Welcome the The Glass Hammer’s “Spotlight on Asia” week! We will be highlighting successful women working in Asia all week long!
“Be open in your career,” advised Pamela Yeo, General Counsel and Senior Vice President, AIG Property Casualty Asia Pacific. “When you realize that everyone around you can teach you something new, and you become receptive to knowledge sharing and connecting, this can have a big impact on your advancement.”
This is one thing that Yeo wishes she had recognized earlier in her career. She urges young professionals to put themselves out there by taking the initiative to establish important connections.
Career Path
Before she became General Counsel for the Asia Pacific Region at AIG , Yeo had a long and successful career working as a lawyer in the private law sector in Singapore where she climbed the ranks from associate to partner and focused mainly on insurance litigation. Yeo transitioned into corporate counsel work after 12 years of private practice. “My work in private practice was very rewarding,” said Yeo, “but when I became aware of the opportunity available at AIG, I knew it was the right fit for me at that point in my career.”
Now, Yeo plays an instrumental role in developing the legal team in the Asia Pacific region for AIG. “We have one of the most talented teams in Asia,” said Yeo, “covering 17 jurisdictions across the continent and having counsel located in most countries.” Helping to build this team of fifty lawyers has been a major source of pride for Yeo, who is looking forward to the next chapters of growth and development for the group.
“As we continue to grow, it means that leadership opportunities and stretch assignments will be created for my team, which makes me very satisfied,” said Yeo.
According to Yeo, the emerging markets hold a lot of opportunity going forward as the industry will begin to respond to regulatory and economic developments, especially in the area of consumer protection. “It is an exciting time in the industry right now and as a company, we can identify opportunities and lead change in the future,” said Yeo.
Developing her team is something that Yeo takes very seriously. She has recently encouraged team members to participate in AIG’s pro bono program as a way to give back to the community and even develop new skills. “It is easy to get caught up in the rat race,” said Yeo, “but it is vital to take a step back and give your time and expertise to people who need it.”
Women in Business
Yeo considers herself to be lucky because she never felt any obstacles in her career advancement as a result of her gender. “I always gave my best effort,” explained Yeo, “and my talents and skills combined with my strong work ethic allowed me to progress consistently in my career on the back of tremendous opportunities presented by AIG.”
According to Yeo, AIG’s commitment to diversity has played a big role in her positive experience. She participated in the firm’s Women’s Executive Leadership Initiative which provides training, coaching, and sponsorship opportunities for executives with senior leadership potential. Yeo explained, “The program encourages 360 degree feedback through which you learn about what you are doing well in addition to the areas where you might need to improve.”
She continued, “Women benefit immensely from this type of honest feedback.”
Outside of the formal programs and the Women’s Chapter of the AIG Employee Resource Group focused on women’s career development and networking, Yeo emphasized the importance of having a supportive network of colleagues –both male and female – with whom you work every day. “Both of my bosses are male and have given me a tremendous amount of support and encouragement throughout the course of my career,” said Yeo, who said that her sponsor is also male.
“The senior management at AIG has a vested interest in the company’s diversity efforts,” Yeo noted. “They really have an active role and the amount of support they provide to all groups is truly impressive.”
Advice for Professional Women
According to Yeo, networking remains one of the most powerful career advancement tools. However, she indicated that as much as you receive from your network you should give back in the way of making yourself available to others who might need advice, guidance, or assistance.
“The Global Legal, Compliance, Regulatory and Government Affairs office, for example, has launched an Office Hours initiative where you can reach out to colleagues if you have a question or need advice,” explained Yeo, who makes an effort to volunteer to speak to participants.
Yeo also encourages young professionals to seek out as many different experiences as possible, especially working in an industry as broad as insurance. “Speak to people, get their input, and gain exposure to all of the different business areas and paths available to you,” she added.
In Her Spare Time
It is important to make time for yourself, said Yeo, who likes to attend church on the weekends as a way to clear her head and restore clarity. “This gives me peace of mind,” Yeo added. She also enjoys traveling and reading when she is not at the office.
By Michelle Hendelman