With a diverse professional background, Clara shares more about how she made a career switch which changed her life, brought her to all corners of the world and a hobby which will make you groove like 'Para Para Sakura'.
Read the scoop below to find out more:
1. Hi Clara! Please tell us about your professional background.
I began my career as a school teacher, teaching Chemistry and Math to GCE O Level students. After 3.5 years, driven by a hunger for knowledge (this was the 1980s, pre-internet era), I left teaching to enroll in NUS-ISS for a Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis (GDipSA). This decision marked the start of my nearly 30-year journey in the IT field. I progressed from a programmer to roles in product management, customer service, team leadership, and expanded my responsibilities from Singapore to the Asia Pacific Region and eventually to global IT/Digital leadership positions. I worked across diverse industries, including development banking, consulting, technology, process manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, and most recently, real estate. My career took me to live in different countries, including the United States, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Netherlands, China, and, of course, Singapore.
Along the way, in additional to my technology leadership role, I played a HR role and a Supply Chain role where I managed seaports, ships and a fleet of trucks. I also played a Safety Auditor role where I would climb 8-storey high silos to inspect on safety compliance in different countries. I had to have conversations with powerful work unions in the Netherlands because I was restructuring jobs. I had to negotiate a procurement contract when the potential supplier brought a weapon to the negotiation table. My professional journey has been nothing short of interesting events.
2. Share more about the modules/courses which you teach at NUS-ISS.
I will likely teach a module in Data Leadership and later in Digital Governance.
3. Why did you choose to teach at NUS-ISS?
From time to time, I find myself back at NUS-ISS, enrolling in different short courses. I distinctly remember a class on Data-led Leadership I took around 2012-2013. It left me thoroughly inspired about the potential of harnessing data. Subsequently, I initiated and led several large-scale projects aimed at fostering a data-driven culture within organisations. I firmly believe that data is a central output of the digital transformation, and every company is on the path to becoming a data-centric entity. When the opportunity arose for the Chief of Data Science role at NUS-ISS, I didn't hesitate to apply. I see this position as a way to merge my passion for data with my career aspirations.
4. What do you enjoy most about your work?
Learning & People Development. In the corporate world, juggling numerous responsibilities is the norm. On any given day, I find myself in 6-10 meetings and catching up emails in the evenings, leaving little room for personal learning. However, at NUS-ISS, learning is an integral aspect of our roles. We need to constantly acquire knowledge to effectively teach, and during the teaching process we learn even more from the students. If the little I know can create some positive impact in another person’s life, it will be a rewarding and enjoyable process.
5. How do you keep up with the industry?
Staying abreast of industry developments is quite a challenge. Amidst our active involvement in the field, we are constantly adapting to technological shifts and the innovative endeavours of competitors. In the context of NUS-ISS, beyond our student engagements and online learning efforts, I firmly believe in the value of networking and practical experience.
I have consistently found that interacting with peers is an invaluable source of learning. That's why I actively participate in various professional communities and aspire to establish advisory groups at NUS-ISS. These groups would help us gain insights into the ever-evolving market needs in timely manners.
6. What are your favourite activities when you are not working?
I try to exercise as much as I can, read topics not related to work, watch lots of videos from YouTube covering all diverse topics. I paint sometimes to destress. I also perform volunteering work formally and informally.
7.Tell us something about yourself that very few people know.
I love dancing from a young age and even considered a professional path at one point. However, the financial prospects were limited. Around age of 13-14, I started choreographing for school groups, discovering my passion for the interplay of music, movement, stage and costume designs.
I danced through my school years, from secondary school to NUS. Even after graduating, I stayed involved in NUS's dance scene. Family life eventually led me to take a break from dancing, but I still enjoy watching dance performances with great enthusiasm.