Companies small and large, start-up and established
I graduated with a degree in Computer Science and joined my first company, a large local Systems Integrator, as an engineer. I grew through several positions in technology and program management. Along the way, I ended up managing a few very large projects with a value of between $20-50mn.
After 11 years, I felt my growth stagnating and finally decided to join a Cloud startup as Chief Technology Officer. On hindsight, I wish I had made the move sooner as I learned so much in my 18 months at the startup! I had to meet customers, bring in the business, grow our technical capabilities, and build a team.
From a 10-person strong company, I moved to Allianz in a regional role. I had a culture shock moving to such a large organization in a regulated industry! However, thanks to colleagues who supported me, I quickly adjusted and joined the work of setting up the Regional IT team.
Companies large and small have their merits and challenges. My time at both ends of the spectrum has broadened my vision and I have found opportunities to blend the good parts and take the team further!
Ensuring effective and efficient use of IT in our organization
Some of our colleagues believe that my IT Governance role makes me a policeman! While there is a small element of truth in that, I prefer to see it as a role that adds value to our organization especially when we take a long-term view.
Specifically, I work in the areas of IT Architecture and Service Management governance. Through processes like Architecture Review, I seek to ensure that our projects are aligned with our Group standards. Such alignment leads to increased efficiencies in implementation and operations. I provide regular management reporting on IT Service Management to ensure that our entities follow the established processes. This oversight helps our operations proceed smoothly with less interruption of service.
When put together with the other areas my colleagues govern, our work leads to more efficient operations and happier customers, enabling us to fulfil our purpose of securing their future.
Allianz = Cultural Diversity
Taking a role at the regional office has given me ample opportunity to interact with colleagues from across the region. In the regional office alone, there are 24 nationalities represented! I recognize and enjoy the fresh perspectives of people from different cultures. The diversity enables us to be a more effective team. For example, the approach to problem solving can be quite different between cultures. By putting our heads together, we have better balanced considerations and often arrive at more effective solutions.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I had opportunities to visit our regional offices for meetings or conferences. The visits were great opportunities to lean from my colleagues. They gave me a front seat view of their processes, conduct of meetings, and even ways of communicating (including jumping from desk to desk announcing the month’s KPI achievements)!
While I’m not athletic enough to go freerunning through my office, these exchanges have given me new ideas to try within my team.
I help save and protect lives
One of the key things I consider when taking a job is the impact I make on society. This adds meaning to what I do and give me a sense of purpose.
I have had the privilege to work on public safety systems in one of my past roles. I managed a large project of more than $30mn to deliver a new communications, command and control and despatch system for the fire and ambulance service in Singapore. 4 years of gruelling work resulted in a successful launch of one of the most advanced systems in the region. We provided intelligence from various data feeds, enabled the public to make calls for assistance through different channels, and enabled the service to dispatch appropriate resources to arrive in the shortest time possible. Years after I moved on from that project, I feel a sense of pride each time an emergency vehicle whizzes by and I see the system I delivered installed on board.
I also had the opportunity to lead the technical implementation of an even larger system for public healthcare to provide secure and reliable IT operations for our nation’s healthcare system. My wife is a doctor and I was glad to be able to support her work in this way.
Now in the insurance sector, I view my work has part of protecting the livelihood of our many customers across the region. By governing IT, I play a role in ensuring our customers can acquire the insurance products they require and get help when it is most needed.
