Hefen Wong, Director, Technology Management Office, GovTech Singapore

How do you use technology/policy to improve citizens’ lives? Tell us about your role or organisation.

I lead the Development and Organisation Transformation team in GovTech. Through physical and digital workplace design and organisation development, we empower GovTechies to deliver our mission of “Engineering Digital Government, Making Lives Better”.

One of my highlights for 2019 includes working with my team to run GovTech’s Digital4Good programme. In collaboration with Google’s Code in the Community Programme, Digital4Good offers coding classes to underprivileged children. I taught the kids to design and code their games, but I was in turn schooled in K-pop videos, classroom politics and achieving my creative vision (regardless of time pressure!)

What has been the most exciting thing that you worked on in 2019?

I also lead the Technology Management Office, where we connect tech communities across GovTech, government agencies and companies. The last few months have been a whirlwind of STACK-X community meetups. It has been so inspiring to hear diverse speakers share their stories on how they overcame technical and organisational challenges while persevering to create change. Do drop by our meet-ups to learn more!

What is the best thing you have experienced in your career?

Over the course of my career, one of the best things I have experienced is discovering that people do believe in me, even in the moments of self-doubt. I can choose to lean on their confidence and trust, as I build mine.

If you were to share one piece of advice that you learned in 2019, what would it be?

Change takes time; be patient with yourself.

What tool or technique particularly interests you for 2020?

I am super excited about GovTech’s flagship developers conference, STACK 2020, happening in March next year. We will connect 3,000 attendees from the tech community with government and industry partners. We will also be hosting exciting speakers like Martin Fowler from ThoughtWorks, Will Grannis from Google Cloud, and lots more. Check out more details here!

What are your priorities for 2020?

I am currently expecting a new addition to the family! In 2020, one of my biggest priorities will be learning how to navigate life as a new working mum.

What is one challenge you would like to take on in 2020?

Google’s research demonstrates that psychological safety - where one can take risk without feeling insecure or embarrassed - is key to building high performing teams. Nurturing psychological safety for teams to thrive remains a great passion of mine.

What has been your fondest memory from the past year?

I joined GovTech earlier this year, and it was tough transiting between jobs. In the first two months, I was filled with self-doubt. I stumbled a fair bit when it came to picking up new domains, and worked hard to add value to my teams, peers and senior management. Through it all, I realised that my high standards and fear of failure motivated me, but they also limited me from seeing new possibilities in others and myself. Life got much better from the third month once I found my footing. I have to thank my fellow GovTechies for their warm welcome and support! This has been a fond memory for me, and a timely reminder to be patient as I work through the ups and downs of transitions.