From Slack to Shopee: Women business leaders on their favourite tech and hopes for the future of innovation

From Slack to Shopee: Women business leaders on their favourite tech and hopes for the future of innovation

KOH YAN PING, CEO OF SINGAPORE COUNCIL OF WOMEN’S ORGANISATIONS

What I’m using:

Kahoot! and Mentimeter: We’ve been conducting mass interactions virtually and have had to learn how to keep audiences engaged. For these, we use tools like Kahoot! and Mentimeter, which are web-based platforms for games, polls and quizzes. 

We actively use these to conduct events for member organisations and in our programmes, including the BoardAgender mentoring programme, where we focus on building a pipeline of women directors, and Project Awesome, which funnels inspiring stories about women to school children.

MINJOO LEE, HEAD OF MARKETING AT DELIVEROO SINGAPORE

What I’m using:

Podcast apps: I started getting into podcasts during the pandemic and have been using Apple Podcasts and Spotify to listen to some of my favourites, such as Ted Talks Daily, Think Fast Talk Smart, After 30, and On Purpose With Jay Shetty. 

These podcasts share many tips that relate to my personal growth, and are a great way to gain exposure to various topics and perspectives beyond those of the region I’m based in. 

LAURA HOULDSWORTH, ASIA PACIFIC MANAGING DIRECTOR AT BOOKING.COM

What I’m using:

Thermomix: My friends were raving about this appliance’s features so I knew I had to try it out. It’s been a game-changer for my cooking and eating habits. The smart cooker comes with a fantastic app with more than 65,000 recipes, making it so much easier to cook healthy (and indulgent) meals. 

On my wishlist:

There are still areas where technology could do better in innovating for women. One area that comes to mind is personalisation. While apps are great at collecting data, sometimes they still require a lot of repetitive input to get the most out of them.

For example, many health and fitness apps require you to manually input your food intake and exercise routine, which can be time-consuming and discouraging. A more personalised approach, based on individual needs and preferences, would be much more effective in helping women achieve their health goals.

Similarly, many productivity apps could benefit from more intuitive features that consider the unique challenges and responsibilities faced by women in the workplace. From juggling childcare and family commitments to navigating gender bias and imposter syndrome, women face a range of challenges that could be better addressed through more thoughtful and inclusive design.

VOO POH JEE, PARTNER AT KPMG SINGAPORE

What I’m using:

Coursera and Domestika: I like apps that introduce new ways of learning and knowledge-sharing. Both offer bite-size courses across various topics, including illustrations, which I enjoy. I also like that you can join the free course first and only pay if you want the certification. The apps also allow you to network with other learners. 

NLB app: Another favourite is the National Library Board’s mobile app, where you can borrow e-books, magazines and newspapers. Occasionally, when I want to pick up hard copies, the app keeps me focused during my visits to the physical library.