Sopphia Loo

Sopphia grew up in Malaysia and moved to Singapore to pursue Engineering Science at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Coming from a small town, she entered university with big aspirations—to make an impact, change the world, and do work that mattered. Like many high-performing students in her early twenties, she believed that ambition and effort would naturally lead to meaningful outcomes.

During her studies, an inspiring electromagnetics professor sparked her interest in photonics. She was drawn to the idea that if complex systems could be visualised and understood, they could be improved. Over time, Sopphia realised she was consistently motivated by four recurring themes: poverty, education, health, and nutrition. These would quietly shape many of her later career choices.

A defining event came in her third year at university, when her father passed away from pancreatic cancer. The experience deeply affected her and strengthened her desire to apply science to real-world problems. She completed her final-year project in this area and went on to spend several years in academia and research institutes, driven by the belief that with enough effort, progress—and even cures—were possible.

However, her academic results closed off the conventional PhD pathway. Graduating with second-class honours meant that opportunities in research were more limited. This was her first encounter with a hard career reality: aspirations alone are not enough. Faced with this, Sopphia began exploring other paths.

She considered education as a way to create impact but hesitated after hearing about the emotional toll and limited progression. She was unsure if committing to one path too early would restrict her options, reflecting a broader uncertainty about her long-term direction.

Her first real break came through a personal connection. Despite having no business background, she was offered a role in a consulting and facilitation environment. In her interview, the CEO asked not about her grades, but whether she was a good learner. Sopphia said yes—and was given a chance. That year proved to be intense but transformative. She was pushed hard, learned quickly, and grew more in that single year than she had in several years before.

She later returned to research, helping to set up advanced laboratories and working on large, well-funded projects. During this period, Sopphia came to a difficult realisation: while she was capable in research environments, she did not enjoy the PhD journey itself. The prolonged uncertainty, pressure to publish, and delayed rewards were not aligned with her strengths. Admitting that a PhD was not for her marked an important moment of self-awareness.

What followed was a period of exploration. Sopphia volunteered in sustainability and early childhood education initiatives, facilitated courses, and worked freelance as a tutor. The work was fulfilling and aligned with her values, but it was financially modest and lacked long-term structure. Over time, she recognised that fulfilment alone was not enough to build a sustainable career.

A second opportunity at NUS offered stability, autonomy, and a comfortable income. She stayed for six years. The early years were engaging, as she helped set up labs, worked with vendors, and supported major research projects. As time passed, however, her role became increasingly operational and administrative. While the work-life balance was good, her skills were underutilised.

Personal life considerations also influenced her decisions during this period. When a relationship ended, Sopphia reassessed her priorities and realised she needed to take full ownership of her career choices. Wanting more challenge, growth, and impact, she began looking for a way to reset.

She decided to pursue an MBA and was accepted into INSEAD. Applying to only one school, she was surprised by the offer. Committing to the program was a significant financial and emotional decision. The experience proved to be transformational—not because of technical content, but because of the deep self-reflection involved. Through structured reflection, coaching, and peer feedback, Sopphia gained clarity about her strengths, limitations, and motivations.

Graduating during the COVID-19 period, the job market was challenging. Sopphia learned that career transitions depend heavily on trust and relationships. She actively reached out to people who knew her work and were willing to vouch for her. This led her to Olam, where she joined the quality function in the cocoa division.

At Olam, Sopphia applied skills from her research and consulting background—process improvement, data analytics, and facilitation—to real business problems. She contributed across functions and was given opportunities in areas where she had no prior experience. Her willingness to learn and deliver earned the trust of senior leadership, leading to subsequent role moves with higher impact.

Today, Sopphia works in Olam in a role aligned with her values and strengths. Her ambition has matured. Rather than trying to “change the world” in abstract terms, she focuses on making a positive impact within her immediate environment—through responsible business decisions, leadership, and execution. Olam’s mission of "be the change for Good Food and a Healthy Future" resonates strongly with her.

Sopphia’s journey reflects a key insight of the jobhunting process: careers evolve in stages. Progress comes not from having all the answers early on, but from building self-awareness, learning from experience, and having the courage to change direction when needed.