Meet Angela Toy, a mentor with the Her World Mentorship Programme

Being a woman in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) can often mean being the lone female voice in meetings, or the unintentional target of unconscious biases. For the second year of our Her World Mentorship Programme, we want to empower young women by providing them the tools, guidance, and support needed to break down these barriers and overcome limiting beliefs.

Nine exceptional mentors – each with a wealth of experience and expertise – tell us why they are passionate about giving back and share the wisdom they’ve gleaned throughout their careers. 

Angela Toy brings a diverse range of experiences to the table: Before joining Golden Gate Ventures (GGV) in 2014 as a specialist, she worked in various areas of financial services, including audit, wealth management and broking. She then ventured into the start-up community by launching her own e-commerce business in pet products. “Starting my own business gave me a glimpse into the world of start-ups and VC. I struggled with the challenges of running a business, and wanted to learn the formula for success,” she says.

When GGV was looking for someone to help build operations, she thought her experience was fitting – her background in financial services equipped her with the foundational knowledge to build the fund, while her stint as a business owner allowed her to empathise with start-up founders. “It was a combination of experiences I never realised would land me my career,” she shares.

While climbing the ranks at GGV, Angela also became a yoga instructor. “I pursued being a yoga instructor after a few years in VC. Seeing founders and start-up teams (and VCs too!) getting burnt out, risking depression and severe health issues due to the high pressure of pursuing growth, made me realise the importance of balance.

“Yoga helped me find that balance, and it’s embedded in how I interact with my team and start-up founders. Luckily, I have great partners who are supportive. In recent years, we have focused on developing our leaders – both start-up founders and our internal team – with an emphasis on mental well-being.”

Today, as partner and chief operating officer at GGV, she is responsible for overseeing the global operations of the firm, and formulating strategies to enhance portfolio value and drive financial returns for the fund.

On joining Her World’s mentorship programme for 2024, Angela says: “I am excited and extremely honoured to be a part of another person’s journey to growth. I see this as an opportunity to give back and impart the little wisdom and hacks I’ve obtained so far, not just in my career, but in life as well.”

What unique challenges do you believe women face when pursuing careers in STEM?

A lack of female role models. Unfortunately, there is still an imbalance, especially in the boardroom. However, there are a lot of measures and initiatives being carried out to help reduce this imbalance, so I’m confident that it will improve with time.

Have you had mentors yourself, especially female role models within or outside of STEM? How did those relationships shape you?

Yes, I’ve had mentors of all shapes and kinds! I believe it’s important to have varied inputs from people with different experiences, and I actually look broadly at anyone who comes into my life as a teacher and mentor of some form. I reflect on every interaction as an opportunity to learn. The biggest learning of all, perhaps, is that failure is inevitable. So, looking at it as a learning opportunity is key to growth, rather than looking at failures as a reflection of self.

How can a mentee future-proof her career considering the rapid pace of technological change?

It’s hard to future-proof tech skills, but being a good leader/manager/team player is something that will never be obsolete.

What’s one piece of advice you wish you had received early on in your career?

Find out what values are important to you, then find a workplace that aligns with those values.

PHOTOGRAPHY Veronica Tay
OFFICIAL BEAUTY PARTNER Cle de Peau Beaute
ART DIRECTION Ray Ticsay & Adeline Eng
STYLING Neo Lirong, assisted by Sabrina Kong
HAIR & MAKEUP Benedict Choo, Aung Apichai and Clayton Goo, all using Cle de Peau Beaute
LOCATION Mandala Club