Transcript of MOS Rahayu Mahzam’s Opening Address at Singapore Semiconductor Women’s Forum

Good Morning. Thank you to Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA) for this kind invitation. It is a pleasure to be back at this event, having previously attended in 2023.

In just three years, our world has continued to further transform. One of the most profound changes has been the remarkable advancement of AI and how deeply it has become woven into our daily lives. There is a lot more awareness and a sense of urgency to meaningfully harness AI and navigate the challenges that come with this evolution.

At the heart of this AI transformation lies a critical enabler: your industry, the semiconductor sector. Semiconductors are the foundation of computing power in the AI era. McKinsey projects that the Semiconductor industry will reach US$1.6 trillion by 2030.

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   Singapore has an important role to play in the global AI supply chain. Approximately one in ten chips and one-fifth of semiconductor manufacturing equipment are produced here annually.

Domestically, the semiconductor industry remains important, providing valuable jobs and opportunities. Overall, the electronics sector accounts for nearly 6% of our GDP and employs over 35,000 people.

A good proportion of these employees are women. And I would like to continually encourage even more women to consider careers in industries such as the semiconductor industry.

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   Enabled by new technologies like AI and robotics, the industry offers diverse opportunities such as process optimisation, quality control, and smart manufacturing.

Even as AI brings new opportunities across every sector, we must acknowledge that workers face real challenges. AI evolves at breakneck speed. Many may feel overwhelmed by the constant need to adapt and upskill.

This challenge hits even harder for those returning from career breaks. Besides reacquainting themselves with their fields and catching up on industry changes, they must master new work processes and navigate a workplace reshaped by AI. Tasks may now be automated by AI, and workflows and tools that used to define their role may have changed.

This is particularly relevant to women. Research shows that women are more likely to take career breaks than men. One analysis shows that 43% more career breaks taken by women compared to men. Another report from Oceania show that over 60% of women have taken a career break at some point.

So, being bilingual in both AI and your professional field is key to staying relevant in returning to work. This matters across all sectors, not just the semiconductor industry. Whether you work in the finance or healthcare domain, combining expertise in your field with AI knowledge is essential.

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   As Minister Josephine Teo mentioned recently at MDDI's Committee of Supply debates, we aim to support 100,000 workers to be AI-bilingual, to be pathfinders and pacesetters for meaningful AI adoption.

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   These are individuals with domain or functional expertise and AI fluency, who can collaborate effectively with AI specialists. This combination enables teams to translate real-world problems into meaningful AI applications.

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   The greatest impact will not come from just using AI for incremental improvements alone. It comes when people who deeply understand their domain, use AI to reimagine entire workflows or processes.

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   This requires workers who have a strong grasp of AI's capabilities and limitations. Being empowered with a deep understanding of their domain allows them to diagnose which problems can be solved by AI. Just as importantly, is their ability to communicate the technical requirements with their teams.

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   This goes beyond simply using ChatGPT to answer a query. It extends to scenarios like deploying AI agents within design workflows to prototype ideas.

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   This is why the Government has committed to supporting 100,000 workers to become AI Bilingual as a start.

Additionally, AI can serve as an ally for workers seeking to return to work. Workers returning from career breaks need not remain out of touch with new developments. Instead, AI offers an opportunity for such workers to stay current and continue their personal development.

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   Digital training platforms offer flexible learning experiences. This enables workers to develop new skills while balancing other commitments during career breaks. These personalized pathways can be adapted to meet individual learning requirements.

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   Digital career guidance tools can recommend suitable job opportunities based on individual skills and training. These platforms can also help workers enhance their CVs and practise interview techniques, supporting their transition back to the workforce.

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   Ultimately, workers must still take ownership of their development and career journey. They need to be proactive in seizing these developmental opportunities, approaching them with the right mindset. Success also requires dedication to honing essential skills, including interview preparation and practice.

I believe that we cannot just leave workers to take the initiative on their own in readying themselves for an AI age. Every worker has their own life story and may require different kinds of support.

Some may require flexible or part-time working arrangements. I encourage leaders to promote supportive practices that foster an inclusive workplace. Leaders who inculcate the right culture will see supportive practices permeate throughout the workplace.

I'm pleased to hear that some organisations within the semiconductor industry have introduced flexible work policies. I hope that this continues to grow, providing workers with the right support to balance personal and professional responsibilities.

Another area where workers may need support is mentorship. Global surveys and conversations with the community show that fewer than half of organisations offer structured mentorship, sponsorship, or targeted programmes designed specifically to attract and retain, talent in particular women, in technical roles.

As part of the "Give to Gain" theme for today, I'm delighted that SSIA has developed a pool of over 100 mentors in partnership with Mentoring SG. This provides a robust mentoring ecosystem that powers outreach efforts such as Flash Mentoring at student events, including Electronics Industry Day and Semiconductor Awareness Day.

An inclusive workplace must also have a degree of psychological safety. Employees must be given room to experiment, afforded space to learn from failures, and encouraged to focus on long-term development.

Leaders must also remember not to prioritise short-term gains at the expense of longer-term organisational development. As with today's theme, organisations need to continue "giving" by investing in human skills that remain relevant and complementary to AI, to "gain" the benefits in the longer term. I believe this is aligned with the messages Mr Brian Tan has shared.

To everyone in the audience today, I would like to encourage you to be the change that you want to see. As the leaders of today and tomorrow, I believe that every individual here can make a difference in your workplace.

Whether it is championing AI to transform work processes through pilot projects, giving employees the room to develop their AI fluency through dedicated training time, or modelling inclusive and flexible work culture daily, every individual championing the right culture goes a long way in shaping the overall workplace culture.

As we commemorate International Women's Day, let us never forget to "Give to Gain". When we give women pathways back, we provide sponsorship and mentorship forward, and give access to AI transformation, we are not giving something away. We are securing the future of our semiconductor ecosystem.

Thank you and I wish all of you a fantastic and fruitful time at this event.