Adeline Wong – From reading people to enabling organizations

I have a confession to make. I have recently developed a full-blown addiction… to pickleball! While most people spent the Lunar New Year visiting friends and indulging in festive feasts, I was on the court, sometimes even twice a day, completely immersed in the game. Thankfully, I balance my newfound obsession with other hobbies that nourish my mind and soul. I find peace in gardening (recently harvesting my first tiny red bell peppers!) and escape through literature (now on Hanya Yanagihara’s To Paradise, an emotional rollercoaster I recommend only if you are ready for it). Ironically, some of my most creative ideas don’t come at work, but rather when I am lost in the rhythm of a game, tending to my plants, or lost in a book.

The people in my life play a huge role in shaping who I am. My partner supports my wildest ideas while keeping me grounded. Despite living across the globe, my childhood best friend remains my unwavering confidante. At work, I thrive under an inspiring manager and a team that embraces my quirks, providing a safe space for collaboration. And then, there’s Marley, my late dog, whose 5PM ritual of reminding me to pause and play still lingers. His legacy lives on, teaching me the importance of balance, even on the busiest of days.

My career journey 

I studied Psychology—not to read minds (unfortunately!)—but because I have always been fascinated by people. My career path has been anything but linear. I have navigated the worlds of business development in fashion, global manufacturing operations, and People & Culture, each role teaching me something invaluable. In manufacturing, I found myself chasing down plant managers around the world to explain why their OTIF (on-time in full) wasn’t meeting targets. Transitioning into People & Culture, I found my passion for people-focused initiatives like learning and development, engagement, and recruitment.

Joining RSS APAC in 2016 as employee #1 in the People & Culture (P&C) team, I had the privilege of being part of the pioneer P&C team. We set up processes from payroll to operations while championing site-wide Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. I worked on projects that truly made an impact, leading the Roche Children’s Walk 2019 in Malaysia (raising MYR54,000 for a halfway home), founding the site’s first Toastmasters Club as its charter president (despite having zero experience!), and launching the Mental Health @ Work program. These opportunities not only helped me grow but also allowed me to contribute to making this a great place to work.

Since 2023, I have been working as a Culture Transformation Partner in Organization Enablement, supporting business leaders in developing and implementing workforce strategies. The role has been a steep learning curve, but an exciting one. Understanding our business helps me connect the dots and shape strategies that truly align with our people and goals. Mistakes were inevitable, but each misstep was a lesson. I have learned resilience, the courage to step into uncertainty, and the openness to innovate.

What has made this journey extraordinary is the people. The leaders who coach and empower, the colleagues who provide a psychologically safe space to share and grow, and the culture in our workplace that genuinely values our people. Here, development isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. There is flexibility, collaboration, and a strong commitment to well-being. I have worked in different organizations before, but what stands out here is how supportive everyone is. Even those I have never met before are always willing to help. It is a culture that fosters innovation while ensuring employees thrive, both personally and professionally.

At the heart of it all, what drives me is the knowledge that our work impacts lives. A few years ago, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thanks to a breakthrough Roche medicine, she fully recovered and now enjoys a quality life with us. That personal experience reinforced my belief in what we do… why we must constantly evolve and push forward. At the end of the day, the patient is waiting. Every decision we make contributes to their well-being, and that meaningful purpose of “doing now what patients need next” fuels me every morning when I step into work.

But I don’t do this alone. I am surrounded by an incredible team that makes the journey fulfilling. My colleagues create a safe space where I can be my quirky self, and my manager continues to inspire me with unwavering support for our development. Together, we navigate challenges, celebrate wins, and drive impactful change.

My Roche high-5!

I draw inspiration from Sebastien Ducarme, a former Roche leader who strongly advocated disability confidence. Despite facing a life-altering spinal cord injury, he transformed perceptions around disability, championing inclusivity while navigating a global career. His diverse experience includes clinical research project management, global patient partnership, leadership development, DEI & RocheAbility advocacy, leading the grassroot initiative for Digital Accessibility that is now officially adopted by Informatics as well as selected as a mentee to Barbara Schaedler, CEC member and Group Head of Communications under the Valuable 500 Leadership initiative. His resilience, leadership, and commitment to DEI serve as a powerful reminder that even the toughest challenges can be turned into opportunities to drive change.

I am grateful to have worked alongside him and have learned so much from his experience.