Every career in technology is different, and the best lessons often come from the unexpected turns along the way. In the Precisely Women in Technology (PWIT) series, we spotlight the women across our organization who are building rewarding careers while inspiring others to do the same. This month, meet Wendy Wong, Marketing Manager, whose journey spans three continents and has been shaped by curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities. Continue reading to learn more about Wendy’s career.
Why did you choose to pursue a career in technology?
When I was younger, I wanted to be a photographer. My photography teacher used to say, anyone can point a camera and press a button. So, what fascinated me wasn’t just taking pictures; what interested me was the ability to influence how people saw something, to frame a moment in a certain way, and tell a story through a single photograph.
Although my career took a different path, that curiosity never left me. Technology appealed to me for similar reasons. It’s an industry that’s constantly evolving and shaping how we live and work. I was drawn to the opportunity to be part of that change, to keep learning, and to help create what’s next rather than simply watching it happen.
Who has been your greatest professional mentor? What’s one thing you have learned from them?
I’ve never really had a professional mentor in the traditional sense. However, the person who has had the biggest influence on my career and the way I approach my work is my mom. As far back as I can remember, she’s always found a way to make time for the things that mattered to her. At one point, she was working three jobs, taking care of our family, finding time to exercise every morning, and still being actively involved in the community.
What I’ve learned from her is that you can achieve almost anything if you’re willing to put in the effort. She taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and determination, and that’s something I try to bring to every role and every challenge I take on.
What’s the biggest risk you took in your career? What was the reward?
One of the biggest risks I took was leaving Mauritius for Taiwan as a young adult and later building a life and career in the UK. Each move meant starting over in a place where I didn’t quite fit in — and in very different ways. In Taiwan, people assumed I spoke Chinese because of how I looked, but I didn’t. In the UK, I was the girl from a tropical island who had absolutely no idea what to expect with the weather. Being the odd one out, in different ways and in different places, taught me how to find my feet somewhere new, to connect with people who seemed different from me at first, and to get comfortable with new ways of doing things.
The rewards have been far greater than I could have imagined. I’ve lived and worked across three continents, met amazing people, and had opportunities that would never have come my way if I’d stayed where it felt safe. Most importantly, those experiences made me adaptable and open in ways that I carry into everything I do, both at work and in life.
As a woman, what challenges have you faced in the technology industry? How have you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was returning to work after taking a career break to stay home with my two young children. To create the balance I wanted for my family, I chose to work part-time and stepped down from a leadership role into an assistant position.
For a while, I felt like I was falling behind. I saw colleagues progressing in their careers, travelling for work, and taking opportunities that weren’t always available to me. The hardest part was comparing my journey to theirs.
What helped me was realizing that these choices were my own, not sacrifices that had been forced upon me. Once I stopped measuring success against someone else’s path, everything changed. Looking back, I have no regrets. That experience taught me that careers aren’t always a straight line, and often taking a step back in one area allows you to move forward in another.
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What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? How do you apply it to your personal and professional life?
The best advice I’ve ever been given came from my driving instructor more than 20 years ago. He said, “You cannot control how other people drive, only how you drive, so look beyond your lane and always be ready.”
At the time, it was about defensive driving, but I’ve found it applies remarkably well to both work and life. At work, it reminds me to focus on what I can actually influence rather than stressing about things I can’t. Priorities shift, things change, and sometimes situations don’t go the way you’d hoped. I’ve learned to keep an eye on the bigger picture and adapt when I need to.
Personally, it’s helped me through some pretty big life changes too. Looking beyond my own lane has taught me to see upcoming challenges, stay flexible, and spot opportunities I might have otherwise missed.
What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to younger women entering the industry?
Don’t wait until you feel 100% ready before saying yes to an opportunity.
Early in my career, I took a job as an English teacher. I’d never wanted to teach, had no qualifications, and honestly said yes because I needed the money. At first, I was terrible at it and hated every minute. But I stuck with it, found strategies that worked, and started seeing my students learn and grow. Over time, I developed my own style, started seeing real progress, and the job gave me a huge sense of satisfaction; something I never would have predicted when I first started.
That experience taught me that sometimes you figure things out as you go. You don’t need to have all the answers before you begin. Trust yourself, stay curious, and remember that your perspective matters, even when you’re still finding your feet.
As a successful woman in technology, what’s one thing you do to pay it forward and advocate for other women in the field?
Every year I organise the Women in SAP program around International Women’s Day in March. It’s one of my favorite things I do because it brings women together to share experiences, learn from each other, and stay connected long after the event is over.
Outside of work, I volunteer where I can. I’m on the committee for my daughter’s artistic swimming club, and I’ve been lucky to be part of projects with a much wider reach, like helping to build a school in Mozambique. And on a day-to-day basis, I just try to be someone people feel they can talk to. I think giving your time to things that matter, even in small ways, adds up more than people realise.
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