As we celebrate the women in HealthTech in our International Women’s Day series this March, we spotlight Vicky’s journey as a woman in a managerial role, juggling the many responsibilities that come with being an Assistant Director in the Innovation Capabilities Enablement (ICE) Department, while advocating for the pursuit of knowledge in an ever-evolving technology landscape.
In this interview, Vicky shares how her work opens the doors for industry collaboration and growth. She also reflects on the fulfilment she finds in breaking through the status quo by continuously seeking new challenges, pushing beyond routine work, and embracing opportunities that keep her role dynamic and impactful.
Can you share more about your role and expertise?
As a member of the ICE team in Synapxe, I focus on matters relating to industry partnerships. I drive the HealthX innovation programme, which fosters HealthTech innovation and collaboration with Public Healthcare Institutions (PHIs) and startups. This programme aims to provide a platform for innovators to co-develop impactful solutions that can benefit Singapore’s healthcare.
Part of my work involves helping startups navigate the complex public healthcare ecosystem and roll out innovation enablers to reduce common barriers, such as implementation constraints and regulatory hurdles, while maintaining critical principles within the healthcare system. This includes ensuring patient safety and cybersecurity, which are paramount aspects in healthcare to safeguard.
What is your secret to thriving in this multifaceted role?
Being a jack-of-all-trades. Knowing a bit of everything, from digital health and the use of AI in healthcare to other areas including security, allows me to engage with other industry collaborators more meaningfully. When they offer a diverse range of technology solutions, my team and I help them navigate the public HealthTech landscape, ensuring they understand the necessary requirements for integrating their solutions within our IT environment.
Those who have worked with me know that I am super task-focused, organised, and self-disciplined. These are traits that I have possessed since young, and they have helped me in managing my responsibilities as a team leader at work, a collaborator in the industry, a presenter at events, an avid learner and, most importantly, as a mother of two daughters at home.
Some ways I stay on task are planning my day in advance, creating to-do lists and making sure I am accountable for them, and giving myself ample time to complete those tasks. These have also allowed me to stay calm and composed when under pressure.
What drew you into joining HealthTech?
I have always been in the tech sector. However, HealthTech was new and unfamiliar to me. I was curious to know what HealthTech entailed, and its prospect of learning and innovation appealed to me. Hence, I took up the challenge without hesitation.
What was the career switch to HealthTech like for you?
I experienced a very steep learning curve. I had to carefully navigate the highly regulated and complex nature of healthcare and quickly learn medical terminology, the various systems within it, unique workflows, and regulatory requirements. In addition to accumulating the technology know-how over the years while working, I bridged the gap by attending courses and self-learning outside of working hours.Even today, there is still so much to learn about healthcare. Each project we encounter is distinct, and the technology and solutions involved vary widely – from remote patient monitoring and AI imaging to computer vision and automation.
Perseverance and patience are key to overcoming these challenges. However, the sense of satisfaction that comes from seeing an innovation project successfully tested and simulated in real-world scenarios makes the journey very fulfilling.
What is your superpower as a woman working in HealthTech?
My superpower would be super agility. Being in the innovation team, I need to be incredibly agile to adapt to the ever-changing technology landscape, and be ready to learn new things every day.What has your experience been like working in tech, a traditionally male-dominated industry?
It is true that I sometimes still find myself to be the only woman in a meeting. However, in today’s increasingly inclusive society, I see that women and men are given equal opportunities, especially in HealthTech.It is heartwarming to work in an environment where everyone respects each other and recognise that each of us brings unique capabilities to form a diverse team.
Can you share some words of advice for aspiring women in tech?
More awareness should be raised to highlight the diverse career paths available in the tech sector. If more people know that tech sector roles are not limited to just engineers and coders, they are more likely to find roles that align with their interests.
How can we inspire more young women to explore careers in HealthTech?
I hope that the capable young women can move away from the traditional mindset that the tech industry is only for males. If you have an interest, pursue it – the sky is the limit.
In HealthTech, be prepared for continuous learning, especially as technology constantly evolves. This is also the exciting part of the job - you will never get bored!
Have an innovative idea and want to make an impact on Singapore’s healthcare? Explore HealthX and past challenge statements to get inspired, and start making a difference here!
