This is part of a series of YouthSpark profiles where we highlight young people in Asia who are dedicated to changing the world through technology, and inspiring others along the way.
NAME: SIMY PAUL
COUNTRY: SINGAPORE
OCCUPATION: ASSOCIATE TECHNICAL ACCOUNT MANAGER, MICROSOFT
Bio
Simy Paul has always been passionate about making a positive impact on people’s lives, and her drive to make the world a better place has helped to put her on the fast track of career development. Simy’s participation in the Microsoft Academy for College Hires (MACH) program in July 2011 enabled the National University of Singapore (NUS) graduate to nurture her strong enthusiasm for public service and gain access to world-class learning resources. Simy is currently an Associate Technical Account Manager in Microsoft Singapore, making the most out of her learning opportunities and accelerated career path gained through MACH.
Tell us one exciting thing that you have been working on in the past 3 – 6 months.
I am currently involved with managing the largest service account in Singapore, which has been a really exciting experience because there’s always something new to learn every day. Working with the global Microsoft team and having to handle different kinds of situations, I get to experience how technology enables people to collaborate across boundaries and achieve common goals. It gives me great satisfaction to see how the work I do translates into actual value for the customers.
What are some of the challenges facing youth today that concern you the most?
While society has become very affluent, this has resulted in young people taking things for granted. It is very important that we appreciate and understand the importance of hard work and innovation. Another concern of mine would be the impact of media, especially on those who spend a lot of time on television entertainment and games — these activities may potentially have a negative influence on young people by sending them the wrong message when it comes to body image and issues such as violence, for instance.
If you had the ability to create one change in the world, what would that be and how can technology help you achieve this change?
I would want to eradicate poverty around the world and I believe that education is the key. Having access to a high standard of education would empower children to be innovative. With advanced technology, children can also better utilize information technology to maximize their potential. Through the use of social media, they may even create a network to share knowledge and learning experiences with one another.
I’m inspired by... my father. He brought our whole family to Singapore 22 years ago to start life afresh. Adapting to a new place and culture was not easy, but he managed to overcome these challenges through determination and a strong sense of optimism. He even started his own company, which became very successful. My father taught me that nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it.