Exclusive Interview with
SCAO Human Resources Dept GM Ms Shirlaine Teng
“Practice Makes Progress.”
Ms Shirlaine Teng
Human Resources Dept GM
Sumitomo Corporation Asia & Oceania Pte Ltd
If you have to use three words to describe the role of GM of HR in a company, what would those be?
Strategic Architect : The GM shapes the overarching HR strategy, aligning it with the company’s goals.
Operational Champion: Oversees the smooth execution of HR processes in an employee’s lifecycle, and ensuring the HR team operates in an efficient manner and in compliance with rules and regulations.
People Advocate: The GM acts as a champion for employee well-being, fostering a positive and safe work environment and ensuring voices are heard.
Why, and which is your favourite part of the job?
With Singapore Minister Ong Ye Kung and our Union Representatives during the Annual Dinner organised by Union
Collaborating with regional HR colleagues and tackling challenges together has been incredibly rewarding. It has pushed me to grow professionally and understand diverse work cultures firsthand. Travelling to new locations for these initiatives has been a bonus, allowing me to experience different perspectives and gain a deeper appreciation for the unique challenges faced by each region.
1st Basic Skills Learning Week taken with the participants in 2013
Social, economic and technological influences are changing the face of HR. How has SCAO HR
evolved through the years? Please also share with us some of the challenges you (and your
team) faced and how you managed to overcome them.
I still recall the days when HR used to send monthly late attendance report to the General Managers in each department (ha ha) which we subsequently stopped in 2018.
HR has undergone quite a significant transformation through the years, shifting from a reactive to proactive approach with more focus placed on the employee experience. This is evident in the following key areas.
Flexible work arrangements: We used to focus solely on responding to employee’s issues, HR now proactively shapes the work environment by ensuring the continuation of flexible work arrangements post-pandemic.
Benefits: Recognising the diverse needs of employees, HR has actively expanded the variety of flexible benefits offered in the Singapore office.
Learning and Development: In contrast to the focus on in-person regional training implemented from 2013, we now implement hybrid learning and development initiatives to cater to different learning preferences and styles.
With all the changes, a common challenge will be on how we help our General Managers and employees to cope with these changes. I am appreciative that I have a strong team working alongside with me who strives to build strong relationship with stakeholders and continue to collaborate with leaders and employees.
Being a working mother, how do you manage/balance the demanding workload, while taking care of the needs of your family? What are the difficulties encountered and satisfactions derived from being one?
There is an African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child” and this is saying that many people, and not just parents, are involved in providing the proper environment for our children to grow up in a safe and healthy manner. I am incredibly fortunate to have had the unwavering support of my mother, who showered my children with unconditional love and care when they were young, and my father, a former primary school teacher, who oversaw their academic progress.
When I need to care for my family, I also received strong support from my Managers so that I can step away from my work without any worry.
Raising children, while incredibly rewarding and joyful, can also be all-consuming. Balancing motherhood with the demands of work can be challenging, and one of the biggest difficulties I have faced is finding limited personal time for self-care and pursuing personal interests.
Over the years, I have come to understand the crucial importance of self-care. It is essential to remember that we are individuals, first before taking on other roles within our family as a mother/father, a wife/husband or a daughter/son. I now prioritise my well-being, ensuring I dedicate time to exercise, explore new experiences and travel with friends without involving my children.
I gain satisfaction whenever I hear my children laugh at my silly jokes and when they say “I love you, Mummy” every night before they sleep.
Photo taken in Tokyo with SCAO Group IOT Trainers
With HR colleagues at SCAO Dinner and Dance 2023 (Neon Jungle)
With HR colleagues during SCAO Dinner and Dance 2022 (Enchanted Night)
Taken at Sabah Tea Farm on a girls trip
With my daughter in a cat cafe in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
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SNAPSHOT
I strongly believe in… the 3Gs, Grateful, Growing and Glowing. Even when times are tough, I strive to live by these 3 words
I spend most of my time.. exploring new experiences when I am not working
The food I crave most often is… durian
One personal rule that I never break is… cannot think of any
The thing that cheers me up whenever I think about is… the smile from my daughter’s face
One thing I really want but can’t afford yet is… to retire in a house that overlooks the sea
If I could go back in time, I would… tell myself to play harder and have more fun
If I have enough money to live comfortably without having to work, I would… busk in Orchard Road
