Name: Ai June Teo
Job title: Managing Director, Head of Marketing & Communications
Organisation: SGX Group (Singapore Exchange)
1. Brief description of nominee’s role and job.
I lead SGX Group’s global marketing and communications strategy, spanning marketing, branding, digital engagement, media relations and corporate reputation across international markets. My focus is on driving global demand for SGX Group’s diverse portfolio of products and services.
I also oversee internal communications, corporate social responsibility and stakeholder research, ensuring alignment between our purpose and how we engage stakeholders worldwide. I see myself as both storyteller and bridge-builder – connecting our business ambitions with the expectations and confidence of the communities we serve.
2. Short bio (career highlights, education, interests/hobbies).
I joined SGX Group in October 2011 as Head of Communications, following a rewarding chapter at MasterCard International. Over 14 years, I have had the privilege of shaping our brand through milestones that defined SGX Group’s evolution, growing alongside the institution.
With three decades of experience in business development, marketing and communications, I quickly learned that working at an exchange is unlike any other role. Barely three months in, a major market event broke during a weekend family gathering. I found myself stepping away repeatedly to manage communications. When my young daughter asked, “Ma, why do they need you on a Sunday?”, it reminded me that our work has real impact – and that presence and intentionality matter equally at home and at work. That moment shaped how I balance ambition, responsibility and empathy.
Outside work, I enjoy discovering new experiences – whether through books, design, food, fitness or music. Anything that blends aesthetics, story and atmosphere inspires me.
3. What were your professional highlights and challenges of 2025?
2025 was a year of both momentum and reflection. Navigating complex market dynamics and geopolitical uncertainty while steering SGX Group’s global brand across multiple businesses was a significant challenge.
A major highlight was the rejuvenation of the Singapore stock market. Supported by SGX- and government-led reforms, investor confidence strengthened, leading to record returns and the strongest IPO pipeline in a decade. We introduced new marketing packages for listing prospects, scaled digital and media engagement, and amplified high-impact product launches and partnerships. The year reinforced a simple belief: every small step compounds, even when unseen.
We also celebrated SGX Group’s 25th anniversary by renewing our purpose to nurture the next generation of capital markets talent. We launched ‘Capital Markets Conversations for Youth’, mobilising our ecosystem to provide young people with real-world financial insights through interactive sessions and immersive experiences. The energy was mutual – our audience were inspired, and our partners equally recharged.
My time at Stanford University’s Executive Program on "Harnessing AI for Breakthrough Strategy and Impact" also sharpened my perspective on the future of marketing and communications. It led us to reimagine how we organise, create and communicate, building AI-powered solutions to enhance efficiency, creativity and engagement. For us, this is not the threatening age of AI, but the empowering age of the superhuman.
4. Tell us about a few of your key achievements throughout your career?
One achievement I am especially proud of is leading the evolution of SGX Group’s brand architecture from a single-brand identity into a dynamic family of brands reflecting our position as a multi-asset, globally connected market infrastructure group. This was not merely a branding exercise, but a strategic realignment of narrative and identity. I often felt like an architect – building a system that holds both heritage and ambition.
Because my remit spans marketing, branding, digital engagement, corporate reputation, CSR, internal communications and stakeholder research, I have shaped SGX Group’s story from multiple dimensions. Strengthening our CSR programmes has been particularly meaningful. Markets function best when they uplift communities, and creating platforms for meaningful contribution reinforced that belief. It was also rewarding to see our social presence grow from zero to one million followers.
Another milestone was overseeing the transformation of our physical workspace. Beyond operational coordination, it required understanding culture and how brand values come alive. Seeing colleagues thrive in the refreshed space affirmed that thoughtfully designed environments can enable engagement and innovation.
Across these milestones, coherence has mattered most – aligning brand, culture and voice so that who we say we are reflects who we truly are.
5. What and who inspires, and has inspired, you to achieve your professional success?
My grandfather’s story profoundly shapes my outlook. At barely 20, he was tasked by his village in China to "find a way" to save them from famine caused by drought. He travelled through Surabaya before settling in Singapore and eventually succeeded in sending rations back to those who survived. The famine claimed 36 million lives.
I recently returned to Taxia village with my teenage children. His name (荣汀) has become synonymous with the village’s "one-for-all, all-for-one" spirit. Our family continues to support the village through educational facilities and scholarships.
This spirit drives me – professional success as a by-product of meaningful contribution, enriching lives along the way, and the conviction that however audacious the goal, we can always find a way.
6. How have you overcome setbacks, and what advice would you give to others dealing with setbacks?
Setbacks can be discouraging, but they are powerful teachers. I care deeply about outcomes, so shortfalls frustrate me. Emotions have a place in the workplace; they reflect commitment. When setbacks occur, I acknowledge the disappointment, give myself space to process it, then focus on learning and moving forward.
My advice is to allow yourself to feel, but not to dwell. Your career is a marathon of moments, not a single event.
7. What advice do you have for other women who aspire to be in leadership positions? What is the biggest takeaway you want to leave with the reader?
Invest in yourself. Understand your identity, purpose and uniqueness – then amplify it unapologetically. Many wait for perfect readiness or confidence; those moments rarely arrive. Speak up, step forward and take the space you deserve.
Being in the spotlight still makes me uncomfortable. Yet with seniority comes responsibility. Representation matters, and it is important to show aspiring women leaders that success does not require becoming anyone other than yourself.