Zhao Yue is a Product Manager from the NCS Group, a leading information communications technology (ICT) service provider part of the Singtel Group. Making decisions on the type of digital products to deliver to the market is a huge part of her daily work. This involves a good understanding of strategies, practical know-how of how to execute those strategies and user feedback to improve the products. For Zhao Yue, every day poses a unique challenge.

Being someone who’s meticulous and systematic, Zhao Yue typically plans out her day beforehand. She then begins each day by syncing up with the development team to follow up on product development progress. After which, her day-to-day activities would vary depending on the priorities. A big part of Zhao Yue’s work involves monitoring market needs and her work has helped her develop a keen sense for good sales opportunities via internal feedback and external market analysis. She also conducts market sizing and end-user persona analysis.

On a regular basis, she checks out the market competition to ensure that her team is ahead of the curve. According to Zhao Yue, for product managers to be successful in their roles, it’s important for them to have good communication skills. “As a Product Manager, communication is key for collaboration with various stakeholders. This includes understanding customer’s pain points and maximising the team’s potential.’’

Zhao Yue’s Singtel journey began in 2017 when she joined the organisation as a Management Associate (MA).

“I’m still in my first job! I’ve benefited from the fact that Singtel appreciates technology innovations and invests in employee career and skill development to a great extent!’’ she shares.

Picking up and polishing skills at Singtel

Zhao Yue learnt a lot from her job rotations to different departments – these include picking up skills in product management, problem statement discovery and evaluation, pricing strategy, cross-department collaboration, building business cases, and many more.

“Becoming a Product Manager brings a broad scope of responsibilities to the table,’’ she says. “When I mentioned resolving conflicts earlier, it may not always be a brash argument. The questions that constantly pop up in my head are:

• How do we choose this feature, collectively as a team?
• How do I encourage more productive team discussions?
• Will I be able to value add to the discussion if I joined the meeting?
• How do I guide my team and ensure they are able to work optimally?

Differences in opinions will arise. It is how you solve it and work on it together. The keyword is “togetherness”! she smiles.

Tuning into zen vibes with Zhao Yue

Described by her colleagues as a confident, fast and enthusiastic learner, she is constantly learning, even outside of her work. Zhao Yue is a huge fan of the Japanese culture, ideals and language. She has even passed the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) at the highest level N1.

Her Japan Overseas Assignment was one that she would never forget. As part of the Management Associate Programme (MAP), she flew over to Tokyo, Japan. There, she attended several meetings with corporate clients to understand their customers’ requirements and also worked with senior solutions managers, sales manager, project manager, and service manager to help better serve the clients’ customers.

In the process, she began to appreciate the working culture at the overseas Singtel branch office. She learnt a lot about relationship-building and connected well with Singtel Japan office. She took away not only knowledge and skills, but the true culture of the city.

Good guidance, great mentors

Q: Who has been indispensable in your Singtel journey?

A: I have not one but three! My three supervisors have all been crucial to my journey – all my three roles have been greatly inspirational and helpful for my career development.

My first rotation was with NCS Mr. Liang Seng Quee, who led our SCALE Corporate Labs foundation and taught me how to think out of the box and be confident.

For my second role as Technical Presales for GE telco products, Mr. Cheng Chek Ping, Director of Singtel GE Solution Management, trusted me with pre-sales opportunities. It was a challenging role which stretched me professionally.

With help from Mr. Niraj Vinod Sinha, a Director from the Solution Management, I was given the opportunity to join Singtel Japan for my overseas assignment. I truly appreciated this opportunity as Singtel Japan is not exactly a ‘traditional’ choice for overseas assignment. He played a big role in securing this opportunity for me.

Lastly, I would like to thank my current manager Mr. Yan Shixing, Practice Lead for Corporate Labs NCS. Despite being relatively new to product management, Shixing gave me guidance on how to productise IPs (incubating products from technologies), what the considerations are to building enterprise products. He was always approachable and open to discuss which helped me to develop point-of-views.’’

Aspiring to become a product manager? Or simply to be part of the Singtel family? We have got you covered. Explore a multitude of career opportunities and stories at Singtel Careers. Find out why Singtel is the Employer of Choice* and explore our opportunities here.

*Awarded by HR Fest Awards 2020, which recognises and celebrates outstanding achievements of the region’s top leaders, teams and organisations.