“Have a growth mindset and push boundaries”—SG:D Scholar Goh Chian Yee

By Alyssa Goh

How would you go about keeping strangers out of your house? Barring resource constraints, you would lock up the front gate, install an alarm system that goes off when the lock is breached and perhaps hire security guards to patrol the area where you live.

Barriers against intrusion of a physical space have their parallels in the digital world. Hackers are the equivalent of strangers, and strong passwords are among the various measures that can be implemented to keep malicious actors out.

As organisations move towards digitalisation, they also expose themselves to risks in cyberspace. Ms Goh Chian Yee, knows this all too well, having completed her Master of Science in Security by Design degree at the Singapore University of Technology and Design under the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s Singapore Digital (SG:D) Postgraduate Scholarship.

Trained in the fundamentals of cybersecurity, hacking tools, secure software engineering and machine learning, Ms Goh is now with Singapore Airlines (SIA) as a Senior Data Engineer. Combining her skills in cybersecurity with data analytics and artificial intelligence, she helps SIA solve enterprise issues and develop microservices that benefit the airline’s business and consumer clients.

Q: What drew you to the field of cybersecurity?

A: My motivation to study cybersecurity came primarily from an awareness of how rampant hacking is in today’s connected digital environment. When I read the news, I noticed that security breaches are increasingly commonplace, and that made me want to understand how to defend against such breaches.

I also had the impression that there would be strong demand for cybersecurity professionals in the future, given the fact that organisations are more reliant on information technologies (IT) these days. I was confident that even if I moved on to other fields dealing with data and digital systems, having the mindset of security by design would be immensely valuable.

Q:  Why did you choose the SG:D Postgraduate Scholarship to further your studies?

A: I discovered the SG:D Postgraduate Scholarship while searching for university programmes in cybersecurity. Back then, it was known as the National Cybersecurity Postgraduate Scholarship. I saw it as a chance to not only pursue my area of interest, but also position myself for a future career.

Although the IT sector tends to be male dominated, the scholarship offered me many opportunities to network with other women in tech. I enjoyed the sharing sessions and appreciated the advice from successful women in this field. I believe that as long as I am competent and deliver my arguments with confidence, I can be heard and make a significant contribution.

Q: Did you have any concerns about going back to school after not having studied for a year?

A: I was concerned because I was studying for the degree part-time. Juggling work and coursework meant that there was always some level of stress and worry about not being able to complete assignments. But as it turned out, everyone in the class was very supportive of one another, and the teachers were very approachable. The whole experience was quite manageable, in retrospect.

Q: What do you think are some qualities that a scholar should have?

A: I believe that having a growth mindset is incredibly important. So long as you're driven and hardworking, you should be confident that you will be able to make your mark. It’s also about being comfortable with discomfort, knowing that the discomfort is part and parcel of learning and pushing one’s boundaries.

Q: Do you have any words of advice for others looking to take the plunge like you and apply for the scholarship?

A: You can’t always know where you’ll end up in the future, so just take it one step at a time and do your best while at it. Ultimately, if you resolve to pursue something, you will find a way to manage.