Vy joined GIC through the GIC Professionals Programme (GPP), having previously interned with the firm as a GIP intern. As a Software Engineer in the Enterprise & Data Technology (EDT) department, she builds and optimises the data systems and pipelines that power GIC’s investment work, from large-scale data processing to enhancing the firm’s in-house AI tools.
Outside of work, Vy enjoys bouldering, a passion she shares with colleagues through a dedicated GIC interest group, made more convenient by the two gyms located right beside the office. She also loves winding down with a good book and a well-made cup of coffee.
What inspired you to join GIC?
My journey began with the GIC #CODETOIMPACT hackathon, where I was paired with an experienced mentor who taught me about database scaling. He showed me how to handle productionized datasets and optimise query performance across enormous volumes of records. That glimpse into the scale and complexity of GIC’s work was eye-opening, and it left me eager to join a team solving problems at that level.
Before I joined, I imagined GIC as a place full of highly capable professionals shouldering significant responsibilities. I pictured it as serious, focused, and driven. That turned out to be true, but there was so much more to discover. Everyone is incredibly professional, yet there is plenty of room for fun along the way. What impresses me most is the collaborative spirit. People are genuinely invested in helping the team succeed, and you can see it in the way we work together every day.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
My day usually starts with an icy pomelo americano from the Luckin Coffee nearby. Once I am settled at my desk, I review the results of the previous day’s work, since some data transformation jobs can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days to finish. After that, I joined our morning stand-up to align priorities and clear any blockers before I dive into coding. The afternoon tends to involve more coding, reviewing pull requests, running tests in lower environments, and getting things ready for production.
What do you like most about working here?
I really value the chance to work on complex projects that carry real business impacts. Thanks to the infrastructure and pipelines my senior engineers have built, I can focus on solving the actual problem rather than getting caught up in setup. GIC has also been quick to adopt tools like ChatGIC, our in-house version of ChatGPT, and Copilot. These have helped me spend less time on routine tasks and more time on the work that matters.
What new skills or knowledge have you gained during your time at GIC?
Collaboration has been one of my biggest areas of growth. Working with cross-functional teams has taught me how to explain outcomes clearly to both technical and non-technical colleagues. I have also deepened my expertise in building robust data pipelines, optimising large-scale systems, and making the most of the technologies already in place. The most valuable lesson, though, has been learning to think at scale and to weigh the broader business impact of every decision.
How would you describe your learning and development at GIC?
My experience in the GPP, having started as a GIP intern, has been fantastic. I began with a one-month bootcamp and am currently rotating through three different tech teams. Each one has its own distinct culture and is led by experienced engineers who have been remarkably generous in sharing what they know. It is a genuinely nurturing environment for anyone who wants to grow.
What are some highlights in your career thus far?
One project involved building a real-time system that processes huge volumes of unstructured data from broker channels and turns it into actionable insights. It brought together messaging queues, knowledge graphs, prompt engineering, and so much more, which really expanded my horizons. In another, I produced document embeddings for Research Assistant, GIC’s in-house AI agent, to improve the speed and accuracy of data retrieval. Both have been a joy to work on, and I am excited about the transformation they will bring to GIC.
What advice would you give to candidates looking to join GIC?
Stay curious and keep an open mind, because you will be exposed to a wealth of knowledge that is bound to help you one way or another. GIC is a nurturing place for people who want to grow, especially those who enjoy a good challenge alongside plenty of mentorship. For me, what keeps me going each day is simple: brilliant mentors, a supportive team, an endless supply of interesting problems to solve, and of course, excellent coffee.