When it comes to young women just starting out in this industry, B&T is a firm believer in: if she can see it, she can believe it and then she can be it. Which is why we’ve decided to grab a few powerful, inspirational women and create a women in media content series!
Said series is to celebrate another annual B&T Women in Media Awards, which come August will celebrate and recognise the best of the best women in our industry.
Our last profile victim was Katherine Williams from MediaCom – and now it’s on to Maggie Shi from Facebook!
What was the best advice you were ever given?
What if you weren’t afraid? When I was asked this question, it hit me, I was stuck there.
If I was brave enough, if I did what I wanted so badly, if….. there is no if for the past, but there is something you can do in the future.
What’s your proudest professional moment?
A month or so after I joined Facebook, I delivered my first feature on the Facebook platform, which will be used by a billion Facebook users!
That was the ever most impactful thing I’ve ever done in my 16+ years career as an engineer.
Ever since then, I’ve always been grateful that I am equipped with the right skills that can work on such a powerful platform to help my client grow their business.
Quirkiest attribute?
The unusual love of solving math puzzles.
It’s not uncommon to start my day with one or two challenge puzzles. If I can work it out correctly and fast enough, the entire day is energized.
Guiltiest pleasure?
Each time I do volunteer math group at primary school and I show young children some mathematic tricks or how to solve some “challenge” problem with lightning speed.
I can see their eyes shining. Particular the girls. Usually this kind of thing would be done by male parents and now they know it is possible that they can grow into a “geek” female.
What women do you find inspiring?
Those with great resilience.
Our COO Sheryl Sandberg or Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (I chose my English name after Margaret).
Resilience is essential for anyone wanting to achieve something.
The greatness Sheryl and Scarlett demonstrated when they were tested by their fate is beyond inspiring.
What would be your ultimate role?
I truly believe you can only do your best when you have purpose. My ultimate purpose is making the world a better place.
Whatever the role is, purpose should serve as the ultimate goal first.
What advice would you give to young aspiring women?
Be brave. Don’t be afraid to be successful, pursue what you really love, have faith in yourself, believe that you are good at your job and you are entitled to be that good.
Why are women vital to your industry?
We want to connect the world, which is mostly carried out by communications between human beings.
Surprisingly, there are different types of human beings, for example, men and women! Even more surprisingly, their mindsets are different too!
It’s pretty much safe to say that they don’t speak the same language even though the words that come out of their mouth sound the same.
The math is simple, we need women’s voices in our industry because communication is the foundation of any media.
B&T‘s Women in Media Awards 2018 will be held on Friday 17 August 2018 at Doltone House – Jones Bay Wharf. Grab early bird tickets to the event here and find all other info on the website.
