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Juggling leadership in public healthcare innovation and raising two daughters, Vicky Tang, Assistant Director of Industry Partnership, Innovation Capabilities Enablement (ICE) at Synapxe, shares what it really takes to succeed as a working mother today.
When people meet Vicky Tang, Assistant Director of Industry Partnership, Innovation Capabilities Enablement (ICE) at Synapxe, they see a leader at the forefront of healthcare innovation, a woman working with global tech giants to shape the future of public health. What they don’t see is what happens behind the scenes of raising two Gen-Z daughters while navigating a high-pressure role in a rapidly evolving industry.
But Tang is clear-eyed about her journey.
Parenting is not a limitation to your career. They can and should coexist.
And her story is proof of just that.
Taking the leap and bringing her kids along for the ride
Tang’s career pivot into innovation was anything but conventional. Without a traditional tech background, she took a leap of faith while raising young children. What gave her the courage? The belief that her work could impact not just the present, but future generations. At Synapxe, she collaborates with local and global tech giants to harness emerging technologies for public healthcare, laying the foundation for long-term transformation.
Beyond the professional fulfilment, her role also bridges generational conversations at home. “It is also easier to communicate with the younger generation,” she says, reflecting on how the younger generation are tech savvy, her daughters understand and engage with the stories she shares about her work. These everyday exchanges, she hopes, spark curiosity and inspire them to think like the innovators of tomorrow.
Learning from scientists and shedding the ‘working mum’ label
One of the biggest mindset shifts came when Tang started working more closely with scientists and engineers. “I’ve come to realise that the label ‘working mum’ is becoming less relevant,” she reflects. This is because caregiving is a shared responsibility between parents. Many of the scientists and engineers that Tang is working with are ‘working dads’ who also manage family duties.
In the high-stakes world of healthcare innovation, Tang has found that diversity of experience whether as a parent or professional brings much-needed empathy and collaboration to the table.
Behind the polished facade: Juggling PSLE and a full calendar
Last year tested her like never before. Her elder daughter was preparing for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), a milestone that demanded Tang’s physical and emotional presence. At the same time, she was leading six major HealthTech events, alongside daily operations and external engagements.
"It wouldn’t have been possible if my colleagues had not stepped in to help,” she recalls. This experience reminded her of something she often tells her startups: progress can be messy, and that’s okay.
Rethinking ambition and taking baby steps
In a world where ambition is often seen as linear – climbing the career ladder, Tang encourages a different approach. She believes career progression needs to be adjusted to accommodate to the demanding parenting responsibilities. She advises working parents to take ‘baby steps’ and focus on smaller, achievable goal to allow healthy momentum and maintain a sense of accomplishment.
She likens it to both parenting and startup life.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint!
On guilt, presence, and finding balance
Tang has largely made peace with the ever-elusive notion of “balance”. Has she ever felt guilty? Occasionally – for instance, wondering if her daughters would do better academically if she spent more time tutoring them. But she doesn’t let that weigh her down.
“I take comfort knowing that I have tried my best to maximise my time within the 24 hours of a day,” she says.
Tang also believes in the importance of maintaining a healthy balance. She finds personal fulfilment in her work at Synapxe, which not only provides her with a mental break from the demands of motherhood but also gives her daughters the space to grow independently while she is at work.
Redefining success and passing it forward
For Tang, success is about challenging traditional expectations particularly those often placed on women. She believes success is deeply personal and subjective. As a woman, it means navigating the demands of both family and career while pushing back against the notion that caregiving and homemaking fall solely on her shoulders. As a parent, she wants to create a nurturing environment and raising children who are grounded, well-mannered, and guided by strong values.
Tang hopes to instil gratitude and appreciation in her daughters. These are values that shaped her own journey. She believes it’s important for them to understand that success is rarely achieved alone, and to never take the support they receive for granted. In her own journey, while hard work has played a key role, she credits much of her growth to the opportunities and trust extended by her mentors and colleagues at Synapxe.
Each morning, Tang’s eight-year-old daughter asks, “What time will you be home today?”. This is a quiet reminder that presence, even without constant interaction, holds deep meaning. Though her daughter no longer needs hands-on care, simply knowing her mother is nearby brings comfort. For Tang, it’s a powerful reflection that parenting isn’t always about doing, but often just about being there.
Asking for help when needed
In the early days of joining Synapxe, Tang faced a steep learning curve. Then COVID-19 hit. Suddenly, she was working remotely in a new industry, with two young kids at home. It was overwhelming.
But she asked for help from her colleagues, and from her husband, who stepped up his caregiving duties which allowed her to better focus on her new job and a smoother career transition.
She also credits Synapxe’s flexible work policies such as family care leave and hybrid work as helpful. It allowed her to juggle her daughters’ needs and be more present at home. For instance, preparing family meals.
Still, she urges workplaces to stop assuming that working mothers are less productive simply because they juggle work and family. Instead, she believes employees should be evaluated on their results, not their motherhood status. Workplace policies should be inclusive of all working parents, recognising that caregiving is not solely a mother’s responsibility. By embracing flexibility as the norm and focusing on outcomes, organisations can truly support working parents and foster a culture of trust and empowerment.
Final word: You are doing enough
To fellow mums who feel like they’re falling short, Tang offers this message: “You don’t have to do it all, all the time. Don’t strive for perfection.”
She reminds them that parenting is not a limitation to a career. Instead, they can and should coexist. Building a fulfilling career while being a present parent is possible, but it truly takes a village. Responsibility does not rest solely on a mother’s shoulders, so it’s important to seek support, communicate your needs, and celebrate every milestone, big or small, she reminds, affirming:
You are doing an incredible job.
Lead image / provided
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