Introducing the Panel and Industry Expertise
Moderator Carolyn Chin opened the session by introducing a distinguished panel of leaders: Anna Green, Chief Enterprises Services Officer of Toll Group; Dr. Geraldine Wong, Chief Data Officer of GXS Bank; Nhu Le, Executive Director, Head of Technology Strategy at Standard Chartered Bank; and Helen Lam from Landlease. Each panelist provided a brief overview of their roles and contributions within their respective organisations, setting the stage for a discussion on innovation, leadership, and workforce dynamics.
Defining Innovation
Dr. Geraldine Wong kicked off the discussion by defining innovation as purposeful and impactful change. She emphasised that innovation involves identifying challenges as opportunities and adopting fresh perspectives to enhance efficiency. Wong highlighted the critical role of adaptability, problem-solving, and creating an environment that fosters innovation. Helen Lam added her perspective, focusing on the construction industry's unique challenges. She emphasised the importance of a strong vision, sustainability goals, and human-centric approaches in driving meaningful change.
Innovation in Traditional Industries
Nhu Le shared insights on how traditional financial institutions like Standard Chartered Bank are addressing increasing competition from fintech companies and digital banks. She outlined the importance of intrapreneurship, investing in startups, and fostering continuous innovation across business models, products, and processes. Anna Green, leveraging her experience at AWS and now at Toll Group, discussed the logistics industry's adoption of new technologies such as IoT and data analytics. She acknowledged the hurdles posed by legacy systems and stressed the need for improved collaboration between business and technology teams.
Challenges for Women in Male-Dominated Industries
Helen Lam shared her personal experiences as a woman in the predominantly male construction industry. She spoke about the intimidation of working in a male-dominated environment and the difficulties in establishing credibility. Lam stressed the importance of translating technical concepts into more relatable, human-centric language to facilitate greater understanding and adoption. The panel further explored gender imbalances in the workplace, responding to audience questions about fostering respect for women and overcoming these barriers.
Managing a Multi-Generational Workforce
Nhu Le and Anna Green turned the conversation to managing a multi-generational workforce. They shared strategies for effective communication, creating a shared vision, and harnessing the strengths of diverse age groups. Both panelists stressed the importance of leveraging institutional knowledge from seasoned colleagues while also welcoming fresh ideas from younger team members. They highlighted the need for a collaborative environment that encourages learning and knowledge-sharing across generations, while cautioning against ageism.
Supporting Women's Leadership and Career Advancement
The panel concluded with a discussion on supporting women's leadership and career advancement in technology fields. Nhu Le outlined a four-stage approach: inspiring interest in technology from a young age, attracting women to tech careers, supporting women mid-career, and promoting visible female role models at senior levels. Helen Lam emphasised the role of male allies and sponsors in supporting women’s progress, while Nhu Le stressed the need for systematic changes within organisations, including policies that foster inclusion and support networks for women in leadership.