In the vibrant e27 community, diverse voices actively shape emerging technologies and innovation discussions. This feature spotlights our top 10 women contributors — a mix of investors and entrepreneurs shaping the tech ecosystem. Despite facing unique challenges, these women showcase remarkable talent and resilience, overcoming hurdles in their entrepreneurial journeys. Their stories inspire others, proving that determination and innovation can light the way in the ever-evolving startup landscape.
Anna Ong
Anna Ong is the Creator and Host of “What’s Your Story Slam”, an event uniting talented storytellers. As a storyteller, coach, and entrepreneur, she collaborates with individuals and teams to craft authentic narratives. Ong also consults with companies on developing effective story strategies.
“What sets the most successful startups apart in Asia’s vibrant tech scene? It’s not just about the tech or the innovations. It’s about telling a good story.
In the fiercely competitive world of Asian tech startups, a captivating founder story can be the secret ingredient that sets your brand apart. By transforming your narrative into a valuable asset, you’ll create lasting connections with customers, investors, and partners eager to join you on your thrilling entrepreneurial ride.”
Camellia Chan
Camellia Chan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Flexxon, a next-generation cybersecurity firm. In her role, she directs the company’s business development and growth, manages industry partnerships, and oversees expansion into regional and global markets.
“The cybersecurity industry will see a major shift and dynamic security systems will be embedded by design in our hardware. Hardware is the best defence for autonomous data and system protection, while software systems and cyber hygiene standards deal primarily with deciphering human behaviours, such as social engineering attacks.
The past year has shown us that social engineering attacks are highly successful at evading software security and manipulating human assessment. Thus, as businesses and individuals face the undeniable fact that current software-based security solutions cannot work alone, we will begin embracing an inbuilt, hardware-centric approach that deploys intelligent detection systems at the foundation of each device, enterprise server, and data centre to protect users across the spectrum.
We will finally see a major mindset shift that has been entrenched for over three decades and stop relying on software-centric security as the sole means of protection against hackers. Then only can we have the peace of mind with the knowledge that we are holistically equipped to detect, respond, and shut down incursions effectively.”
Chloe Tan
Chloe Tan is the Associate Marketing Manager at Hustle Fund, a pre-seed VC firm focusing on democratising wealth. Tan curates experiences and manages the founder and investor community in her role, handling events, newsletters, and portfolio support. She is also the Co-Founder of Women in VSEA, a community of female VCs across roles and functions in Southeast Asia, aimed to connect, inspire and empower each other.
“Building a tribe is the intentional pursuit of finding your people, one that requires constant recalibration, adaptation, and deliberation. It’s been a difficult year for the economy, but one that has prevailed is the people we surround ourselves with to get through these times. Optimise your life (in and out of work) for your people, and even the toughest mountains will feel a lot more like manageable hikes.”
Also Read: Top 10 contributors investing in innovation and emerging tech
Chuen Chuen Yeo
Chuen Chuen Yeo, a multi-award-winning executive coach, elevates leadership quality through agility. Recognised as a Woman Super Achiever and among the Top 101 Global Coaching Leaders, she authored ‘8 Paradoxes of Leadership Agility,’ showcasing transformations using her Re4 Coaching Model.
“Invest your time wisely instead of filling all your time with activity. Build a high-performance habit or routine that is repeatable and sustainable, whether it is taking a five-minute break in between meetings, walking, adequate rest, eating well, maintaining mental quality, or timeboxing your week’s involvements. Pressure is always present, and the more you catch the stressors, the more you can respond to and manage them successfully.”
Leong Pei Lin
Leong Pei Lin is a part-time Master of IT in Business student at SMU School of Information Systems (class of 2024) in Singapore. She also works as an Associate at Protégé Ventures, a student-run venture fund investing in early-stage startups founded by students or recent graduates during their pre-seed to seed rounds.
“As the transformative wave of Generative AI gains momentum, the competitive landscape is likely to undergo rapid and unpredictable shifts. Moats can get eroded by these waves, and periodic reviews may help to mitigate some risks.”
Pham Phuong Linh
Pham Phuong Linh is Co-Founder and COO at Source, an AI-powered Talent Data Platform (TDP). Source empowers companies to make data-driven talent decisions across the talent life cycle. Linh is passionate about connecting top talent with opportunities to foster business growth through strong relationships and trust.
“The ongoing unfavourable trend in the labour force within the tech industry is causing considerable transformations in the realm of employment — from job-seeking behaviors to how companies hire and leverage talent. The focus is on a smarter, more discerning, and adaptable approach. Alongside the creation of entirely new roles, there will be substantial changes in the required competencies for existing jobs.”
Sana Ross
Sana Ross, a seasoned performance coach with over 20 years in finance and leadership, integrates neuroscience into coaching, specialising in executive decision-making. Her expertise in mentoring startup founders drives individual and team growth.
“The fusion of AI and neuroscience is set to be a pivotal trend in the tech world. As a performance coach, I see this as more than technological advancement — it’s a gateway to optimising human potential. This synergy will revolutionise not only how we interact with machines but also how we understand and enhance cognitive functions.
In the coming year, I anticipate this will lead to more personalised, brain-centric technologies, reshaping learning, decision-making, and creativity in the workplace. Embracing this trend will be key for businesses and individuals aiming to thrive in an AI-augmented future.”
Sarah Dongmi Choi
Sarah Dongmi Choi is an Investment Liaison at Chungbuk Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, specialising in Korean startup acceleration for global impact. She is dedicated to helping early-stage startups go global and scale their businesses.
“The investment market has been experiencing a downturn. Even in the uncomfortable reality of an economic crisis, many Korean startups are still progressing towards their goals. What is needed for a startup’s survival and growth? Capitalists have been advising startups on strategies to overcome this rough patch.”
Also Read: Top 10 startup founders in the e27 community shaping the tech industry
Shweta Jain
Shweta Jain is the Head of Product and Strategy for Digital and Analytics applications at Finastra, a financial software company. In this capacity, she directs go-to-market strategy, client engagement, and roadmap planning across the company’s diverse portfolio of products and solutions.
“The value of fintechs, particularly to traditional financial institutions, is undeniable. When the idea of a fintech revolution started, banks initiated their collaboration with minimal engagement in areas such as KYC, identity verification and fraud management, and are now partnering with fintechs to disrupt the market around payments, lending and digital banking.”
Vaishana Vasuthavan
Vaishana Vasuthavan is Founder of VV Consulting Group, leading a team that offers professional consultancy in startups, HR, and business for diverse clients. With over 13 years of dynamic experience in startups, e-commerce, technology, business, and HR, she brings extensive expertise to her role.
“Modern-day recruitment is technology-driven. With AI screening resumes, chatbots conducting preliminary interviews, and analytics predicting role fitment, the landscape is tech-heavy. However, the essence of recruitment remains human. Striking a balance between utilising technology and preserving the human touch has been vital. In startups, where every hire can significantly impact the company’s trajectory, this balance becomes even more crucial.”
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