Jobs in Singapore: “How leaving my comfort zone gave me one of the best experiences of my professional life”

As the Global Chief Technology Officer at global pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, Rowena Yeo, 55, leads teams in crafting and executing technology solutions that improve customer and patient care. She previously served as Global Group Chief Information Officer at Cargill, the US-headquartered food MNC for more than two decades. Johnson & Johnson has its regional headquarters and innovation hub in Singapore.
 

1. How did you come to join Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and what opportunities have you had here? What were some challenges you had to overcome when you first joined the company?

I joined J&J in 2016 as the Asia Pacific Chief Information Officer (CIO) for J&J Innovative Medicine after more than two decades at Cargill. My time at Cargill was meaningful and played a huge role in shaping my career, which made the decision to start anew at J&J a hard one. However, I was drawn to J&J’s credo and the company’s strong passion for improving patient health outcomes. In 2019, I was appointed Global Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

J&J views technology as a key enabler in innovating for impact, allowing our technology team to collaborate closely with the business in shaping the future of healthcare. I have had many opportunities to work on innovative projects that utilise technology to improve employee experience, productivity and patient outcomes. I also get to lead a global team of talented and passionate people who share the same vision as me.

Working through the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the biggest challenges I have faced in my career. During the pandemic, we had to rapidly mobilise our teams to support our 150,000-strong workforce through a sudden transition to remote work. Additionally, the pandemic saw significant disruptions to global supply chains, and the technology team played a pivotal role in ensuring the continued delivery of essential, life-saving products and services to our customers and patients.
 

On a more personal level, I had to navigate a different company culture and industry, building a new team while managing complex stakeholder expectations, and staying ahead of the fast-changing tech landscape. It meant investing time into understanding the healthcare industry, being open to learning from individuals across the company, and staying agile and adaptable to changes. Demonstrating credibility with humility was key in helping me build trust within my team. For the first few years of my role as Global CTO, I also made the big decision to relocate to the US. My family is important to me, and their support and encouragement through this major decision helped me to step out of my comfort zone.

2. What’s meaningful about your role? What would you say to your younger self?

I am very thankful for the work that I do because I can leverage technology to make a positive difference in people's lives, whether it is through improving patient outcomes, enhancing customer experiences or empowering employee productivity. I also enjoy the challenge of leading and transforming a global technology organisation that supports J&J's vision. Together with my team, we have worked on solutions that tap on data science, AI/GenAI and machine learning to drive better decision-making and support diverse use cases from drug discovery to clinical trial site selection, and supply chain optimisation. It is incredibly rewarding to work with talented and passionate people across different cultures, functions, and geographies, and to learn from them every day.
 

I would say to my younger self: "Continue to do your best in whatever role that you have, enjoy the process of learning and growing, and don’t be afraid to try new things. Every experience, good or bad will help you grow as a person and as a leader. Find your purpose and passion and align them with your values and strengths. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, support you, and challenge you. And most importantly, remember to always be kind, enjoy the journey and have fun along the way!”

3. Did you ever imagine that you would be here now in this role? What words of advice would you give to women in tech?

Throughout my career, my core set of values has always anchored me and kept me focused on doing my best in whatever role I was given. I also took advantage of opportunities that came my way, even if they were outside of my comfort zone. I think being resilient, adaptable, and curious has helped me grow and succeed in my career. It is important to have a growth mindset and to embrace change as an opportunity rather than a threat. Technology is constantly evolving, so we need to evolve with it and be open to new ideas and perspectives.

Lastly, I could not have gotten to where I am today without the support of the people I have worked with – the trust we’ve built has been very meaningful to me. I remember having a conversation with my mentor when I was offered the position of CTO at J&J. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to take up the role because I had to uproot my family from Singapore and move to the US, which was a pretty big change. The responsibilities were also immense as the position was undergoing a huge transformation at that time.

 I asked her, “Should I take up this role? I’m not sure if I can do it.”
 

As a woman in tech, one of the things I believe in is the importance of having strong domain knowledge in the areas that you’re responsible for. This means being open and having the capacity to learn - continuous learning is crucial in staying up to speed with what’s happening in the industry. You have to be excellent in your work, believe in what you’re doing and be a team player that people want on their team. Opportunities will come your way when you’re able to demonstrate that ability to deliver.  And don’t forget to pay it forward – be a mentor to others and encourage yourself to be a part of broader networks that support women in the industry.
 

4. What’s your view on the way the economy and jobs are changing and what are your concerns?

Changes in the economy and various industries are inevitable, but this presents us with both opportunities and challenges. In such a dynamic landscape, we need to cultivate the understanding that disruption is a normal course of doing business. Once we’ve accepted that, rather than resisting what is inevitable, we can focus on educating our workforce to build resilience and adaptability.
 

The jobs of the future will increasingly require learning agility and adaptability, and the Singapore government is already helping to support Singaporeans across all levels in achieving this. Initiatives like SkillsFuture encourage Singaporeans to pursue their passions and interests, while upgrading their skills and competencies. As we move forward, ensuring equal access to support and resources, and reducing barriers to entry for the people that need it most will also be key in ensuring no one is left behind.
 

Aspiring towards a corporate leadership role? Find out more about how the Singapore Leaders Network can help you prepare for that next big career step! ​