Alumni Spotlight Stories: Lum Seow Khun

Lum Seow Khun (BBA 1988), Director, Public Sector Group, Microsoft, talks about her journey into the technology industry and gives her advice to Business School students keen on a career in technology.

Q: What was your first working experience like?

When I graduated from NUS in 1988, Singapore was recovering from the financial recession in 1985. I took the first job offer to gain financial independence and to support my parents. The job was a Sales Executive with a local System Integrator (SI) in the Information Technology (IT) sector and this was where I began my first practical exposure to technology. During my undergraduate study, we took a module called Management Information Systems (MIS) which provided me with the foundation on how IT can be a strategic enabler to attain business outcomes and this helped me to be effective in my job. I stayed with the local SI company for seven years and I left for IBM.

Q: What is your role in IBM?

In IBM Singapore, I am the General Manager for Global Technology Services Business Division. Our teams support our clients in the management of IT complexity and in harnessing the speed of technology innovation such as Hybrid Cloud, AI, Cognitive Technology to achieve high performance and exceed business objectives.

Our clients also rely on IBM to support their IT infrastructure and operations 24/7. One of the greatest satisfaction in this role comes from ensuring smooth daily operations for clients and be able to overcome challenges and resolving issues with minimal business impact.

The other important aspect of my role is to ensure our teams (including myself) continue to stay relevant and essential to what we do. “Skills is the new currency” – I spend a considerable amount of time working with the teams to chart their skills roadmap and acquire new knowledge to support our clients and with equal importance, to develop their career.

Q: What do you do beyond your work at IBM?

I am part of the Executive Council for Singapore Computer Society (SCS), which is the largest IT professional membership society in Singapore. My current portfolio includes the co-chairperson for Student Chapter and advisor to the Women in Tech (WiT) Chapter.

SCS has 21 student chapters and my role is to develop programmes that will continuously harness and grow the students’ interest in IT so as to develop a sustainable pipeline of professionals to meet industry demand.

The SCS WiT Chapter worked with Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to launched the SG100WIT list in 2020 and we just completed a new list in 2021. I am humbled to be one of the honouree in the 2020 inaugural list.

In addition to the main portfolios, I was one of the founding members for the SCS Women in Technology Special Interest Group. I worked with like-minded women IT leaders to build up the female talent pool in the technology sector through mentoring, leadership programs and events.

Q: When did you realise you have to move on from your roles?

Building a network of trusted mentors have helped me in my career development. As new career opportunities avail, I sought advice from my mentors, who understood my strengths and weaknesses, and their inputs helped in my decision making in career movement. In some instances, my mentors (in IBM) were the ones who orchestrated a role change to move me beyond my comfort zone.

It is also important to keep in touch with the industry trend and evaluate if your current role and/or company provides the platform for you to learn new skills to stay relevant in the fast-paced IT sector.

Q: What do you enjoy most in your career?

I enjoy working with colleagues with diverse backgrounds. This year, I underwent a mutual mentoring program where I was paired with a millennial. The mutual exchanges had helped me gain better insight on how millennials think, behave and react and helped me to be a better leader for my teams.

The other joy I have is to see colleagues whom I have led and mentored become managers and leaders within and outside of the company.

Q: What is your advice to give business undergraduates?

For undergraduates who are keen to explore a career in technology:
Technology is an enabler for business growth and will disrupt the way businesses function and re-shape business models. As such, technology will be in every industry. My advice will be for undergraduates going into the workforce (in any industry) to constantly think about how you would stand out from your peers and not stay stagnant, do your research and constantly acquire new skills. Find opportunities beyond your academic curriculum to explore community service, participate in environmental sustainability programs, internship with innovative business projects etc. that will make you a well-rounded individual.

For undergraduates who are keen to explore entrepreneurship:
I have always been working in the corporate world and if I could turn back the clock, I would explore opportunities to become an entrepreneur. My approach would be to intern in a start-up, learn and ask to be mentored by the founders. Do my research thoroughly to ensure my business ideas meet real-world needs and develop viable business plans. Join relevant communities to seek peer advice, attend networking events to build contacts and funding sources. It is also important to do a reality check on your current financial situation (student loan, parental support etc..) in order to set the right pace between realising your aspirations and fulfilling personal obligations.

Lastly, always stay humble, inquisitive, teachable and pay it forward in whatever you do.