Fusing a Passion for Connecting with People and His Love of Tech

Zulhilmi Miswadi (Zul), the friendly face that greets every newcomer on their very first day at SGInnovate. As our manager of Information Technology (IT) with the Corporate Services team, Zul has been a vital part of our organisation for the past 5 years, overseeing our company's IT system and processes with a keen eye. His passion for technology and curiosity about the future of Deep Tech drew him to SGInnovate, where he's been a valuable team member supporting the company's mission. 

Zul, our IT whiz, expertly troubleshooting network connectivity for a colleague. 

"As a tech enthusiast, I was excited to join SGInnovate's Deep Tech journey," he said. "We're like the Swiss Army knife of the industry, equipped with the right tools to tackle any challenge our startups may face." 
 

 After working as a desktop support technician for a while, Zul sought a more challenging role with a small team that would allow him to contribute more. Joining SGInnovate, a young company at the time, provided him with an ideal opportunity to take on this challenge, and explore the various emerging technologies. 

I take care of the company's operational tech and connectivity, making sure everything is well-maintained and secure. Together with Kenneth – the IT Deputy Director, we oversee the hardware and software improvements to ensuring the security of our data and email servers. I also make sure to educate and remind my colleagues to be cybersafe, as it's an important part of my responsibilities. It's all about keeping things running seamlessly and safeguarding our digital infrastructure.

A typical day for me at SGInnovate is always buzzing with activity. I get to collaborate with awesome colleagues from different departments, and work on exciting projects to improve our work environment and security.

I've also been leading the charge in upgrading our infrastructure for meetings and setting up hybrid meeting systems in all our meeting rooms, which has been the backbone of SGInnovate’s hybrid workforce. This has become especially important during the pandemic and beyond, as it has enabled seamless collaboration and communication among our teams and international partners, regardless of their physical location.

But you know what's my favorite part of the day? Lunchtime! Our corporate services team always has lunch together, and it's like a family gathering every single day. We chat, laugh, and share stories about our lives. It's those little moments of building relationships with my colleagues that make our work environment at SGInnovate so positive and enjoyable.

Celebrating Zul's 5 years of dedicated service to the company with a well-deserved Long Service Award.

One common stereotype is that people working in IT are introverted, straightforward, and purely technical. But that's not always true! In fact, I started with a diploma in psychotherapy and an advanced certificate in IT Infrastructure. Communication is actually a crucial skill in IT, as we often troubleshoot with colleagues and liaise with vendors. Not everyone is familiar with technical jargon, so being able to explain things in layman's terms is really important.

Another misconception is that IT professionals are expected to know everything about technology and handle any issue related to things with an electrical pulse. But with the rapid pace of technological advancements, we're constantly learning and troubleshooting. I had the chance to attend a cybersecurity conference in Dubai recently, and it was eye-opening. I learned so much about how to keep our company safe from cyber threats and got to connect with some big names in the industry.

Keeping our AV systems running smoothly, Zul's expertise ensures flawless audio-visual experiences for our events.

One of my favourite work wins was building 'One SGInnovate,' our intranet page that makes it easy to find anything related to corporate services, from policies to processes, in one central location. I had to interview everyone to understand their needs and design a user-friendly interface. It's been great to see how much it's streamlined communication and made information more accessible.

I have even more projects in the works, like modules focused on data retention, preventing data loss, and beefing up our cybersecurity and AV systems. Data protection is a continuous priority for the team.

Twitch streaming and gaming! It's an awesome way for me to connect with online friends and build a community around my interests. Plus, it's a chance for me to hone my video editing skills and learn how to market myself. Even though it can be a lot of work, as long as I'm having fun, that's all that matters.

Want to be part of the Deep Tech startup world to build innovations of tomorrow? Explore our careers at SGInnovate here.