Dr Tok Wee Hyong has spent years abroad dedicated to Microsoft but always keeps his NUS roots close to his heart. Having, in his own words, “literally grown up” at NUS, Dr Tok completed both his undergraduate and postgraduate education at the University.
His life overseas began about eighteen years ago when he moved to Shanghai, where Microsoft was setting up a Research and Development (R&D) centre. A few years later, he moved across an ocean to the United States where he is now based at the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, a small but flourishing technology-focused city only a 20-minute drive away from Seattle.
The headquarters are where all the magic happens: applications we use daily — including Word, Excel and PowerPoint — are built at Microsoft by product groups, comprising software developers, product managers and designers.
Naturally, as someone part of the “magic”, Dr Tok is kept busy. He is responsible for ensuring products and features are shipped on time for announcements at Microsoft’s annual conferences, while holding regular scrum meetings with his team to overcome any obstacles. To “deliver the best story” for their products, Dr Tok works with other departments from product marketing to finance and external communications. He also frequently communicates with strategic customers to understand how they use products and evaluates their feedback to identify areas for improvement.
Dr Tok attributes his career success to his NUS education, mentioning that it provided a good foundation. His PhD research on query processing in databases facilitated a headstart in his first ever role in Microsoft as a member of the SQL Server, the company’s database product team.
Despite having lived abroad for so long, Dr Tok remembers those who played a role in his educational journey and often drops by to visit his NUS professors when he is back in Singapore. Like many other alumni overseas, Dr Tok especially misses the food back home. “There’s a lot of food that we get in Singapore that we take for granted, that we can’t find in the US,” he remarked.
His message to NUS students and alumni who are keen to work in the United States? Just do it. “There are lots of opportunities,” he said. “If you feel that there is a good interest in a particular role, just apply for it. You never know what road that will lead you to.”
Must-See in Seattle
- Pike Place Market: Operational since 1907, the iconic market is known for its fishmongers, whose lively fish-throwing inspired the bestselling business book Fish!. Visitors can also find the original Starbucks nearby.
- Mount Rainier: The highest peak in Washington offers glacier-capped views and scenic hiking, with beautiful surrounding areas to explore.
- Eastern side of Seattle: Extending toward the Columbia River, the area offering scenic stays with river views, and is also close to the popular Snoqualmie Falls, making it a worthwhile area for visitors to explore.
- Seattle Premium Outlets: The shopping destination features a wide range of designer and lifestyle brands at discounted prices, making it the perfect stop for bargain-hunters.
