International Women's Day 2026: Extraordinary Women at Temus

Ten years ago, if you had seen me at a community running event, you would have found me at the very back of the pack. I was gasping for air, watching the other runners disappear into the distance. At that time, I was a business student who followed the crowd. I assumed I would end up in a standard finance or accounting job because that’s what everyone else around me did. I didn’t think I could run a 10km race, let alone lead a technical project. I felt like a spectator in my own life.

The shift didn’t happen overnight; it started with a single person who chose to give.

In university, I worked closely with a lecturer who spent all her years in Gerontechnology research to help older adults navigate the digital world. While the rest of the world saw technology as just code and hardware, she showed me that technology is a tool for connection. She taught me that tech shouldn’t be “cold” it should be human. We worked together on surveys to help township developers build “all-age” smart cities that were inclusive for everyone. By giving her time to those who felt left behind by progress, she gained a legacy of students like me who wanted to do the same.

Fast forward to today, I am a Business Analyst in the tech industry. Lately, there is a lot of “AI panic.” People are worried that their jobs will be replaced by machines. But I’ve held onto that lesson from my lecturer: the more automated the world becomes, the more valuable our human touch becomes.
Last year, during the company’s Tshape initiative, I saw a chance to put the IWD theme this year – “Give To Gain” philosophy into practice. I looked at the daily “pain points” my fellow colleagues and I faced, the endless user stories, the back-to-back meetings, and the repetitive test scripts. Instead of just trying to “get through” my own work, I started small within our low-code team to build AI tools that help everyone. By giving my time to solve these shared problems, I gained a more efficient team and, more importantly, a sense of belonging and leadership I never knew I had.

I carry this same spirit to the road and trail. I eventually learned to run, but I realized that hitting a “Personal Best” (PB) isn’t the most rewarding part. The best part is showing up when it’s hard. Now, I volunteer as a pacer for a local run club. I’m naturally a bit shy, but when I put on that pacer vest, I’m not just running for myself. I’m giving my rhythm and encouragement to the runners around me.

By giving them the confidence to reach the finish line, I gain something too. I gain the mental resilience and the “voice” that I use every day in the office when I’m aligning with people around me.

This International Women’s Day, I want to celebrate that unique power we have as women: empathy. When we see a human problem and choose to give our time and heart to fix it, we gain a community that is stronger, faster, and more inclusive than one we could ever build alone.

From studying galaxies to building AI systems, the common thread in my career has always been solving complex problems with data.

I joined Temus about two months ago. Before I joined Temus about two months ago, I worked at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics as a Visiting Scientist, and prior to that as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of New South Wales, Australia. I hold a PhD in Astrophysics from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, and an Integrated Master’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi.

I originally trained as an astrophysicist, where answering questions about the universe meant working with complex multi-modal datasets, identifying biases, building statistical models, and extracting physics-based insights to test theories that shape our understanding of the Universe. Over time, I began building more advanced data analysis and modelling pipelines and experimenting with machine learning to solve these problems.

Last year, I participated in the WiDS Datathon workshop at the Microsoft NERD Center, where we built a model to diagnose ADHD while accounting for the strong class bias against females in medical data. While our model did not take the top place, the experience inspired me to look for opportunities where I could apply my skills to solving problems that have immediate impact on society.

This led me to Temus, where we work on impactful challenges across sectors, from healthcare to finance and public services, harnessing our data and AI capabilities to build smarter, people-centred systems and contribute to the vision of a smarter nation. Adapting mainly meant expanding my toolkit: learning modern ML frameworks, cloud tools, and production workflows, while applying the analytical mindset that my scientific career prepared me for.

I discovered OutSystems in 2016 and immediately fell in love with the capability to create mobile and web applications efficiently. I truly believe in the saying, “Find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” For me, the thrill isn’t just in the code; it’s in the problem-solving and the collaborative “aha!” moments when a team resolves a challenging issue together.

This passion for connection influences my leadership style today. Currently serving as a Tech Lead for the CSC project at Temus, I experienced a significant shift going from accustomed small teams to leading a large squad. It required me to learn and unlearn, shifting from doing everything myself to trusting my team. Being away from my family in the Philippines and living alone in Singapore, I have come to view my squad not just as colleagues, but as my “work family.”

I nurture this dynamic through our tradition of “Special Lunches”—ordering a lot of pizza and fried chicken—and maintaining an open mindset where we learn from each other daily. Whether I’m experimenting with new recipes, playing Mario Kart, or relaxing with a Godzilla movie on the weekend, I always strive to return to work recharged. My goal remains the same: to create an environment where everyone feels supported, fueled, and ready to grow.

“Consistency is key—whether I’m working or running.”

I’m Hong Li, a 27-year-old Senior Software Developer. My five-year journey with Temus has taught me that in tech, adaptability is everything. I had been with my previous company for 1.5 years when we were acquired, and being part of that transition, staying the course through so much change, was a crucial experience for me.

While my workdays are spent solving technical challenges on various projects, including building apps that keep the world’s #1 airport running, I find a different kind of fulfillment out on the pavement. I recently stepped into a pacing role for the Great Eastern Women’s Run (GEWR) 2025, and it has redefined how I see my role in a team.

Pacing a run draws direct parallels with shipping a product. It’s about staying on pace km after km, just as we ship sprint after sprint. It requires constant communication and realigning expectations to ensure we support each other. In a race, as in tech, my job isn’t just to reach the finish line—it’s to provide a steady, reliable rhythm so the women around me feel confident enough to keep pushing. We move forward together. No one is left behind.

For me, International Women’s Day is about celebrating that shared strength. It’s a reminder that consistency isn’t just about showing up for yourself; it’s about showing up for the person next to you. When we set a reliable pace for one another, we create a space where every woman feels empowered to step up, stay the course, and lead. It’s a day we—我们 (wǒ men)—celebrate together.