Geology, Luxury Design Sales & Art

How I Can Help You 

• Cultural & Education Experience: Understanding the differences between East Malaysia, West Malaysia, and Singapore.
• Public Speaking Skills: Developing effective storytelling techniques.
• People Skills & Networking Guide: How to connect with top brands and professionals.
• Career Transition: Moving from geology to the luxury design industry.
• Women Career Guidance: Advice for women in engineering and design fields.
• Mental Requirements & Adaptability Tips: Thriving in fast-paced work environments.
• Gender-Biased Work Environment: Strategies to overcome challenges in biased workplaces.
• Adapting to Singapore: Tips and community resources for settling in Singapore.
• Personal Growth & Building Connections: Overcoming challenges and finding support networks in new city.
• Music Career Advice: Performing art for income generating.

My Domains

Public Speaking | Customer Relationship | Premium Client | Sales | Networking Skill | Personal Growth | Geology  | Interior Design  | Women Career Guidance | Cultural Guidance | Expat Lifestyle | Social Media | Social Skills | Music | Singer | Art Performance

A Bit About Me

Hi I’m Jane, a geologist by default, a musician by heart, an aspiring plant mom by ambition and lover of all things fluffy. Lovely to meet you!

• I was born and raised in Miri, Sarawak where I was educated all the way to graduating university.
• I definitely experienced a significant cultural shift when moving from East Malaysia (EM) to West Malaysia (WM) during my holiday visits to Kuala Lumpur as a teen.
• I’ve noticed that East Malaysia has less exposure to alternative career paths, such as marketing and creative-based jobs, with a stronger focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths (STEM) fields.
• Indigenous tribes in EM often prioritise family expansion over educational advancement, which was a norm I was surrounded by. 
• Growing up watching Western media, I was inspired by independent female characters, fueling my ambition to pursue goals outside the social norms of my hometown.
• As a teenager, I knew that as a Chinese woman growing up in Malaysia, I would have limited options in regards to a lot of aspects in my life. That did not sit well with me and so I made the decision that I would someday spread my wings and leave the country.
• I moved to Singapore in 2019 as a geologist for 1 year and 8 months before transitioning to the design industry for the past 3 years.
• I have currently shifted from a sales role to an Engagement Manager position which allows me to meet many high profile individuals from the Singaporean design industry.

Educational Journey

• Initially I wanted to study pharmacy due to my love of biology but pursued geology to stay close to home and for financial consideration, eventually I attended Curtin University Sarawak.
• I grew to love geology, particularly the study of the Earth's origins and molecular compositions. (Mainly Paleontology, fossils, and mineralogy)
• My favourite theory for discussion is the Permian-Triassic (PT) extinction of the dinosaurs. 

