By SGN | 16 Dec 2024
Since her younger days, Evy has had a knack for mathematics and, at 16, she developed an interest in her younger brother’s PlayStation. Eager to understand how computer games are made, she purchased a stack of books on C++, and started teaching herself how to code.
While we might have preconceived notions of what it means to grow up on a farm, Evy paints a different picture.
“Most people think of farms as remote and removed from civilisation. But this wasn’t my case at all. My family purchased a computer when I was very young, and I was regularly tinkering with it, even though I had access to the Internet for only an hour on the weekends,” she reminisces.
Evy also remembers watching her father use the computer to manage the farm’s affairs, and how she developed a natural curiosity for tech. So, when the time came, she went off to study Computer Science at the nearby University of Leuven – one of three girls in a seventy-one-strong class.
Embarking on a banking career on a whim
As a fresh graduate, Evy was unaware of what working in banking entailed. But what she lacked in technical knowledge, she more than made up for with her street smarts.
“When interviewing for Accenture in Brussels, I learned that banking was a sector that hired liberally. To increase my chances of securing the opportunity, I indicated my interest in the banking practice,” she shares. She clinched the job and was grateful for the outcome.
“Banking opened my eyes to the way businesses work and showed me how banks can materially impact lives and livelihoods,” she says.
The latter half of that quote would ring especially true a few months later as the world was forced to contend with the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. At this time, Evy would relocate to Amsterdam, with a slew of international assignments following soon after. Her final stop would be London, where her now-husband asked if she wanted to move to Singapore.
“Neither of us had been to Singapore, but he had heard great things. I wasn’t feeling too adventurous – we had just bought a house near Brussels, and Belgians don’t like to venture out much,” laughs Evy.
“So, I said no.”
But the seeds of a possible future life in Singapore had already been planted in her mind.
The work trip that changed it all
Evy’s work with a global client’s Singapore and Hong Kong teams brought her to Asia. “It was my first time in Singapore, and my experience here far exceeded my expectations,” she shares. “I was staying at the Mandarin Oriental, and my room overlooked Marina Bay. The view was unforgettable.”
Later that night, she dined at the Fullerton Bay Hotel with the client. “To this day, I can still remember the fragrance of the hotel – it brings me right back!”
On the second day of her visit, she met two former colleagues who had relocated to Singapore earlier that year. “They were very enthusiastic – their energy was just different – and I could tell how much they had grown as people,” she recalls.
On day four, Evy called her husband. “I told him we should move to Singapore, and six months later, we landed here!”
However, the logistics of moving to a new country proved to be more complicated than Evy anticipated. “We applied to local Singapore companies for jobs, but that didn’t work out, since we were based overseas. So, we requested to be transferred to the Singapore offices of our respective employers.”
In November 2013, the couple booked a one-way ticket to Singapore.
Navigating diverse value systems, motherhood, and more
Evy spent the first two years in Singapore as a consultant for a Swiss multinational. While the workforce was multicultural, European work culture took precedence. Feeling boxed in by her role, she found herself wishing to be in a position where she could make a greater impact.
“A friend told me about an open position in consumer banking at DBS. I sent in my resume, went through several interviews, and received an offer for the position of Head of Digital Wealth. I was four months pregnant at the time, but that didn’t stop the bank from hiring me,” she recalls.
She cites this event as a wonderful example of Singaporeans’ open-mindedness and long-term thinking – something we often don’t receive credit for.
“Of all the cities I’ve worked in, I feel like Singapore is the most open-minded. Here, people are not only accepting of those from other parts of the world, but are receptive to new ideas and solutions, instead of being stuck in their ways,” Evy says.
In time, she has also come to appreciate Singapore’s emphasis on relationship-building. “I used to focus on just getting the job done and didn’t bother with relationships. Of course, this has changed a great deal for me,” she reflects.
These relationships proved to be a great source of support for Evy, as she dealt with challenging personal circumstances. “People rallied around me in my time of need, which I deeply appreciate.”
In yet another display of what she says is Singaporean open-mindedness, Evy was offered a Managing Director-equivalent role, although she had an Executive Director function. To top things off, she was five months pregnant with her second child.
A year later, she was promoted to Managing Director.
“My superiors were mindful of my health, but they didn’t want me to miss out on a great opportunity. So, they left it to me to decide,” she reveals.
Evy ended up accepting the role, in which she would serve as the Head of Customer Segment and Customer Science.
Paying it forward
Evy feels like she lucked in when it comes to bosses. “My first two bosses at DBS helped shape me,” she admits. “My first boss looked out for me, and helped me integrate with the rest of the team. He taught me how to navigate the bank, how to work well with colleagues, and get things done.”
Her second dream boss had held several different roles both within and outside of DBS, and was always quick to share nuggets of wisdom. Having strong sponsors inspired her to want to pay it forward.
“I’ve been mentoring juniors at the bank for many years now. Sometimes, I get older team members coming to me for advice – even the ones no longer with DBS,” she says. “We have several Lean In Circles (a DBS initiative offering regular mentorship and mutual support) to help newcomers navigate the bank, some of which I lead.”
Whenever Evy had outlandish or controversial ideas, she was encouraged to see them to completion. And she gives the same advice to the incoming generation of bankers. “Don’t limit yourself to your current rank or remit. If you have a great idea, work towards it, and see how willingly everyone else will come together to help. Retain your spark and sense of individuality, because that’s what makes an empowered workforce,” is her best counsel.
Having had the full support of senior leadership when it came to pursuing “controversial” ideas, she hopes to serve as a pillar of strength for younger employees. “I led the creation of a digital platform for private wealth clients, and championed the use of data and AI to help relationship managers serve clients better, long before large language models (LLMs) were commonplace,” she says. “And I’m glad my seniors believed in me.”
It takes a village
Evy’s supportive environment is not limited to her workplace. Her husband is a hands-on father who contributes equally when it comes to domestic matters, and if their family ever needs a babysitter, the older children living in their condo chip in to help.
“My children have grown up in a multicultural environment. They go to bilingual school, so they speak English and Mandarin. My daughter is even fluent in Singlish,” Evy laughs. “In fact, I’m also learning Mandarin so I can understand when my children are making fun of me!”
Her son, who is a promising ballet dancer, has become fast friends with his classmates, many of whom are Singaporean.
“Becoming part of the local community happened over time,” she recalls. “I made my first Singaporean friend on the day I came here, and we’re still very close. I also have long-term friends from dance and tennis classes. Most of my friends were either born here, or have been here for a long time.”
Parting gems of wisdom
Evy’s extensive cross-border professional experience has provided her with plenty of insights on adjusting to new people and cultures.
“I was the only ang moh (Singaporean slang for a person of European descent) on my floor at DBS. People from outside the bank told me I would find it hard to fit in, but this wasn’t my experience,” she recalls. “I took my time to blend in, and people took their time to accept me into their hearts. Slowly but surely, it happened.”
Evy also attributes her increased perceptiveness to living and working in Singapore. “My experiences here have enriched me tremendously. I have a much greater appreciation for people’s culture and values, even if they are seemingly different on the surface. We are all more like each other than we think,” she maintains.
Meet Evy
Evy is the Managing Director and Head of Digital Assets, Strategy & Solutions, and Business Enablement at DBS Bank’s Institutional Banking Group. A Singapore resident for the last 11 years, the busy mother of two is a familiar face in the sports, mentorship, and volunteering communities.
Connect with her here.
