What It Takes to Grow from a Tech Novice into a Tech Native

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.

NG WEE WEI

Senior Member, SCS Honouree, SG100WIT List 2021 Country Managing Director, Accenture

Ijoined 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 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 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.