Pioneer SITizen Ambassador Angel Joseph Sena credits SIT for giving her the foundation and experiences to grow into her leadership roles while studying, after graduating and then into her new phase of life – adulting.

Since graduating from SIT as a chemical engineer in 2021, life for Angel Joseph Sena has been a whirlwind of growth, challenge, and discovery. She admits that she has been fortunate to explore various industries within the engineering sector – from water treatment, gas distillation, ink manufacturing to her current focus in the pharmaceutical industry. While her first role focused heavily on line commissioning, factory troubleshooting, and process optimisation, she has since expanded her responsibilities to include managing engineering documentation, validation deliverables, and alignment with quality teams.

Angel with her parents at her graduation ceremony in 2021. (Photo: Angel Joseph Sena)

At the same time, Angel has been actively involved in the largest and most fulfilling commissioning project of her career to date: the installation and qualification of a new automated filling machine line, involving high-speed, high-capacity manufacturing of millions of sterile eye drops annually – a major leap in both scale and technical advancement.

“It is intense, fast-paced, and full of moving parts — but also incredibly rewarding. I am lucky and blessed to have a manager who doesn’t just hand over answers but shares insights that make me better. His steady mentorship helps me sharpen my instincts, embrace ownership, and find confidence even in chaos. I walked into this project wanting to contribute; with a stronger voice, a fuller toolkit, and a real sense of pride in what I am accomplishing,” enthuses Angel.

Seeking Opportunity Within Chaos

Reflecting on her journey thus far, a quote from Sun Tzu resonates deeply with Angel – “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” Over the years, she has come to realise that it’s not just the job, but the work environment that can truly make or break one’s growth.

“Leaving my previous job wasn’t easy — it was everything I thought I wanted, but the environment wasn’t right. I constantly felt like I wasn’t enough, and the pressure slowly led to burnout. I was running on 3 to 4 hours of sleep most nights, pushing myself to deliver at work, while also navigating some intense responsibilities at home.”

Angel (1^st from right) with her current colleagues in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo: Angel Joseph Sena)

It took Angel nearly a year to recognise the signs, and while she always gave her best, she felt that she was stumbling because she felt that she was in an environment that didn’t support recovery or growth. Hence, moving into her current role as a process engineer in the pharmaceutical industry was both necessary and healing. “I found a boss that understood me, a workplace that gave me space to breathe and helped me rediscover my potential — and I’m proud of the person I have become through that shift. I have always believed that learning never ends, and SIT taught me to embrace change with confidence.”

Despite being the youngest on her current team, she was entrusted with a critical project and given the opportunity to travel to Germany for a pre-FAT (Factory Acceptance Test).

That experience tested Angel in every way – from multitasking and validating documents to questioning assumptions, analysing design intent, and staying detail-oriented. It was a defining moment, and it felt deeply validating to be given such responsibility so early in her career. Angel testifies that it was SIT’s practical education that laid the groundwork for this.

Among the many hats she took on during her time in SIT, Angel served as President for the ‘Dialogue with SITizens’ in 2019, which was graced by then Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Chan Chun Sing. It was a role that challenged her and helped her grow into becoming a more confident communicator and listener. At the same time, she served as President for her Chemical Engineering cohort, where she fully embraced the joy of connecting with and getting to know her peers. Angel admits that the phrase “Once a SITizen, Always a SITizen.” instilled in her a quiet pride — pride in how far SIT had come, and pride in the community that helped shape her and subsequent cohorts of SITizens.

Angel (3^rd from right) and her fellow SITizen Ambassadors with then Minister for Trade and Industry, Chan Chun Sing, who addressed the student body at ‘Dialogue with SITizens’ in 2019. (SIT Photo)

Adulting…While Trying to Catch a Breath

With her penchant for not sitting still and squeezing every minute out of life, Angel admits that it hasn’t been a bed of roses.

“Adulting has been real — juggling career demands, family, friendships, finances, and health. SIT prepared me more than I realised. During university, I threw myself into everything I could. I was part of SITizen Ambassadors, Vanguards – a group of experienced student leaders who guide other student leaders, and even played squash in my earlier years.”

She recalls sneaking off during three-hour breaks to swim at a nearby community pool, then rushing back just in time for lectures with her hair drenched. “I didn’t want to just pass through — I wanted to immerse, participate, and be present. I joined everything from sports events (and being a committee member) to official school functions because I genuinely wanted to enjoy the process of being a student.” 

Angel cites her parents as her inspiration – how they juggled life but were always present and involved in work, chores, errands, rest, and play. “I wanted to do the same. I wanted to live fully.”

Aside from work, Angel has also started laying foundations for her next phase of life — planning for her first home and building financial independence.

Angel with Buddy, her constant companion outside of work and her parents, both of whom have been a source of inspiration. (Photo: Angel Joseph Sena)

Journeying With and Standing By One Another

Angel still keeps in touch with a close-knit group from SIT, who have transitioned from schoolmates and student leaders into professionals across different industries. “We lean on each other emotionally and professionally,” says Angel, and credits that bond not just to their shared experiences, but also to the incredible staff from what was then known as the Student Leaders Development department, who helped nurture that environment.

Angel with her teammates from the SIT Squash Team. (Photo: Angel Joseph Sena)

What would Angel say to her younger self? “I’d tell her, “You’re not just choosing a university to quickly pass through to work — but a place that will shape you to adapt, to fall and get back up, to fix what’s broken, and to push beyond what you thought was possible. You’re about to build grit from the ground up. Trust that.” She adds that she chose SIT because of its applied learning pedagogy — a phrase she googled on Dictionary.com because she had no idea what it meant. “But it spoke to me. I wanted to do, not just learn. That promise was kept.”

“I embraced the full experience: social, academic, and personal. It was my last lap of education, and SIT gave me the space to do that. My lecturers, peers, and even the system were rooting for my success, not perfection.”

Leading By Example

Another quote from Sun Tzu that resonates with Angel is – "A leader leads by example, not by force." 

“In every role I’ve taken, I’ve tried to embody this – striving to be someone who uplifts others, builds strong teams, and cultivates spaces where people feel safe to grow. SIT gave me the foundation not just to succeed, but to lead with authenticity, empathy and purpose.”

Angel with Andrew Aaron Tam from the Alumni Office, Office of SITizen Experience, at the SIT Convocation Dinner 2024. (Photo: Angel Joseph Sena)