My Story: Tia Cheang

by Tia Cheang

When my career began, defined career paths did not exist in our industry, and whilst I had a rough sense of direction my approach had always been to take every opportunity as it came. The path I took had successes for sure, but the setbacks also came in equal measure. Each setback, whether personal or professional, taught me the importance of perseverance and resilience and helped me grow in ways I could never have planned for.

One lesson that stands out is the importance of a human-centred approach to leadership. Too often, there is a rush for process and management, but real progress comes from sharing vision and sparking inspiration. Leadership cannot be run from a checklist; it’s an art form that requires a subtle and nuanced approach tailored to each situation, and I see effective leadership’s impact most in the way organisations move forward together.

Naturally, this human connection also underpins the way I view my own experience. My life experience is valuable to others. I know how it feels to be the minority; as an openly disabled woman in tech, I have experienced how easily people overlook real talent due to preconceived notions. My insight is something I can use to advocate for change. I believe inclusion goes beyond accepting gender or disability; it should be about seeing the merit all individuals bring to the world we live in.

Because of this, empowering others through coaching and mentoring has become a central part of my career. Sharing what I have learnt about resilience and the value of diversity enables me to support others facing their own challenges.

Through my role as Chair of Cacumator Mentorship, I have seen how digital skills, mentoring, education, and scholarships can help girls in Africa build futures for themselves and positively impact their communities. Witnessing these tangible changes motivates me to continue expanding access and opportunity where it is needed most.

As my work with individuals and communities has evolved, I have also learned that technology can be a global vehicle for change with the right leadership in place. Throughout my career, I am proud to have led pioneering technology initiatives, from genomic mapping to advancing digital skills and AI readiness globally. These experiences have driven home the possibilities and responsibility that come with frontier technologies, especially when applied towards solving genuine problems like poverty, disease or climate change, but only with inspiring and inclusive leadership.

This focus on responsible innovation has informed my policy work. At Westminster, I have been involved in shaping the digital skills agenda, ensuring the future workforce is equipped to keep pace with the rate of technological change. My work with the United Nations has focused on safe regulation of AI, supporting international standards for ethical technology and helping harness AI to deliver on sustainable development and gender equality worldwide.

These concepts are what drive me as a leader, and they have given me a path to the Boardroom. They have created opportunities to work with organisations to have global impact.

If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be this: remain open to opportunities as they arise, yet make every choice with intent. Combine flexibility with your purpose, and meaningful impact will follow.