The non-binary workplace projects manager who is breaking barriers

Meet five inspiring personalities who are fearlessly pursuing their passions by opting for careers in female-dominated fields. These individuals have eschewed the idea that certain professions should be gendered and have found success in what are traditionally “feminine” careers.

On the third day of their job as an office manager at fintech company Wise, Ilyazid Ilias, who uses they/them pronouns, was thrown in at the deep end: The Wise office had sewage water gushing out from the washroom into the reception area. “Mind you, I was very much a greenhorn in facilities management given that my previous role focused on recruitment,” they share.

Ilyazid, who has since been promoted to the Workplace Projects Manager APAC at Wise, notes that while the most common misconception about office and workplace managers is that “they are often reduced to tasks such as ordering stationery, food and drinks, and fixing faulty chairs in the workplace”, there’s more to their role.

“No two days are the same on the job, as change is the only constant,” the 34-year-old says. When it comes to challenging traditional gender roles or expectations in the workplace, Ilyazid shares that as a non-binary individual in Singapore’s workforce, it’s often hard to see someone of a similar gender identity as [them] at the same table.

“I’m sure I’m speaking on behalf of the non-binary community when I say that we often need to prove ourselves harder to even earn that seat at the table. This may lead to impostor syndrome, something that affected me during my formative years as part of my personal journey and self-discovery,” they share.

In instances where they have encountered situations where others have underestimated or doubted their abilities, Ilyazid will “use that as a driving force to prove the person wrong – but with humility”.

For example, when a colleague doubted whether the Wise office space was big enough for the company’s growth and didn’t trust Ilyazid’s expertise, Ilyazid responded by giving a presentation to their team.

The presentation included an analysis of hybrid working, and showed that the current office size could accommodate the company’s long-term growth. This convinced the colleague, and also made the person realise that facts and data cannot be made up. “It’s about trusting yourself and your capabilities that you bring to the table. There’s something about allowing your results to speak for themselves,” says Ilyazid.

This career path has allowed Ilyazid to unlock new perspectives. “My line of work has also taught me that people are not commodities, and should not be treated as such. These are actual people who can evolve and change with time. So it’s crucial to continuously engage with people across different teams, and attune to their challenges and the pain points surrounding their experiences at the workplace,” they say.

Five questions with Ilyazid

What’s a recent project at work that you're particularly proud of? 

Trying to renegotiate and pivot Wise’s space needs at the start of the pandemic and delivering the new office to completion during the various stages of lockdown measures was quite an eye opener.

The best piece of career advice you've ever received? 

“The grass is always greener where you water it”. 

What advice do you have for others who are considering a career in your industry? 

Keep an open mind to the opportunities that present themselves to you. You never know what future they might bring; be it that next introduction to a key employee of your dream company or even an exploration of an entirely new career path that you’ve never known existed. It’s never too late to pivot and align your career goals to match your changing priorities in life. Remember, your career serves as a tool to complement your personal life goals outside of work.

One thing you wish you knew when you first started your career?

Trusting my career journey to be shaped by ebbs and flows, and being comfortable to throw myself in and experiment at every stage of my career.

What kind of goals do you have for your career in the future? 

I would like to extend further into how workplaces are integrating spatial UX (user experience) as part of the larger workplace strategy across the business; shaping wonders of how we can increase effectiveness and efficacy of the workplace long-term. That said, my dream as a lifelong hobbyist of floral design would be having a small floral design commune/retreat in an idyllic location where I run farm-to-table floristry classes; using locally grown floral produce that inspires the many of the future creations.

Photography NUR ATHIRAH ANNISSA
Art Direction ADELINE ENG
Grooming BENEDICT CHOO, USING MAKE UP FOR EVER