankie told me that this is a Women in Tech issue – and he thinks I will do a better job than him at this. So here I am. It is true that there are few women coders in tech. And if I were to be completely truthful, I won’t be in tech too if not for Frankie. We have an ongoing competition between us
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A WOMAN IN TECH? Well, but I know better. I know my male colleagues have no ill intentions (mostly), and we share the same goal – to get things done. Even though for them, this sometimes means speaking louder or interrupting our sentences to get their points across. And with our smaller lung capacities, keeping quiet or letting them have the last word just seems like a smarter option. IT’S THE MEN IN TECH, BUT IT’S ALSO US. Oh well, we may be hearing the men’s voices and ideas more than our own,
but we can have our own too. We are capable of bringing the same value to the table because we represent half of the world’s population. Or to put it in a geekier way – we hold the future to virtual reality headsets that are not motion sickness inducing, mobile gadgets that are right sized for women’s petite bodies, and womenfriendly algorithms. NOW WHAT? Well, whether the men admit it or not, we do make the tech industry more colourful* and beautiful. And that comes from us thinking, coding and expressing ourselves differently. So while I used to secretly wish that I can be like Frankie, now I love being Francesca. What about you? * Incidentally, did you know that women are more sensitive to colours and can see more nuanced shades?
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