How did your journey in the social sector begin?
My mother would say it began when I was just four years old! After my first day of preschool, I came home, announced that I wanted to teach, and promptly began making worksheets for my younger siblings.
My family’s story is a testament to the transformative power of education. My mother (an orphan at 17) and my father (one of 16 siblings) both sacrificed higher education to support their families. Thanks to Singapore’s robust public education system and government scholarships, I became the first in my family to attend college, earning degrees at universities in the UK and US. These opportunities changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined, and they instilled in me a deep desire to pay it forward. That belief guided me to start my career teaching high school economics in a public school in Singapore.
Education remains a deeply personal passion. I’ve seen firsthand how access to learning can shift trajectories—not just for individuals but also for entire families and communities. That commitment to teaching and learning continues to shape the way I approach my work today.
Within the sector, which issues are you most passionate about?
Education and health are the two levers that I believe are most critical for enabling every person to reach their potential. My passion for gender equity is intertwined with this. I’m also deeply drawn to the arts as a bridge between divides, especially in times like these, when the world can feel so fractured. The arts remind us of our shared humanity and help us see beyond our differences.
What do you enjoy most about working at Bridgespan?
It may sound like a cliché, but working at Bridgespan is a dream come true!
When I applied to business school over a decade ago, I wrote about my aspiration to transform the nonprofit sector in Southeast Asia by establishing a consulting firm dedicated to helping nonprofits scale their impact. My years at Bain & Company, after teaching, deepened my conviction in the power of consulting to accelerate change. I witnessed how clear strategy and well-timed interventions could amplify both for-profit and nonprofit organisations’ effectiveness, unlocking their full potential.
At that point, Bridgespan existed only in the United States, and visa sponsorship wasn’t an option, so I assumed I’d need to build a version of Bridgespan in Southeast Asia myself. Fast forward to 2021: I heard about Bridgespan opening an office in Southeast Asia, and I reached out to the office head before recruitment even began.
Joining Bridgespan has allowed me to work on some of the most pressing issues facing our region—with the resources, expertise, and global network of an organisation that I deeply admire.
What has been most exciting/fulfilling about helping to open and develop Bridgespan’s SEA office?
It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve as our office’s first employee and help build the office from the ground up. Over the past few years, some of the region’s leading funders, nonprofits, and intermediaries have entrusted us to help them translate ambitious aspirations into actionable strategies. Being part of their journey—seeing ideas take shape and scale into tangible impact—has been both intellectually stimulating and deeply meaningful.
One of the greatest joys of this work has been the partnerships we’ve forged along the way. The scale and complexity of the challenges we face—whether addressing climate resilience, improving education, or fostering equity—require collaboration. It’s been energising to work with funders, nonprofit leaders, and peers who share a commitment to unlocking greater impact.
On a more personal level, given my unfulfilled dreams of being an academic, I’m grateful for the opportunity to work on research initiatives that fill critical gaps in our sector. Whether exploring how to make green jobs accessible to marginalised communities or identifying best practices for impact-oriented philanthropy, I find joy in how knowledge can spark dialogue, shift mindsets, and inspire change.
Last, and perhaps most meaningfully, none of this would be possible without our team. As a startup within Bridgespan’s global structure, building and growing a team of 15 incredible colleagues has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of this journey. Working alongside people I respect makes the work all the more energising and meaningful every day.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
I’m an unapologetic nerd and love reading—everything from economics and philanthropy to fantasy and science fiction. I also enjoy painting. I dabble in both realistic watercolors and bold acrylic abstracts. My daughter assures me I shouldn’t quit my day job to become an artist, but painting brings me a sense of calm and creativity that balances my analytical side.