International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global observance on 8 March that honours the accomplishments of women in various aspects of life. It’s a day where people, regardless of gender, come together to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and to inspire further action towards creating a more inclusive world.
This IWD 2024, we shine the spotlight on four women in HealthTech, who wear multiple hats and excel in the diverse roles they play. On one hand, these women are inspiring tomorrow’s health through their work in data analytics, engineering, systems analysis and corporate legal services. On the other, they are well-rounded invididuals who take on other roles such as golfer, cook, musician and mother.
Read on to find out more about their roles and how they balance their responsibilities and passions.
Celia: Systems Analyst x Adventurer, Dancer, Mother
Tell us more about your journey as a professional in the HealthTech industry
My journey as a professional in HealthTech industry has been both challenging and rewarding. I joined Synapxe in 2017 as Systems Analyst. My role was to maintain the hospital ordering systems in Yishun Health, implement change requests and design solutions to address identified issues or fulfill business requirements.
In 2021, I joined the Next Generation Electronic Medical Record (NGEMR) team to integrate healthcare records across Singapore’s healthcare system. My current role is to work closely with stakeholders to understand their needs or requirements and build the system to ensure it meets the organisational objectives.
What are your other roles outside of work?
I am a mother to a 20-month-old baby boy. Outside of work, I play the roles of my son’s caregiver and teacher. I also manage our family’s activities such as finances, outings, playdates and vacations.
In my free time, I enjoy dancing, cooking, travelling, and playing mobile games and basketball. I always believe personal pursuits can positively impact my professional performance and overall success. My hobbies help to stimulate my creativity and allow me to approach challenges at work from a different perspective.
Fun fact! I have been dancing since my polytechnic days and joined dance competitions as well as performed for Nanyang Polytechnic and National University of Singapore previously!
How do you balance your professional responsibilities with your personal passions?
It can be challenging. For me, it is important to have good time management. I will always prioritise the more important activities and allocate my time accordingly. I will also block out specific times for both work and personal activities, then avoid working or checking emails during designated personal time.
Another tip to find time and achieve balance is to be flexible. There will be times when one area of my life requires more attention than the other. Having flexibility allows me to adapt to different situations quickly.
Christine: Programme Director x AI-enthusiast, Golfer, Skater
Tell us more about your journey as a professional in the HealthTech industry
Sparked by the desire to create transformative solutions that have a positive impact on people’s lives, I embarked on my HealthTech journey seven years ago.
In my current role, I have the privilege of leading the planning and implementation of national analytics and AI projects. Working with stakeholders from the Ministry of Health and public healthcare institutions, we explore and adopt analytics and AI solutions to improve care for our population as well as support policymakers and administrators in decision-making.
I oversee the entire process from conceptualisation to execution. This involves identifying opportunities where analytics and AI can be leveraged to drive meaningful change and developing robust strategies and plans for implementation.
Throughout my journey, I have had the privilege of working alongside talented individuals who share the same passion for making a difference in the HealthTech industry. Their expertise and dedication have been instrumental in driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
What are your other roles outside of work?
In addition to my role in Synapxe, I am also a committee member of the Singapore Computer Society (SCS) AI Ethics and Governance Special Interest Group (AIEG SIG), where we work towards promoting ethical practices and responsible use of AI.
Outside of my professional portfolio, I find immense joy in my role as a loving wife and proud mother of two boys in their early teens. Being there for my family and creating lasting memories together is something I cherish deeply. I also enjoy playing golf and surf-skating with my family. These activities help me to unwind and allow me to spend quality time with my family.
How do you balance your professional responsibilities with your personal passions?
A certain level of efficient correlation and piggybacking is needed to achieve the best of both worlds.
As an AI-enthusiast, being a committee member of the AIEG SIG contributes directly to my work while allowing me to pursue my passion in this field. It allows me to stay up to date on the latest ethical topics and provides a platform to discuss policies with like-minded professionals from various industries.
For hobbies, I try to choose those that I can enjoy with my family. This also gives us something to aim for together and endless topics to discuss over dinner.
Here’s a tip: Find synergies between your passions and your professional life, and don't forget to sprinkle a dash of family involvement!
