Singapore, UCLA-NUS EMBA (Class of 2023/2024)
Kim So Yeon
APAC Deal Desk Director of Deal Strategy & Pricing
Salesforce
USA, UCLA-NUS EMBA (Class of 2023/2024)
Willa Lin
Director of AI Consulting
DataForce
Breaking unseen barriers: Kim So Yeon and Willa Lin (Class of ‘23/24)
In the fast-paced world of technology, breaking barriers is not just about innovation. It’s also about challenging norms and paving the way for others.
Meet Kim So Yeon and Willa Lin, two inspiring women from the UCLA-NUS EMBA Class of ‘23 who are uplifting fellow women in the technology industry as they redefine standards and blaze their own trails to success. Join us as we delve into their remarkable journeys and the transformative impact they are creating at work and beyond.
Kim So Yeon’s career journey is one marked by a desire to make a tangible impact. Currently the APAC Deal Desk Director of Deal Strategy & Pricing at Salesforce, she started her career in investment banking.
So Yeon eventually transitioned into the technology sector, seeking a role where she could create value in a hands-on way.
“In investment banking, the focus was on transactions and money,” So Yeon reflects. “I felt like I wasn’t contributing tangibly to society.” This realization led her to explore opportunities in technology, a sector that was rapidly reshaping industries at that time. “It’s still doing so now, with the advent of generative AI solutions.”
Joining Microsoft, So Yeon made an immediate impact by creating the first financing software program in Asia, specifically for South Korea.
About 17 years later, she decided to pursue new horizons and move to Salesforce. Reflecting on her move, she expressed, “Microsoft is great, but I wanted to explore the world outside.” This shift in her career path occurred in the midst of her UCLA-NUS EMBA program. “The opportunity came through a connection I made during the program; he was an alumni who brought the open position to my attention.”
Charting her own path
In discussing the challenges faced by women in tech sales, So Yeon reflects on her own experiences and the societal expectations she encountered early in her career.
“Twenty-five years ago, being a working woman in Korea was considered unconventional,” she recalls. “The expectation was to get married and retire early to focus on family. However, some of us, like myself, challenged this notion.”
So Yeon acknowledges that while these perceptions were common in the past, progress has been made. “Today, more people are recognizing and believing in the capabilities of female leaders.”
She is deeply committed to driving change, actively participating in diversity events and panel discussions, advocating for gender equality and female leadership.
With her extensive exposure to various markets, she is particularly passionate about addressing the discrimination faced by women in South Korea. “In Singapore, we are fortunate to have many exceptional female leaders who serve as inspiring examples. However, in Korea, the situation is somewhat different. Women there often feel more constrained by their gender.”
When asked about advice for aspiring female leaders, So Yeon stresses the value of self-belief. “We must not internalize discrimination,” she asserts. “It’s important to be able to discern and know your worth.”
Willa Lin, the Director of AI Consulting at DataForce, leads a team of consultants specializing in AI/ML training data. Her role involves working closely with clients to understand their data needs, create tailored solutions, and ensure project execution aligns with expectations.
What does she enjoy most about her job? The diverse range of people she gets to meet and the variety of industries she gets to work with.
“You get a really interesting cross-section of where the technology is at, across different verticals,” she shares. “We work with major tech companies, startups, and government groups, each with unique AI use cases. It’s always really interesting to see all the different applications at the forefront of the industry.”
A fierce advocate for career women
As a seasoned professional in the tech industry, Willa has witnessed significant changes in diversity and inclusion over the years. “I think people are definitely becoming a lot more conscious about equality in the workplace. In the companies that I have worked in, the management teams have made conscious decisions to have balanced representation in senior leadership positions,” she shares
Despite these efforts, Willa recognizes that there is still progress to be made, especially regarding female self-advocacy. For example, women tend to advocate for themselves less than their male counterparts, which means they tend to speak up or assert themselves less in the workplace.
Keen to play a part in supporting and uplifting other women in the workplace, Willa decides to be a mentor in her current company’s female mentorship program.
She’s paired with other women in the organization, providing them with valuable one-on-one mentorship and guidance. Through these periodic check-ins, Willa offers support, advice, and encouragement to her mentees, helping them navigate challenges, develop their skills, and advance in their careers.
Willa’s commitment to empowering women extends beyond her professional life. As a military spouse, she has had to relocate across multiple geographies alongside her husband.
“There is this term called ‘trailing spouses’ in this community,” she explains. These spouses, predominantly women, frequently find themselves having to pause their careers or contend with limited job prospects due to the necessity of frequent relocations.
Reflecting on her own experience, Willa considers herself fortunate to have been able to continue her career through remote work opportunities.
However, she is acutely aware of the struggles encountered by many others in similar situations. This awareness has fueled her passion in advocating for more job opportunities for “trailing spouses”. “I believe that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, should have the chance to pursue meaningful and fulfilling careers.”