Inside Illumio: Sandra Lee

Inside Illumio is a monthly series that highlights the exceptional individuals behind Illumio’s world-class products. Each post will peek behind the scenes to spotlight a member of our team. Come get to know us a little better and learn more about what makes Illumio’s culture so unique.

This month, meet Sandra Lee, Illumio’s senior account development representative, who’s based in Singapore. Hear about what brought her to sales and what it’s like being a member of Illumio’s Southeast Asian team.

Tell us about yourself. What do you do at Illumio?

I joined Illumio in November of 2018 as an account development representative (ADR), but I studied Computer Science in college and began my career as a programmer. I’ve always been passionate about technology, but I found programming isolating and wanted to shift my career to something more people-facing. Sales was a great option. Now, I am a member of Illumio’s Singapore team and focus on lead generation and raising awareness around Zero Trust Segmentation in Southeast Asia.

What does a day in the life of Sandra look like?

I spend most of my day on the phone. You can usually find me having conversations with different companies, partners or prospects, connecting with customers, or working with other team members to explore new opportunities. It’s a role that requires a lot of collaboration and communication, which is something I enjoy!

How do you stay illuminated during the workday? How do you connect with your team while working remotely?

The ADR team at Illumio is very close. There is great information sharing across all team members and we meet weekly to discuss challenges and opportunities. The women on our team also have a separate, monthly meeting where we discuss both personal and professional topics.

Similarly, our Southeast Asian team meets on a regular basis and uses Slack and WhatsApp to stay in touch. This is my first time working for a U.S.-based company, but I have enjoyed the opportunity to really own my program. As long as you bring back results, employees are empowered to run their own activities at Illumio.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned at Illumio so far?

I have two. Patience and Passion. My role often requires patience and perseverance, and I have learned to trust my methods and expertise to bring results to our company. That said, success would not be possible if I did not love my job and what I do. Without passion, work would be far more difficult.

What career advice to you have for your younger self?

Never say never. My parents ran a stationery shop in my hometown, and I grew up thinking that I would never want to be in sales. I found the profession tiring. Now, I am extremely satisfied in my line of work and love what I do.

What are you passionate about outside of your career

I enjoy traveling. The last trip I took was to the United States, to New York specifically. I also recently traveled to Eastern Europe—Prague, Croatia, and Montenegro. All beautiful and unique places. Next, I would like to visit Canada! When abroad, I like to stay in AirbBnbs so I can fully immerse myself in the culture. It allows me to get to know a city better and understand what it’s like to be a local there.

Outside of travel, I love spending time with my family. I am a Malaysian but who lives in Singapore, so I miss my family and will try to see them as often as possible.

Which Illumio core value resonates most with you and why?

Run to Challenges. Personally, I always try to exceed expectations by facing adversity head on and working with my team members to accomplish any task. I continue to challenge myself and bring my best in everything I do.

What do you want people to know about working at Illumio?

This is the best company I’ve ever worked for. Everyone at Illumio contributes to a common goal. We have a small, but mighty team in Singapore, so we operate like a family. My colleagues genuinely want to help each other and want to see each other grow, and that makes it a rewarding place to work.

Interested in joining the team? Check out our career openings.