Annie is an Associate in the Talent & Organization Strategies team in HROD, with a portfolio focus on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Senior Leadership Core Process, and Talent Management. Her daily life involves policymaking, communications, and liaising with HR Business Partners for policy execution.
Outside of work, she’s quite the fitness junkie, regularly dabbling in yoga and strength training in the gym. She understands the importance of discipline and consistency with her dedicated daily workout routine.
Why did you decide to join GIC?
I was always certain of my interest in policymaking. After majoring in Anthropology in college, I then developed a clearer interest and curiosity about organisational culture, looking into what drives and influences people in their day to day. On top of this, I wanted to begin my career in an environment characterized by ambitious goals, agile decision-making and where diverse perspectives are embraced. In a nutshell, to be in a sufficiently challenging workplace delivering meaningful impact.
I still recall the feeling of awe when I first stepped into GIC’s lobby at Capital Tower and was greeted by the warmest smiles that followed up with insightful conversations that always inspired me to think more deeply about what I am capable of. Two years in and I am proved my career choice was right as never a day has gone by without me feeling challenged and energized to do more and better than I did yesterday.
Aside from the challenging work, I’ve also grown so much alongside my colleagues. Everyone around me has been an absolute joy to work with and learn from. In fact, the very evident collaborative culture at GIC was one of the main draws for me when I was applied. Starting my career here in an environment where every one is closely in touch has definitely helped foster a stronger sense of belonging for me at work.
What does your typical workday look like?
I always being my day with a sunrise yoga session, before grabbing a iced matcha latte to accompany me for morning team meetings. Afternoons are usually spent working presentation decks or on policy papers, and I make sure my Kimchi soup fix during lunch injects just the right bit of energy for me to stay focused. After work, at times when I feel active, I’d hit the gym. Most times though, I’m snuggled either reading a book or catching up on the latest Korean dramas.
What do you like most about working here?
Being trusted and empowered to lead and contribute in enterprise projects. This sense of empowerment is unrivalled, and I greatly appreciate such opportunities being given generously to employees regardless of their grade or tenure. You are supported to experiment and learn as you go.
I am also immensely proud of our continued journey in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I), having witnessed the organization’s focus in making sure every policy, practice and principle is fair, equitable and contributes to building a dignified and inclusive workplace for all. We are enabled to be at our best, no matter our backgrounds. These commitments go a long way in creating a safe space for diverse thoughts and experiences to be shared, and it demonstrates our commitment to our people. As a HR professional, it inspires and reminds me of my own purpose at all.
How would you describe the learning & development culture at GIC?
There’s definitely a very steep learning curve, but each step up is always filled with so much fulfilment. You grow so much when you work through such a wide spectrum of skills, from policy-making, to presentation, to change management and employee communications. At GIC, the commitment to invest in our people’s learning is truly evident, as each employee is supported to explore and pick-up even skills or courses outside of their day-job. As long as you are interested, there’s never a lack of learning opportunities. I’ve been so blessed with the generous sharing from wonderful mentors from both within and beyond my team in HR, and the culture of open sharing and “paying forward” these mentorship has only made this learning journey at work even more meaningful.
What you should know before joining GIC
There’s going to be moments of joy, moments of frustration, moments of uncertainties, but each, as I have experienced, always comes with fond memories and growth for yourself, not only as a employee, but also as a person. Be confident, but more importantly, be patient. You’re probably going to be pretty busy at work, but it’s always going towards contributing to a bigger purpose, and that’s going to be more fun than you think!