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Interview with Sarah Gnahoua, V.I.E currently based in Singapore
What has your V.I.E experience in Singapore brought you — both professionally and personally?
I’m so grateful for both the professional and personal experience that this V.I.E represents. I spent the final year of my master’s degree in South Korea, and I enjoyed living in Asia so much that I wanted another opportunity to live abroad. Singapore was the obvious choice as a hub in the APAC region, it’s an amazing place to live: safe, calm, and multicultural.
I’m the only Communication Officer based in Singapore, with the rest of my team located in France. I have the chance to lead my projects from start to finish with a great deal of autonomy. These responsibilities have helped me grow and gain confidence. For instance, this series of portraits was my idea as a way to highlight my fellow V.I.Es and showcase the variety of backgrounds and roles that exist within a highly technological company like Soitec.
How does your mission contribute to Soitec’s development in Singapore and in the region?
As the only Communication Officer based in Singapore, my mission plays a key role in ensuring that our global communication strategy is reflected and adapted to the regional context. I act as a bridge between headquarters in France and the teams on-site not only by implementing corporate messages and campaigns, but also by making sure that local stories and initiatives get the visibility they deserve.
I’ve had to build internal relationships and develop a strong network, which has been essential in gaining trust and creating engagement. In many ways, I also see my role as representing Soitec, and especially Soitec as a French company in Singapore, both internally and externally with industry partners, institutions, and regional stakeholders.
What has been your biggest challenge since starting your V.I.E — and how did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was building my internal network. As mentioned earlier, I’m the only Communication Officer based in Singapore, which meant that when I arrived, the function didn’t exist locally in a structured way. Some internal stakeholders weren’t fully aware of my role or how communication could support their activities.
It took time, consistency, and a lot of listening to explain the value of what I do and to adapt corporate communication priorities to the local context. I had to earn people’s trust, identify their needs, and show how communication could help them achieve their goals.
Over time, this challenge became one of the most rewarding aspects of my mission. Seeing people proactively come to me for support whether it’s to promote an initiative on LinkedIn, prepare a presentation for an external stakeholder, or align with global messaging, it has shown me how much the function has grown and how far we’ve come together. I am proud of myself!
If you had to sum up your V.I.E adventure in Singapore with one word or expression, what would it be — and why?
“Pride.”
I’ve grown so much both professionally and personally during this V.I.E. I started this experience at 28, and I’m now 30. These two years have been truly transformative.
Living and working abroad, building something from the ground up, and learning to navigate new challenges with confidence have made me stronger. I’m proud of the work I’ve accomplished, of the person I’ve become, and of having represented Soitec in Singapore.
