For our final interview, we are happy to invite Stella Chang, our Organization and Talent Development Director, to share a few lessons on how her adventurous teenage life shaped the person she is today.

“My late father is the person I’ve always looked up to. He didn’t have the benefit of attaining higher education, yet he’s a real forward thinker who only thinks what’s best for her daughter. I remembered he put aside his emotions and didn’t allow me to return to Hong Kong unless I completed my 5 years of study abroad. In hindsight, not only did this experience help me to become more independent, but it also broadened my horizons while pushing me to embrace diversity – one of the important personal attributes that are extremely useful to my career now” commented Stella.

Tell me something about yourself? Your background? When did you join us? Your role, your hobby? Just anything about you!
My name is Stella Chang and I am based in Hong Kong. I joined Commtech Asia in July 2021 as an Organization & Talent Development Director. My main role is to build a sustainable professional workforce in Commtech Asia to deliver best-in-class service to our clients as well as to support the business growth. I’ve been working in talent management & people development for over 20 years and up to now; I still have a passion for such aspect. I strongly believe that people always come first in any organization because without people, the organization can’t go too far. Though I interact with people a lot at work, especially during training delivery; but believe it or not; I prefer to enjoy my own time when not working. For sports, I like running and hiking. Other than that, I like to enjoy my coffee in a relaxing and chill café; then browse around in the local wet market and supermarket; that can occupy half of my day sometimes.

 

This year theme is Break the bias. How do you think we can embrace this in our workplace? And do you think Commtech Asia has tackled this well ?
Every person is unique – No two persons are the same. We should embrace and respect others; and should not have any kind of discrimination, especially gender. “Together We Can Achieve More” – we should work with others collectively to break the bias and create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

Working in a more male dominant industry. Do you think there is a gender advantage in the engineering industry?
Based on the most recent Science and Engineering Indicators report (2022) indicated that women represented about 34% of all with an educational background in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) workers in 2019. Moreover, women comprised about 44% of STEM workers with at least a bachelor’s degree, which is a slight rise from 42% in 2010.  Moreover, over the past few years, a growing number of females have entered the fields of STEM.  Hence, I think every woman has the power, means, and information to make her own decisions in life.  In today’s world, gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.  In this regard, I do not see that there is a gender advantage in the engineering industry.

Your favourite quote and motto?
One of my favorite quotes is: “All our dreams can come true if we pursue them.” – Walt Disney

What is one lesson you learnt the hard way ?
I was studying in the US when I was 13, I couldn’t speak English at all then. I was being laughed at by those local people and even imitated the Chinese accent when I spoke English. I then told myself that I must learn how to speak English fluently so that they would stop making fun of me; and I want to show them that me being a foreigner; I can speak more than one language fluently.  Therefore, I started to watch ABC news every day, reading and learning vocabulary from the good old Oxford dictionary – the dictionary was my best friend then. A year later, when I met new friends, they thought I was born in the US.

How would you encourage other women out there?
I would probably say, “Don’t give up your dreams, have faith, and pursue it; and don’t give in, stay firm at your standpoint when it is right.”