Women At Work is a series where we uncover females making waves in their respective industries, carving out an inspiring career for themselves and for others.
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Having a family as a career woman is never an easy task ‒ you have to find a balance between working hard at the office and your domestic responsibilities. Sometimes, you might even face difficult choices such as having to quit your job to spend more time as a stay-at-home mother.
But for Susan Ong, Income Insurance’s General Manager for Corporate Business, returning to work after having kids had always been her goal ‒ even after learning that her youngest daughter was diagnosed with a hearing impairment when she was 2 years old.
We spoke to Susan to find out what it was like to juggle her career and take care of her family, the sacrifices she made to build her career, and advice to fellow working mothers.
Can you give us a brief introduction of yourself?
My name is Susan Ong, and I’m 57 years old this year. I am currently working at Income Insurance as a General Manager for Corporate Business, and I have been with the company for about 10 years and 8 months.
How old were you when you gave birth to your first child? Why did you plan on returning to work after giving birth?
I gave birth to my first child when I was 28 years old, and I returned to work because I grew up in a family where both my parents were working ‒ it was never in my plan that I would become a full-time housewife.
At that point in time, my mother was also suffering from cancer, and treatments were very costly. It wasn’t common for people at that age to have insurance, so you can imagine just how expensive the medical bills amounted to.
Considering the fact that I was also newly married, and had to repay housing and renovation loans, I went back to work straight away because I couldn’t afford to not have a steady flow of income.
What was the biggest challenge that you’ve experienced as a working mother? How did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge will always be guilt. At that time, a lot of my peers stopped working and became full-time mothers to take care of their kids. Since I chose to return to work, I felt guilty that I wasn’t able to take care of my children ‒ it made me question my decision, thinking that there was something wrong with me.
Yet, at the same time, I wanted to pursue my career because I enjoyed the things I did. Eventually, I told myself that there was no point in thinking negatively, and I just had to find a way to manage both at the same time.
How did you feel when you learned that your youngest daughter was diagnosed with a hearing impairment?
My husband and I were shocked when we first heard the diagnosis, and after that, we became devastated. However, we didn’t allow ourselves time to spiral because we wanted to know what was the next step in helping our daughter.
We went to read up a lot on the internet, and accepted the fact that our youngest daughter is suffering from a medical condition. Since then, we have devoted our time to educating ourselves on her condition and learning about the ways we could help her.
Did the incident change your mind about becoming a full-time career woman?
I expected my daughter’s treatments to be really costly, so my husband and I made the decision to work harder, especially since expensive equipment such as a hearing aid is not covered by insurance.
It motivated me to keep going and become successful in my career so I would be able to provide my daughter with whatever she needs to ensure her success in life. So to answer this question, no, it was never a consideration.
Was there any support group you joined to tide through the waves?
There are actually a lot of support groups out there, and I joined a parent support group in NUH, which was established by a speech therapist who my daughter and I had been seeing. This group brought together parents who have children with hearing loss, and being part of it made me realise that I was not alone in the world.
When I attended the gatherings, it made me count my blessings because I saw parents who were going through a lot more than me. At the end of the day, the support group gave me much-needed strength.
How did you juggle between work and taking care of your family?
As a strong believer in spending quality time, I always set aside time for each of my four children after work. However, due to my tendency to arrive home at around 9pm, I prioritised spending time with the child who slept the earliest ‒ normally, my youngest daughter. Since I also incorporated therapy into our time together, she’s the only one who received a full 30 minutes with me.
Apart from this routine, I also used my annual leaves to spend time with each of my children. For example, I took a day off for each child, and asked them what they would like to do for an entire day. This way, the day was solely dedicated to their preferences and interests.
However, because of my work schedule, there were also moments when I couldn’t be there for them. As such, I would make it up by volunteering at school and taking leaves to join them on school excursions with them. I wanted to let them know that despite not being able to spend time with them all the time, I will always be there, especially during important milestones.
Has the situation changed now?
Things actually got easier when my youngest daughter entered secondary school. She was able to explain to teachers in school that she requires a hearing aid, and taught them how to operate an FM system provided by the MOE that allows her to listen better.
I believe the change happened because I instilled in her from a young age the importance of learning to take care of herself, and the value of independence.
Can you share some of the sacrifices that you’ve made to build your career? Do you regret making those sacrifices?
Back in the days, there wasn’t such a thing as work from home, so I mostly sacrificed my sleep to get things done ‒ I could manage to get through a day even without two days of sleep!
I definitely do not regret sacrificing my sleep because I am proud of how far my family, especially my children, have come. Sometimes I would give a pat to myself and say, “Wow, you have actually done a good job.”
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What are some of the support that you’ve received at work? How has it benefited you?
At Income Insurance, employees are provided with five days of Family Care Leave in a year, which allows us to take care of our children or parents when needed. This means we can accompany our family to medical appointments or attend to emergencies without having to use our annual leaves.
Seeing how Income Insurance has put in effort in improving employees’ welfare, it is reassuring to know that we can go ahead and apply for the leave with peace of mind.
Apart from Family Care Leave, our company also offers flexible work arrangements. Unlike some companies which enforce a strict work-from-office schedule, we are only required to return to the office when necessary, such as onboarding new joiners.
Such an arrangement is beneficial for working mothers like me who may need a 30-minute break to pick up their children from school.
What inspired you to champion equal opportunities in the workplace?
My children are the ones who inspire me to do so because they advocate for various social causes, and they made me realise the importance of inclusivity. Sometimes I even join them at parades such as The Purple Parade, which shows support to people with special needs, and raises awareness about them.
Everyone is equal, and at the end of the day, our goal is to educate society and create an environment where people are treated the same.
What are some of your future career plans?
Rather than having a specific career goal, I am someone who is keen on learning something new. When I stay in an organisation, it is because there are opportunities for me to learn and grow, personally and professionally. This has been the path I have followed throughout my life and career, and I anticipate it will continue to be so.
That being said, perhaps when I no longer have the learning opportunities, I may consider going to other areas where I can expand my knowledge and skills.
Do you have any words of advice or encouragement for working mothers?
Believe in yourself, and trust your decisions. Whatever decision you make at that point in time is correct, so don’t worry if it is right or wrong.
What is one quote you live by?
“Always do good to others because it will come back to you”
This quote has always been my motto in life because I believe when you do good for others and help people, positivity will return to you.
The journey that Susan Ong took as both a mother and a career woman showed that it is never an easy one. Despite going through ups and downs, she managed to overcome tough times to be where she is now.
Her story is no doubt an inspiration to all of us, and we hope that her determination to empower equal opportunities will never fade.
All images courtesy of Susan Ong.
Some quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.
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