Leong Yoke Leng
Master in Public Management (MPM) 2019
Yoke Leng with Dean Danny Quah at Valedictory Dinner on 16 July 2019
[ALUMNI-INFO TEXT="I’ve been in healthcare for over seven years, and I’m in a senior management role. This is my longest-serving job, but I’m glad I haven’t felt the “seven-year itch.”
When others ask, I say I’m an administrator, although I’ve been involved in the full spectrum of human resources work, from administration and recruitment to planning. One of my colleagues calls me the “Bond Girl,” because I also oversee scholarship bonds and special projects. Others refer to me as “The Writer”: I’ve written a guide on report writing for internal usage, and when I need a break, I compose poems in English and Chinese.
When we first heard about Covid-19, my immediate fear was, “What if I am infected, and my colleagues are infected by me?” After the majority of our staff began working from home, that fear dissipated.
It’s not easy working from home, but I understand the need to do so. Two months before Singapore’s “circuit breaker” distancing measures kicked in, I responded to my organisation’s business continuity plan by assigning my staff to “work from office” and “work from home (WFH)” teams. I took into account each individual’s exposure to risk—based on their duties, interactions with external parties, and time spent commuting. As the team leader, I placed myself in the WFH team. My intention was to stay healthy and be ready to step up should the “office team” need to be refreshed. "][/ALUMNI-INFO]
[ALUMNI-QUOTES TEXT="Whether work takes place at home or in the office—and this is something I’ve learned at the LKY School—we need to recognise what most people value, and usually it’s qualities like integrity, fairness, and justice. I am conscious of the need to uphold these values when I interact with others, and I make the effort to respond to difficult situations and complex issues calmly, fairly, and firmly, and always with kindness and respect.
Why did I choose the LKY School’s Master in Public Management (MPM) programme? I was attending a dialogue for senior managers, where I met veteran civil servant Lam Chuan Leong, then a professor at the LKY School. I articulated my views and had many questions—he played devil’s advocate but he was impressed, and encouraged me to enrol in the MPM programme, because he thought I would contribute to and enjoy the rigorous discussions, and further hone my leadership skills. Due to work commitments, I waited a few years before applying in 2017. I’m glad I didn’t put it off for too long, because my cohort turned out to be the final MPM cohort.
In the early days of the course, I fretted about the economics essays and quizzes, but I was determined to tackle the subject head-on by doing the required reading. I did well, and was invited by Assistant Professor Joelle Fong to take part in the LKYSPP case study writing competition, where I won the Merit Award. I’m proud of winning it for the final MPM cohort."][/ALUMNI-QUOTES]
Yoke Leng With Assistant Professor Joelle Fong (left) and Yoke Leng's former boss, Linda Chan (right)
I believe in instilling passion into all that I do. I am someone who wants to get to the crux of an issue, find out what matters to the stakeholders, and achieve better outcomes for most, if not all of the parties involved. When I first moved into healthcare, I took a pay cut and accepted a “demotion” in terms of my job title. I learned everything from scratch, and bore with well-meaning—and not so well-intended—comparisons with my peers in other sectors. But I’ve never regretted making the switch.
After Covid-19, I hope there will be more young persons interested in learning about public health and epidemiology. I think the general public will have a better awareness of social responsibility during a pandemic. These will be our silver linings; we can emerge stronger by surviving Covid-19 together.
As we’re seeing now, technology and the community will be increasingly leveraged upon to provide healthcare support. Post-pandemic, the spotlight will remain on the aging population—helping the elderly to manage chronic diseases and “age in place” (in their primary residence), with care models for different needs, such as home care, nursing care, and retirement villages.
For those interested in a healthcare career: do find out more about the industry by talking to relevant alumni and asking to “shadow” them.
Whichever role you land in, always keep in mind the people who will benefit from your work. Pitch your ideas at the right place and the right time, using the right implementation tools. Accept if your proposal is not passed—it may not be the best time, and you can revisit it later if there is an opportunity.
A job in healthcare is meaningful, but it doesn’t mean that one will not get jaded or suffer from burnout. Be mindful of your feelings. Find time to re-energise, see the meaning in your work, and renew your passion to serve.