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Flipping the Tech Narrative: How to Turn Challenges into Opportunities

SURABHI MALANI

Girl in Tech, SG100WIT List 2021 Associate Product Manager, Shopee

Fresh out of university, I’ve taken my first career step into the tech industry. If you’re reading this, you are invited to the front row seat of my expectations, anxieties, revelations, and aspirations about this expanding, booming industry.

THE FRESH GRAD BLACK BOX: YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW

As students, we often feel blindsided and almost as if we were thrown into the working world after completing our university years. Partly, this is a result of placing too much focus on academic grades during the school years, and missing out on opportunities to build and strengthen soft skills and personal branding as well as explore potential interests and passion. Undoubtedly, going through internships and trying different roles and opportunities do offer some first-hand hands-on job experiences. However, internships are also often too short to provide a full perspective of the roles. When it comes to job applications, just reading the job description is not enough, since it only gives one a surface-level understanding of the role. Big question: how then can a to-be fresh graduate understand what skills employers are looking for and build their portfolio accordingly?

DECODING THE BLACK BOX: ANSWERS ARE OUT THERE, JUST LOOK FOR IT

For me, I realised that before I take a leap, I should step out of my comfort zone to learn more about the industry. Hence, I turned to platforms like LinkedIn and other online communities where I was able to connect with like-minded individuals as well as working professionals who were doing the exact job I want to pursue. They shed some light on the skills I should have and provided inspiration for opportunities I could create for myself. Through their expert advice and insights, I identified ways to build my brand. Some things I did: I signed up for leadership opportunities at my university and various companies, cofounded a tech focused club, invited professional guest speakers, organised webinars, participated in hackathons and competitions, and more.

ZONING IN ON THE TECH INDUSTRY: YOU MAY ASK WHY TECH SPECIFICALLY?

Tech has become an integral part of everyday life, from digital payments to e-commerce stores, social media platforms, and more. The possibilities tech offers are endless. You can curate hyper-localised platforms, bring a community together, or launch an application that provides convenience for daily mundane tasks at the click of a button.

It is a common misconception that only technical skills carry weight in the tech industry. In fact, there are plenty of roles that require creativity, problem-solving skills, vision and much more. Personally, I’ve found what drives me is working on consumer-oriented products, which allow me to channel my passion for giving back to the community. An example would be to work with diverse stakeholders from start to finish to meet a business demand while concurrently improving the user’s journey.

I am fortunate. I have landed a role in the tech industry that fits all my deciding factors – product management.

THE GOOD-OLE IMPOSTER SYNDROME: AM I EVER GOING TO BE GOOD ENOUGH?

As rewarding as the tech industry is, it is also very competitive and intimidating. It’s only human to experience imposter syndrome and doubt your abilities when surrounded by a sea of capable individuals. This can be nerve-wracking at times, especially in roles like mine where the entire team is dependent on requirements I – the product manager – put forth. Nonetheless, these jitters can be easily turned into motivation and channelled into problem-solving with a change in perspective.

You would ask how that can be done. Let me share my experience. First, ask many questions – when in doubt, be brave, speak out and ask questions. As my manager would say, “always ask questions until you are fully confident of the answers”. Second, set goals and tasks to be achieved week to week, and track them as you go along. Being able to visualise progress will give you a sense of accomplishment for your projects. Third, be open to receiving feedback on areas for improvements. Reach out to colleagues or your manager for support, and find a good mentor who can not only coach you on a personal level but also enable you to strengthen in areas you wish to develop in. Last, always have a positive mindset towards learning. Through expanding your domain knowledge, you will grow to become more confident and proficient for your project or product at hand.

IT’S JUST THE BEGINNING: I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT’S IN STORE

As I move forward in the industry, I’m truly excited to see what else the tech industry has to offer. There’s no doubt that tech is complex, taxing and anxietydriven, but it is also more than that. The power of tech truly shines when it empowers us to relieve aggravating pain points, and in some cases go above and beyond.

On the immediate horizon, I aspire to continue in my current line of work and challenge myself with new products and projects. I want to keep my drive for knowledge and pursue further studies to upskill myself. Additionally, I want to be inspired by others and foster stronger connections. The possibilities and opportunities are endless – so is my passion for the industry.