Skills and Interests

• Public Speaking and Networking
  • I developed networking skills through public speaking and participation in the debate team during secondary school.
  • This also helped me gain confidence in my communication skills
  • As an independent performer, part of my job requires me to be able to promote myself. The better I speak, the more attention I grab which then helps me get hired to perform at places.
  • In my professional career now, my entire job requires me to be able to speak and network with a lot of people. At first, coming up with topics to talk to people about was so intimidating. But after a while it becomes second nature. 
• Adaptability and Independence
  • Adapting to living alone for the first time when moving to Singapore, overcoming initial struggles and loneliness was a challenge I overcame.
  • I embraced my independence, explored new opportunities, and built a support system to ease the transition.
• Performing Arts
  • I had a love for music and dance from a very young age. My family was very musically oriented so it was natural for me to get into music and dance. I learned how to play the piano at the age of 10 and had performed for many dance recitals as a child.
  • I fell in love with contemporary dance after watching Dance Moms. I even attempted some of the routines in my living room and was surprisingly good at it.
  • In university, I became a contemporary dancer and choreographer for my university’s dance club. In total I’ve choreographed about 8-10 pieces in university for dance shows and other performances. It's not a huge number but I was extremely proud of myself.
  • At 16, I picked up the violin and never put it down. I’ve performed at several music recitals, weddings and even in a couple of bands with my violin. Lindsay Sterling was my idol and I eventually learned how to dance and play my violin the same way she did.
  • After picking up the violin, I picked up the ukulele and guitar. It took me a day to learn my first christmas song on the guitar.
  • My music career really started picking up when I watched America’s Got Talent winner Grace VanderWaal. She really inspired me to start performing and writing my own songs.
  • Over the years, I have performed at loads of university events, government galas, art festivals, music festivals, lots of bars, restaurants, cafes, along with several weddings.
• Martial Arts
  • I started learning taekwondo around 9 or 10. My dad is a 5th Dan Taekwondo Master so it was only natural that I picked it up.
  • My first sparring match was at the age of 11 years old where I won my first silver medal.
  • After that, I kept training and competing in state and international level competitions. My dad was my coach of course.
  • After 11 years of fighting, I’ve collected several medals, trophies, bruises and dislocated kneecaps.
  • At 23 I received my 2nd Dan Black Belt and became an instructor and coach. I would teach classes on the weekend and bring my students out for competitions.
  • At 24 I became a state level referee for about a year before I moved to Singapore.
  • Taekwondo was a way for me to be closer to my dad. We would practise at home all the time, making my mom lose her mind when my dad would flip me over his shoulders with a self defence motion. 

Professional Experience

• Geology Career
  • I worked as a geologist as my first job in Singapore, focusing on mineralogy and petroscience in an SME.
  • I held a lab role involving analysing quartz content and chloride content under a microscope.
  • The purpose of my role included conducting fire damage examinations to determine temperature of the fire and moisture content in the cement
  • I unexpectedly faced challenges in a sexist and gender-biased work environment, often being the only woman in the lab and experiencing undervaluation and lack of support from superiors.
  • To other women in my shoes, I advise maintaining composure, standing your ground, and knowing the value you bring to the table. 
  • My philosophy was and still is, if men are going to come at you like a woman, then you’ve got to come at them like a man. 
  • I’d advise women to maintain composure, know the right time and place to assert themselves, and stand firm on their value.
  • It’s no secret the engineering industry can be unkind to women, but it's crucial to stay strong and professional.
• Design Industry - Premium Lighting Merchandise
  • I find the design industry to be fiercely competitive and filled with a wide array of interesting and strong personalities. It’s an environment where I constantly encounter intriguing people, especially empowered women making significant strides.
  • In my current position and role as an Engagement Manager, I focus on networking and building connections with a range of clients and collaborators. This includes top-tier brands such as Google, TikTok, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, Shopee, Lazada, Grab, Foodpanda, and JP Morgan. I also work closely with interior designers, architects, contractors, and project managers.
  • I appreciate how the design industry welcomes people from diverse backgrounds and encourages career shifts. It values authentic personalities and provides learning opportunities on the job, meaning that my past degree isn’t necessarily important for my success.
  • Working with such esteemed brands and professionals has elevated my professional experiences and expectations, offering me a unique and prestigious network of high value clientele
  • I often find the work pace intense, requiring quick decision-making and adaptability.
  • I notice an undercurrent of competition, with micro sabotages occasionally occurring.
  • Circumstances can shift overnight, necessitating my fast adaptive skills to keep up with new developments.
  • Overall, I’ve learned that this industry values and rewards those who can navigate its complexities with grace and resilience.

Moving and Settling Down in Singapore

• Initial Struggles
  • I experienced fear and loneliness during the first three months in Singapore, impacting my mental health more than I was prepared for.
  • I adjusted to a less friendly environment compared to my hometown, by understanding the cultural differences between the two places.
• Overcoming Challenges
  • I made the best of the situation by embracing independence and exploring new opportunities.
  • What I did was to find a support system through familiar communities to me, which was crucial for easing the transition.
  • The technique to outgrow initial communities is normal and naturally moved on to meeting new people through mutuals.

A Community Hero Since: September 6, 2024