Get to know Joanne Wong, a former lawyer who is now Vice President, International Marketing (APJ & EMEA) at LogRhythm.
TECHx: What inspired you to pursue a career in technology?
Joanne: While I am a lawyer by training, my passion for technology began with my work for the non-profit Business Software Alliance (back in the late 90s). There, I managed marketing and anti-piracy initiatives across Asia Pacific, and worked closely with companies and governments. This piqued my interest in tech, and also opened doors to opportunities with companies like Microsoft, SAP and of course, now at LogRhythm.
TECHx: How have you dealt with challenges throughout your career?
Joanne: The challenges I’ve faced in tech were not very different from those which I was confronted with when I was practising law in the first part of my career. I’ve found that being well-prepared, balancing assertiveness and openness to differing views with a healthy dose of humour has served me well in both fields.
TECHx: How do gender balance and a diverse workforce contribute to the success of an organisation?
Joanne: Women bring a wealth of diverse talents to the table, as do men, and having a diversity of talents is a business enabler. Being able to harness that ‘women’s intuition’ by giving a different perspective based on their life experiences and wisdom will add immense value to the organisation.
TECHx: Do you have a female role model? If so, who is she and how has she inspired you?
Joanne: Undoubtedly, my mom is my strongest female role model. Mom taught me to be the master of my own destiny, and not to confine myself to past decisions. Mom was constantly improving herself and exhibited a passion for lifelong learning. Whether it was learning a new language, or picking a musical instrument, she taught me to always be open and adaptable to learning new skills. By watching my mom, I learned to explore new paths and opportunities, even from a very young age.