Oh Xin Yi Vivien

Can you tell us about the latest project that you’ve worked on? Give some detail on why it was important for you or for the company and what you enjoyed about it?

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Data Transformation Programme (DTP)Covid-19 presented our local businesses with the opportunity to trial and reinvent new business models and processes.At STB, we hope to up-skill our industry in digital capability and one of the areas is data. In this era, all businesses are the business of data. Via the DTP, we were able to help our stakeholders explore ways of utilising data to improve their business from new ways of collecting data to using AI to improve business processes. We validated concepts such as using beacons to track footfall patterns at attractions instead using traditionally more costly telco data and using Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) to automate the process of leads generation for MICE and Hotel companies, reducing the search time by 50%. I brings me joy to know that the projects that we work on deliver impactful outcomes to our local businesses

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If applicable, how have you seen the tourism industry change since you've been working in it and how do you feel it has improved for women?

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I feel that there is more women representation at the senior decision making level. Women are able to provide complementary views on experience considerations that fills up the gap for business considerations. Coincidentally, data shows that women are also the main decision makers when booking for a holiday from our key markets, hence perhaps women will know what women want better. With such a recognition, I believed women's views and decisions are more valued at a tourism business setting.

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Now thinking about the future, what would you want to see change or improve in the industry? How (if at all) would this improve the role of women in the industry?

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Hope to see more women representation at the senior level, so that there will be an opportunity to demonstrate the variety of views and contributions women can provide at the business setting.

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What things are in place at your workplace or in your every day that enable you to excel?

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Gender equality treatment and outcome-based organisation where there are measures such as flexible working hours and arrangements in place and performance is rated based on outcomes achieved.

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The official IWD theme of 2022 is #BreakTheBias - If any, what biases within your role and/or industry would you want to be challenged?

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Women can lead tech projects and it is not a "manly" job. In tourism, tech is often used in aspect of enhancing experience. We offer different and impactful perspectives that can contribute to this element, that's our greatest strength!

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What's the best piece of career advice you've received?

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Put yourself in the shoes in the person that you are servicing, to deliver outcomes that will meet their needs.

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Would you have any recommendations for future female leaders in the industry?

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Consider and play everyone to their strength, so that you can build a dream team!

Vivien is currently a Manager in the Business Innovation and Data Partnership team at the Singapore Tourism Board. Her strength and experience is in Change Management for digital innovations and data analytics adoption. She has helped both STB and many local tourism business transition into data-driven businesses over the past 4 years.

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