She has been working with innovative startups in places like Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai for the past few years. Before joining the GAIP team, she held roles at SaaS startup AI Rudder and BNP Paribas. She’s been actively supporting startups and founders as part of her job with the GAIP team.
IN THIS PIECE, SHECANCODE CAUGHT UP WITH SISI TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HER DAY-TO-DAY ROLE LOOKS LIKE, HER ADVICE AND TIPS FOR WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY AND WHAT SHE’S PROUD OF.
HOW DID YOU LAND YOUR CURRENT ROLE? WAS IT PLANNED?
I have always had a passion for entrepreneurship and innovation. When I worked in SaaS startup AI Rudder, I supported the founder to connect with investors and incubators. So when I saw this position open at Boeing, I felt it was the perfect match for me. My current role in the Global Accelerators and Innovation Programs (GAIP) team is on the contrary side. As an investor, I have the opportunity to meet different startups to understand their technology and solutions, and it is great to bring disruptive startups to cooperate with Boeing.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR CAREER, SO FAR?
What I am most proud of in my career so far is that I completed Series B fundraising ($50mn) for AI Rudder with some blue-chip investors. When I joined the company, there were 50 employees. We tripled the size to 150 employees in 7 months. It was exciting to work with the team at this fast-growing pace.
WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE WORKDAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
There is no typical workday for my role. As I am the first employee in Asia in the GAIP team, I am kind of the “entrepreneur” responsible for building up our accelerator’s — Aerospace Xelerated — presence in Asia with the local startup ecosystem. I attend forums and events to meet local startups and investors. I also explore the opportunities with local ecosystem builders to see how Boeing can engage with the startups and organise meetings internally to work on general operating items for our programs and discuss the potential technology areas for scouting.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC SKILLS OR TRAITS THAT YOU NOTICE COMPANIES LOOK FOR WHEN YOU’RE SEARCHING FOR ROLES IN YOUR FIELD?
The ability to commercialise. When launching a new product, you need to know if the technology is mature enough in the lifecycle and how to commercialise it. For entrepreneurship & innovations, it is important to 1) address the pain point; and 2) have a big market to capture.
HAVE YOU EVER FACED INSECURITIES AND ANXIETIES DURING YOUR CAREER, AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?
Having a certain level of insecurities and anxieties is a good way to grow because it keeps you thinking during your career. The sector I operate in is dynamic and everything moves fast, especially in the tech and startup world, which makes people feel insecure. It is important to be agile and ready to lean in when the opportunity appears.
ENTERING THE WORLD OF WORK CAN BE DAUNTING. DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR ANYONE FEELING OVERWHELMED?
Stay resilient and stay positive. There are always moments of pressure and overwhelm during work, but you should try to focus on how you can achieve the goal you are aiming for.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHER WOMEN WANTING TO REACH THEIR CAREER GOALS IN TECHNOLOGY?
- Take action now. Experience is the best teacher you can have.
- Find a community that can inspire you and help you grow.
