Tell us about your journey since graduating from LSE
After graduating from LSE, I got a Master's in Journalism in New York and launched into a career in business journalism. I've been fortunate to report for global publications from different cities, including Mumbai and New York. I loved telling the story of people the most, particularly women leaders.
I later made a transition into marketing at a technology company, and that was an eye-opening experience where I saw a lot of the challenges that set me on the career path I am now.
I began researching and writing about workplace culture, bias, diversity and inclusion and leadership. From there, I set up my culture consulting company, Candour, and the writing turned into books, including my latest, Uncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success.
If you could tell your younger student self one piece of wisdom, what would it be and why?
Don't be in a rush to get to the next step, enjoy the journey and all that comes along the way! Also, I wish I had taken advantage of being in Europe more when I was at LSE. Living in the U.S. makes it really hard to get away to a different country for a weekend, on a whim!
How has studying in the Department of Government helped you since graduation?
I am so glad that I got to learn how structures and systems contribute to a healthy, thriving society. Studying in the Government department also allowed me to learn how democratic ideals weren't just Western or Eurocentric and that many societies have had a rich tradition of "for the people, by the people" throughout history. Combined with my history degree, it was the perfect foundation for me to learn about the past, present and future at the same time.
What’s the one piece of career guidance that has most impacted you?
If you are the first, among the few or the only, never ever be the last.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
A tie between being invited to testify to U.S. Congress about the importance of including women's issues (which we know are everyone's issues) in economic policy and the day my then 5-year-old son asked me if boys could also write books too like girls. That was after we saw my book in the store for the first time! I'm truly lucky that I have had many moments of joy and satisfaction in my career.
LSE is celebrating 130 years this year. If you had one birthday wish or tradition for LSE, what would it be and why?
Wow, how amazing! My birthday wish for LSE is to invite our community to reflect on and share their role in making society more fair, just and equal––apropos of LSE's roots. I'd love to learn how different people interpret that question!
What is your fondest memory from LSE?
The day I was elected the News Editor of The Beaver was also the first time I had seen and covered an article on a large protest off-campus (I grew up in Singapore and had never see one in real life). It was such an important moment for me to recognize the power of solidarity and resistance in creating social change.