Leading, Her Way: Navigating Career Pivots and Pursuing Personal Growth

Leading, Her Way is a Leadership Development interview series featuring and spotlighting remarkable female leaders in Singapore, and their thoughts on self-exploration, career development, overcoming failures, and work-life alignment.

In this interview, we spotlight Ms. Jene Lim, Deputy General Manager, Experian Credit Services, SEA. Jene is a mother of 3 with over 19 years of experience. She began her career in finance, spending 13 years in the sector before transitioning into fintech and data. She shares her insights on leadership strategies, essential leadership skills, building a strong industry presence, and balancing work and life effectively.

Q: Can you walk us through your career journey and share any pivotal moments that shaped your leadership approach?

Over my 19-year career, I’ve had the privilege of leading teams of various sizes and experiences. A key turning point was leading the SME banking product/marketing team at age 24, my first leadership role in a large multinational company. This experience taught me how to:- Engage more experienced team members.- Quickly learn and contribute to earn trust.- Enhance products and processes to deliver business outcomes.- Build the right team for success.

Q: As a mother and leader in a fast-paced tech industry, how do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?Here are my four tips for managing a career and raising kids:

1. Timebox your day: I set clear boundaries, starting work at 8 am and finishing by 7 pm. I spend 7-9 pm with my kids, then have some personal time to catch up on reading. Effective time management helps prevent feeling overwhelmed and ensures dedicated time for both work and family.

2. Prioritize ruthlessly: Not everything is urgent or important. I use the 80-20 rule and the Eisenhower Matrix to focus on tasks that yield the biggest results. This prevents burnout and keeps stress manageable.

3. Carve out me-time: It's easy for working moms to get consumed by responsibilities. Having personal time is essential to recharge and stay inspired. Whether it’s a massage or exercise, self-care ensures balance and energy.

4. Build a strong support system: No one can do it all. Having support from your spouse, family, or friends allows you to delegate when needed and focus on what truly matters.

   
   

Q: You’re actively involved in various industry events. How has this contributed to your professional growth, and what advice would you give to others looking to build a presence in the industry?

I believe the fastest way to learn is by surrounding ourselves with the best and staying open to various insights. Despite busy schedules, attending industry events is crucial for enhancing our expertise and staying informed on trends and opportunities. It also helps build a strong network of peers and friends.

However, attending multiple events can be time-consuming. To maintain a work-life balance, I also leverage LinkedIn as part of an omnichannel strategy to build my industry presence more efficiently.

Q: What key steps or strategies do you believe are essential for advancing into a managerial role in today’s tech-driven landscape?

Mastery, leadership, and communication are key. It's essential to be a subject matter expert, have strong leadership skills, and communicate effectively with various stakeholders.

From a strategic standpoint, it's important to:

• Develop the right skillsets.

• Show stakeholders and leaders our expertise, potential, and ambition.

• Have unique selling points that set us apart, whether it's our skills, experience, network, or ability to connect the dots.

Q: In your experience, what are the most important soft skills that leaders need to cultivate to navigate career transitions and manage teams effectively?

In today's VUCA world, leaders need key soft skills to succeed:

• Strategic mindset: Leaders must understand trends and customer needs, using this knowledge to create business opportunities.

• Growth mindset: With technology evolving rapidly, it's crucial to continuously learn, unlearn, and relearn to spot new opportunities and provide direction for teams.

• Empathy: Empathy toward customers helps us develop solutions that meet their needs while showing empathy to the team fosters a supportive environment where they can grow and succeed.

• Communication: Strong communication skills are vital for securing new roles, managing stakeholders, and aligning teams with our vision and strategy.

Q: Looking back, what advice would you give to your younger self as you navigate the challenges and uncertainties of your career?

I've been fortunate to have great mentors who guided me through career challenges and uncertainties. My advice to young professionals is to seek out mentors, whether within or outside of work, build a strong support network, or even consider hiring a career coach. Gaining different perspectives can help us see that challenges aren't as daunting as they may seem.

Author: Blanche Lim

Leading, Her Way is a series by YWLC’s Leadership Development Subcommittee, spotlighting remarkable female leaders in Singapore. For more information, reach out to leadership@ywlc.org.sg