11 March 2022

In celebration of International Women’s Day this week, we caught up with some of the notable women in Asia’s tech scene. They shared their personal story of how they got into the industry and what drives them.

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Bon Lim

Could you tell me a bit about what you do?

Currently, I am in Dell Technologies as the Singapore Country Marketing (Commercial), responsible for aligning marketing in the Singapore region with our overall business priorities.

Essentially, my goal is to layer on local nuances across the APJ region and strategise relevant go-to-market plans with moonshot goals in mind, ie. over-the-top customer experiences, highest levels of customer loyalty, accelerate demand and sales cycle with greenfield pipeline and promote Dell solutions/services across the industries.

I am also the mother of two boys and a passionate marketeer circling within the ICT industry with more than 15 years of experience – I have done nothing else, apart from Marketing since day one 😊.

What drew you into the tech space?

I love solving problems – it’s always in me to identify the crux of the problem and deliver a solution to overcome it. Technology allows forward thinking. With it, I can imagine new possibilities in this space and explore fresh, creative and multi-faceted marketing ideas.

Also, as we are dealing with a multigenerational workforce, it brings me closer to the Millennials and Generation Z, who have grown up in a purely digital context. I can better align with their thoughts and be able to create conversations and relate their expectations. On a personal note - this also includes building my relationship as a mother with my two boys.

What is it about the industry in Asia that you're passionate about?

As quoted by Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, ‘Change is the only constant’ these days. It’s fulfilling and exhilarating to be at the forefront of the ever-changing technology. These keep me on my toes to be always staying ahead of the curve and grabbing every opportunity to innovate wherever possible. 

All thanks to technology – we are now able to save time in processes and offer turnkey solutions and fix an ‘impossible’ problem. 15 years ago, who would have thought that work mobility and digital workspace are actually possible?

Three years ago, for a Chinese New Year C-suite engagement event, I suggested replacing the usual ‘God of Fortune’ mascot with a roaming robot ‘giving away’ Chinese New Year gold coins. It not only delighted customers, but also delivered a compelling Solutions as a Service (SaaS) business proposition. 

Just recently, I had the privilege of joining Dell Technologies, and went through the hiring onboarding process 100% virtually. I had all work devices and tools delivered to my place and had it set up seamlessly in the comfort of my home. All this wouldn’t be possible without technology.

Do you have any advice for women looking to enter the tech industry?

Always stay curious, be bold and embrace the willingness to be open-minded to learning. There are so many examples of women holding the fort and at the helm in many. Women can be the new heroine in the new era – playing multiple roles at different times.

It could be daunting initially but taking that first step could be a game-changer to your outlook and perspective in life. You can be successful in anything once you put your mind to it.

What's your current favorite app, web app or device and why?

My favorite web game is ‘Wordle’. I joined initially due to FOMO (fear of missing out), but now it’s one of my favourite wind-down mobile game to play.

Eelee Lua

Could you tell me a bit about what you do?

As Chief Revenue Officer at AsiaVerify, I bring our revenue streams and strategies together under one cohesive team with shared goals. I lead the marketing, business development and client success teams, coordinating their work to facilitate outstanding client experiences while also growing AsiaVerify’s revenue. 

What drew you into the tech space?

A curious mind 😊

I was never a techie, and even now that I’m working in a tech firm I can go several days without internet if I want to. I was curious about how businesses can leverage technology and innovation to create, support and inspire positive impact for future generations, create sustainable development and make human lives better. Hence, I entered the tech startup space to see if I can contribute without a tech background. It turned out as one of the best decisions I have ever made. I discovered that I enjoy the agile and fun environment as well as the fulfillment I get in putting ideas into reality with the power of technology.

What is it about the industry in Asia that you're passionate about?

The Regulatory Technology (RegTech) industry is game-changing and it’s changing the world in a positive way. Traditionally, compliance and risk management were a luxury, it was labour intensive and expensive to have robust compliance processes in place. In most cases, only big corporations could afford appropriate risk management systems and to mitigate their business risk in the long run.

But does it have to be that way?

The business world should be more inclusive. The RegTech industry is changing the way people do due diligence checks, reducing costs and enables small and medium enterprises to protect their business risk in an efficient and cost-effective way. Now, with the combination of compliance expertise and technology, even a new company can conduct compliance checks and protect their business from the get-go. Large organisations save a lot of time and money and hence they can do business safely as they grow their business to the next level.

In Asia, the RegTech industry is still fairly new. AsiaVerify is one of the early game-changers in the market. As the name suggests we are determined to help businesses overcome the incredible challenge of doing business safely from afar in an increasingly isolated global environment. AsiaVerify focuses on building an automated, simplified and streamlined solution for risk mitigation and compliance systems to increase trust and safety for those doing business in Asia.

Do you have any advice for women looking to enter the tech industry?

I would like to encourage women, especially young women, to give it a try and ask for support when you need it. I have received incredible support from the people around me, including male and female leaders in the industry. There can be a steep learning curve when it comes to technical details but so do other industries. There are always new things to learn in the workplace, isn’t it?

Other than my role at AsiaVerify, I was elected to the Singapore FinTech Association's Women in FinTech (WIF) Subcommittee. The subcommittee aims to become the professional network for Women in Fintech, supported by our goals of connecting, encouraging and empowering those in the community. It is a great community where you can seek support, contribute and exchange insights. Please get in touch with us at womeninfintech@singaporefintech.org if you are keen to explore what we are up to.

What's your current favorite app or device and why?

My favourite app is Be My Eyes , it is a free app that connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers and companies. I’ve been a volunteer since last year, words can’t describe the joy I have every time I help someone through the app. I highly recommend everyone to download it if you wish to help people at your fingertips. 😊