Startup Recruitment With A Sustainability Vision

Coffee catch-up with Sor Hong Yuen, Senior Consultant for Data and Tech and RootEx Project Lead at BTI Executive Search Singapore

Question: How did you become a specialist in recruiting data roles?

Hong Yuen: I was first introduced to data science while studying psychology at the National University of Singapore. Although it is a social science subject, the course involved a lot of maths and statistics.

Before joining BTI Executive Search in January 2021, I gained experience working with two other recruitment agencies, one of which was an executive search agency for professionals in tech, digital, data and insights.

Between those jobs, I embarked on a PhD at Nanyang Technological University, but after about a year, I decided to return to my recruitment career. Although it was a short stint, those studies gave me technical exposure to various aspects of data science which I found interesting.

I also have to give credit to my team lead at my previous agency, who provided me with an excellent foundational knowledge of the commercial data space, such as the different functions, seniority levels, industries, and the range of roles.

Question: How did you develop the idea for BTI’s new startup recruitment initiative, RootEx?

Hong Yuen: Throughout my career, I’ve known many startups with great products, but they’ve lacked the financial backing to grow. Founders can struggle with their startup recruitment strategy, preventing them from scaling quickly – finding the right talent takes valuable time they can’t afford. Often founders lack knowledge about the best people to hire for their early growth stage. Specialists in startup recruitment agencies like ourselves can solve all these challenges – so I started looking for ways we could help.

I conceived RootEx as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project to help sustainable startups in Singapore – particularly seed and pre-seed tech companies – to grow their teams by recruiting the right hires through BTI’s network and expertise.

We came up with the name RootEx based on the idea that a founder is the root of a company. Roots will grow strong when seeds are nurtured and well-supported.

Question: What appeals to you about working with startups?

Hong Yuen: I think it matches my character. I’m a curious person with an appetite for adventure, and I’m not too fond of structure. I also connect well with the younger founders’ mindset. While other recruiters may find it frustrating when candidates or companies suddenly change direction, I’m okay with that because I understand it’s part of life. And that’s why I can connect well with founders.

My father has run a family business collecting food waste for over 30 years. He manages the waste from food production factories and sends it to animal farms. When I was young, I followed him to places like fish farms, and I recognised how hard he worked. That is why I can connect well with many startup founders when they explain their business – I understand their environment and the hard work that must go on behind the scenes.

I also feel that my data background is a good entry point to the world of startups, and I can recruit for a wide range of roles – from personal assistants to SVP level.

Question: What startups would you like to work with through RootEx?

Hong Yuen: One area we’re keen to help with is agri-tech companies that create alternative proteins. Many people are sceptical about cell-based products, which presents challenges for new enterprises. Another challenge is that many R&D people are not based in Singapore. Maybe they are unwilling to move over, or they may be unable to secure employment visas due to a salary mismatch. Therefore, some companies may have to set up their R&D division overseas. It’s a challenge that I think will be interesting to solve over time.

Question: How would the talents of startups differ from those of other industries?

Hong Yuen: Yes, we do. It’s interesting to see the wide range of talents startups look for. For example, a tech company and an energy analytics company will require different talents based on their business strategy.

Not everyone can thrive in a startup environment. It requires adventurous and far-sighted people to be steady when the going gets tough and willing to put in hard work. That’s where we come in – to screen candidates who are technically adept and have the right character to fit with the team.

Question: What’s your secret to connecting startup founders and candidates?

Hong Yuen: Founders always need ideas! Sometimes, when I identify suitable candidates for a company, there may not be a proper role. I would still create a connection for both parties to bounce ideas off. Other times, I go to exhibitions to reach out to founders directly and share about RootEx, which helps to fine-tune the programme idea.

Are you looking for support with your startup recruitment strategy, or are you interested in finding a new role in data or tech? Feel free to reach out to our team for a coffee chat.