03 Apr 2025

Career Stories

Women In Tech: Redefining Problem-Solving in HealthTech


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This April, we celebrate the Women in Tech by spotlighting the inspiring women of HealthTech who create an impact through empathy and innovative problem-solving. While technology often focuses on technical know-how and system efficiency, Adele, Shalini, Vicky and Yan Chun approach challenges with a broader lens – infusing empathy into tech solutions, bridging the gap between users and innovation, and taking bold steps out of their comfort zone to tackle healthcare’s most pressing needs.  

Whether they are navigating clinical workflows, enabling innovation ecosystems, or transforming data into actionable insights, this article exemplifies how problem-solving in HealthTech and Synapxe can be both human-centred and transformative. Their stories reflect how women can shape the future of healthcare by recognising their unique strengths and adopting a special approach to problem-solving.

The Empathy Advantage

In HealthTech, empathy is a powerful catalyst for innovation, ultimately benefitting patients with various health conditions. For the women driving change in this space, understanding the human side of healthcare is as critical as mastering the technology behind it.  

Shalini, a Lead Analyst for the Next Generation Electronic Medical Record (NGEMR), emphasised the importance of empathising with the challenges that healthcare professionals face, particularly when patient results go unacknowledged.   

 

“My team and I took the time to identify issues in the current processes within NGEMR, practiced active listening and continuously gathered feedback from users to address their pain points. This was crucial, especially when delays in timely acknowledgement of results could lead to missed or delayed diagnoses for patients.” 

Want to find out more about how Shalini practices empathy at work? Read her interview here.

Similarly, Adele, a Clinical Informatics Specialist, and Yan Chun, a former Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physician turned Data Analyst, recognised the systemic gaps in healthcare, such as difficulties interpreting the illegible handwritten patient notes from some doctors and the burden of tedious administrative workloads. By empathising with the healthcare professionals, they are working to enhance workflows and alleviate common frustrations in clinical settings. Find out more about their contributions below.  

Adaptability in Action  

Our women in HealthTech have also outlined the advantages of adaptability for thriving in the ever-evolving industry landscape. The ability to pivot, learn and navigate new landscapes enables the women in tech to bring about unique solutions.  

Vicky, an Assistant Director in the Innovation Capabilities Enablement (ICE) Department which fosters industry partnerships and collaborations with Public Healthcare Institutions and startups to co-develop HealthTech solutions, attributes her success to always seeking new knowledge, new challenges and being in unfamiliar environments to push the boundaries of status quo.  

 

“In my role, I need to be a jack-of-all trades. By knowing a little about everything – from digital health and AI to cybersecurity – I am able to engage meaningfully with collaborators across industries and help innovators integrate their solutions within Singapore’s public healthcare.”   

Learn more about the demands of Vicky’s work in her interview here

Yan Chun’s journey also reflects this spirit of adaptability. Her unconventional career switch from practising TCM to being a Data Analyst highlights how adaptability allows diverse skill sets to flourish in tech environments. Her analytical and diagnostic skills developed in the clinical field have translated effectively into the world of data and AI.  

Adele shared a similar career trajectory, drawing on her clinical experience as a nurse to support system improvement and digitisation of medical records. 

Their ability to pivot careers with an open mind and a desire to learn allowed them to contribute solutions that make healthcare delivery more efficient and user-centric.  

Read about Yan Chun’s unique career journey and Adele’s story.

Power of Confidence and Self-Empowerment

In a traditionally male-dominated industry like tech, societal perceptions often cast doubt on women’s technical competence, perpetuating stereotypes that men are naturally more suited for such roles. According to a report from The World Economic Forum, there is a persistent underrepresentation of women in tech, with women making up only 28.2% of the global science, tech, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce. Despite systemic challenges, the women at Synapxe highlight the power of confidence and self-empowerment in overcoming societal perceptions, enabling them to thrive and inspire change within the tech industry. 

Despite these systemic challenges, the women at Synapxe highlight the power of confidence and self-empowerment in overcoming societal perceptions, enabling them to thrive and inspire change within the tech industry.  

In a space where innovation demands conviction and adaptability, these traits also empower them to lead, influence and make impactful decisions. 

Adele shared that being confident at work has allowed her to “collaborate with passionate innovators, share differing perspectives and develop an out-of-the box approach to problem-solving”.  

Similarly, Vicky hopes more “capable young women can move away from traditional mindsets” and encourages those passionate in tech to “pursue it, because the sky is the limit”. 

In tackling concerns of self-doubt, Shalini emphasised the importance of “trust(ing) yourself, your skills and your knowledge, and continue learning.” She reminds the working women in tech that they are “just as capable as anyone else”.  

Shaping HealthTech’s Future 

These stories are a reminder that problem-solving in HealthTech is a strength that is recognised, in demand and leads to purposeful opportunities in enhancing Singapore’s healthcare.  

By blending empathy, adaptability and confidence, these women build a HealthTech ecosystem that is both innovative and deeply attuned to the needs of healthcare professionals and patients. 

As Adele mentioned, the industry “relies on fresh ideas, diverse talents and perspectives, so hold onto your purpose and take the bold step into HealthTech. It can be a meaningful and rewarding experience”. 


Want to read more about these inspiring women? Dive into the individual stories of Adele, Shalini, Vicky and Yan Chun, where they share personal insights on career growth, breaking boundaries and driving change here.

Discover bite-sized highlights on our social media channels here too:  

Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn 

 

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