Seow Khun and Patrick recognise that leadership in global tech companies requires a special focus on managing and collaborating with diverse colleagues. Leaders need to understand how to manage and embrace differences to unlock the value of diversity to teams, especially in Southeast Asia, where different cultures congregate and connect amidst a melting pot. Sharing his perspectives, Patrick noted, “In Singapore, we have always been a part of a bigger ecosystem and are attuned to what’s happening globally. It is easy to relate to international teams as we’ve instinctively seen ourselves as part of something bigger.”

Both leaders have amassed extensive exposure to different markets in the course of their education and work.  Patrick, for example, joins a growing pool of Singaporeans who have studied, conducted exchange programmes and worked overseas in jurisdictions such as the United States, the European Union and China before coming back to make an impact in the city-state’s tech ecosystem. Patrick himself spent his early career in Silicon Valley after studying in the US, and built his experience operating within cross-cultural teams across companies such as Amazon and Facebook. This varied exposure has also moulded his leadership style. Today, Patrick consistently provides a clear mission in his teams by building a strong learning culture that embraces diversity and innovation while investing in talent.

Seow Khun traces the origins of her appreciation for diversity to Singapore’s focus on multiculturalism, given Singapore’s heritage as a trading port where various cultures connect. Her international exposure during the executive courses at INSEAD and her professional responsibilities bolstered her ability to apply a global lens to her work. She shares, “Singapore’s global connectivity makes it convenient for rising tech leaders to network and learn from the international community through such opportunities. Today, I encourage allyship by embracing my team members’ unique strengths and differences.”