Tech-ing the lead

Text: Dr Daphne Ng

	Sonia Rao (WKWSCI/2015) is global manager, technical partner management (signals and measurement) at Meta, the company behind social networking site Facebook. A rising talent in the tech industry, she won the Emerging Star Award from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information in 2023.
Feon Ang (NBS/1994) is managing director, APAC, at business and employmentfocused social media platform LinkedIn. A veteran business executive with more than 20 years of experience in driving business growth and organisational transformation, Feon leads LinkedIn's business in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on the company’s vision of creating economic opportunities for every member of the global workforce.
	Suman Mishra (CCDS/2001) is managing director and CEO of Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Limited, India’s leading electric three-wheeler manufacturer. Suman’s achievements in developing and implementing strategic initiatives for organisations have been recognised by several awards, including the Automotive D.R.I.V.E Honours 2023 Visionary Leader of the World award by Reuters Events. She is also a recipient of the Nanyang Alumni Achievement Award 2023.

A career often resembles a winding path, rather than a linear one. It also takes a lot of discipline to be exceptional at what you do.

Sonia Rao juggled her master’s studies at NTU with her job as an operations coordinator and office manager at transportation company Uber. Despite her busy schedule, she did well and was awarded the Wee Kim Wee Legacy Fund Graduate Scholarship Award for her exceptional performance and leadership.

Later, as a systems engineer, Sonia became interested in the work that the project managers sitting in the cubicles diagonally from her was doing. Like them, she wanted to travel the world to meet clients, instead of spending most of her days in front of a computer screen.

Photo: Sonia Rao

“I really wanted to work at the intersection of technology and business. One day, I walked into my manager’s office to request for a change. He was concerned that I might not be able to carry the heavy charging stations for the company’s electric vehicle platform,” recalls Sonia.

Nevertheless, Sonia eventually transited from engineering to project management. Today, she leads and manages a team focused on technical partnerships for businesses at Meta.

“Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself,” she adds.

Sonia as a master’s student at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information. Photo: Sonia Rao

For Feon Ang, joining a burgeoning LinkedIn was "the best career decision” she made.

“Initially, I was apprehensive about joining a ‘young’ tech company like LinkedIn because it seemed like a risky career move. However, after reading the company’s co-founder Reid Hoffman’s book ‘The Start-up of You’ where he introduced the term ‘permanent beta’ – the idea that we are all works in progress and that we should treat every failure as immediate feedback on what's working and what's not – my perspective changed from one of fear to excitement for the opportunity to be challenged and grow,” she says.

Photo: Feon Ang

Both Sonia and Feon believe in treating difficult situations at work as opportunities for growth.

“Given the fast pace of business, I have to make decisions quickly, sometimes in situations that are ambiguous and complex. I believe that the confidence to make a call despite uncertainty comes with expertise and experience as well as a strong alignment to a company vision,” says Feon.

“Stay calm and respond to situations, instead of reacting to them. Pick your battles wisely but don’t shy away from conflict. In fact, managing conflict is an opportunity for personal and professional growth,” says Sonia.

Lastly, having passion and purpose in what you do goes a long way to weathering the highs and lows of professional life.

“One of the primary motivators in my life has been a genuine passion for what I do. When you love what you do, it doesn't feel like work,” says Suman Mishra.

Photo: Suman Mishra

Unforgettable university days

Being exposed to different viewpoints fosters creativity and innovation. Sonia, Feon and Suman unanimously agree that the diverse learning environment that they encountered during their days at NTU has contributed to their success.

It was at NTU that the female tech leaders picked up valuable skills for excelling in complex and challenging situations at work. For one, studying at NTU was Suman’s first time overseas, and she credits NTU's educational environment for a strong foundation in critical thinking, problem-solving and effective teamwork.

Beyond the lectures, they made lifelong friendships as interacting with students from different backgrounds also exposed them to different perspectives.

Suman receiving her bachelor’s degree at her convocation ceremony in NTU. Photo: Suman Mishra

Sonia reminisces fondly about her time during orientation camp and doing group assignments together with her classmates.

“Living in an NTU hall for three years proved to be the highlight of my university experience. One of my fondest memories was playing basketball – I even took it more seriously than my lectures. I also took part in so many hall activities. Many of my peers have also remained good friends to this day,” says Feon.

Feon playing her favourite sport, basketball, when she was an NTU undergraduate. Photo: Feon Ang

“The best thing about being an NTU alumnus is my ‘NTU Alumni Group’. The support from this group of lifelong friends, who are now doing amazing things all over the world, has been incredible,” Suman agrees.

There is no doubt that Feon and Sonia feel a sense of belonging to NTU. Feon finds time from her schedule to serve on Nanyang Business School’s Alumni Advisory Board to create learning and networking opportunities for students.

“It’s been an honour to give back to the institution and the broader community, to help them succeed in their careers, even as I grow in mine,” says Feon.

On the other hand, Sonia reads HEY!, NTU’s student magazine, and U, NTU’s alumni magazine, to stay connected to the NTU community. She also tries to visit the campus from time to time and take part in events.

Guides for others

Outside of work, Sonia is a career coach who shares her insights as a leader in the tech industry.

“I feel most fulfilled when I am a part of the success of others. As a manager and career coach, I am focused on helping people grow and build their skillsets,” she says.

She also co-leads Women@Meta, which champions gender equality, creates opportunities for women to thrive, and promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

At LinkedIn, Feon started a programme called EmpowerIn to help mid-career women grow as leaders through a supportive community of peers, with access to leadership resources and mentors. She is also a mentor with the Young Women’s Leadership Connection, where she works with young female professionals to nurture the next generation of women leaders in Singapore.

“One of the most common barriers that women still face in the workplace today is having to choose between career and family. Women need and should recognise that their presence and contributions hold significance,” Feon says. “It’s my personal goal to empower women in the workplace and help drive the professional growth of my female colleagues.”

Suman adds that a conducive company culture is key for inclusivity. Organisations should ensure that their policies do not exclude women and that capable women are in the hiring pool.

 

This article first appeared in issue 4 of U, the NTU alumni magazine.