Shan Leng: Paving the Way for Women in Tech with Over Three Decades of IT Leadership

In the late 1980s, as a child growing up in Singapore, Shan Leng’s parents encouraged her to explore Information Technology, a relatively new industry and one that was quite different to the more traditional fields like medicine, law and accounting. “My parents firmly believed that technology was the future—an industry that would remain stable and offer growth and attractive compensation”, Shan said.

“I remain deeply appreciative of their recommendation, and I’ve spent over three decades in the technology field, still finding immense enjoyment in it.”

Shan began her IT career as a computer and network administrator/engineer. She relished the process of building computers, establishing network connections, and supporting mainframe applications.

However, she soon identified that her true strengths lay beyond the technical realm.

“I discovered that I thrived when collaborating with teams, rather than being confined to a server room, performing solitary technical tasks”, Shan said.

Later in her career, Shan made the shift to Project Management. “My sister, who had several years of experience as a Project Manager, was my mentor and helped me prepare for my first interview for a Project Manager position at Com Tech Communications (formerly Dimension Data, now NTT)”, Shan recalls.

“She helped me realize that my previous role as a computer and network administrator / engineer had in fact involved project coordination and planning activities. Despite lacking direct Project Manager experience, I emphasized my transferable skills and demonstrated a strong desire to learn. Fortunately, they took a chance on me, recognizing my determination and positive attitude.”

Since then, Shan has worked as a Project Professional, gaining extensive experience across all aspects of portfolio, program and project delivery—from business case development to operational transition. “I have been fortunate to have managed diverse business and IT programs, such as customer-centric design, transformation initiatives, business process outsourcing (BPO), digital applications, demergers, joint ventures, change projects, and infrastructure programs”, Shan says.

Shan’s desire for the next stage of her career was to share her knowledge and experience with others, fostering their growth, inspiration, and passion for the project management field.

“Two years ago, I seized this opportunity at Specsavers, where I now oversee a team of Project Managers, Business Analysts, and Test Analysts responsible for managing IT changes within the organization.” Shan continues to inspire her team in her role at Specsavers today.

Shan says she takes pride in the entirety of her career journey. “The significance of these achievements lies in the collaborative effort—working alongside like-minded individuals, all striving toward a common goal.”

“Despite complexities, adversities, and challenges across various projects, I cherish the camaraderie, collaboration, and mutual support that led to successful outcomes. Moreover, these shared successes have forged lifelong friendships.”

Shan is thankful for the support and guidance of the various mentors she’s had throughout her career. “While there are too many to name individually, their collective impact has significantly shaped who I am today. Their faith in me, supporting and promoting me in leadership roles, has been invaluable. Despite my own lack of confidence and difficulty recognising my potential, mentors have played a crucial role in my professional journey”, she says.

Shan’s advice to other women who aspire to build a career in technology is, “Believe in yourself. Build a support network, connect with other women, seek mentors and coaches. Seek inclusive companies who prioritise diversity and inclusion. A supportive environment matters.

Persist and persevere! Stay humble, curious and be open to learn.”