In this edition, Women @ IT&D lifts its curtains one final time. Last but not least, we are honored to introduce you to Clara from Singapore, our Regional Head of APAC IT&D Contract Logistics.
“As Head of the APAC IT&D Contract Logistics team, I am responsible for ensuring all IT systems required to run our distribution centers in APAC countries remain available. My team manages critical business systems, including our warehouse management system. We also drive various digitalization initiatives including warehouse automation, introduction of AI, and many more.“
What is your professional background and what has your career journey been like?
I am passionate about achieving excellence in IT service delivery. I have been able to pursue this domain in our company and prior to that in various organizations related to the government of Singapore, manufacturing, and finance. DB Schenker has been my professional home for almost 12 years now, based out of Singapore. During that time, I have been given many opportunities to take up different roles growing both horizontally and vertically. The turning point in my career was when I took the role of implementation manager for Air & Ocean products. It gave me much-needed insight into how IT&D can enable our operations and customers. I returned to IT enlightened and I am currently enjoying taking the IT department in APAC forward.
What was your biggest professional challenge and how did you overcome it?
My professional journey in Singapore started after a break of six years to take care of my first child. The relocation to Singapore from India was a challenging time. Getting back into the industry in a new geographical location after a break was not easy. It took upskilling and knocking on a lot of doors before I started working. Looking back, this journey was well worth the effort.
What aspect of your current job has surprised you the most or been the most unexpected?
The passion and commitment of my team and their can-do attitude, no matter what the challenge is. To share an example: When we lost some very key resources in 2022, the team stepped up to ensure it did not impact our operations. They truly embodied the words “Tough times never last but tough teams do.”
Why would you encourage women to take on a career in IT&D in logistics?
Women are awesome problem solvers, and starting with my mom I have seen many of us who are able to come up with innovative solutions. A career in IT&D in logistics is highly rewarding due to the opportunities it gives you to make a difference in our business with innovative IT&D solutions.
