WEDA 2023: Zoe Ee on mastering communication as a Design Director

by Aisha Capulong

Zoe shares her personal growth from initially being super task-focused with limited communication skills to now having cultivated better habits that have helped her become a stronger, more empowering leader

Zoe walks into the room with pep, and she brings with her a lively energy that consequentially envelops those around her. As Design Director over at Fuyu Dezain, she firmly trusts that habits can be cultivated since this has been the case for her. “I used to focus solely on tasks and was relatively weak in communication. However, after leading my own team, I realised the importance of communication, especially when working with new designers. Continuously improving to become a better leader is one of my strengths.”

A big misconception Zoe has observed within the industry is that some people are under the impression that female designers would not oversee construction and that they lack on-site understanding. She firmly asserts how this is not at all true, and that at Fuyu Dezain, women are capable of doing everything male designers can. In fact, Zoe sees women’s sensitivity to be a major advantage, as it helps them to excel in client-facing meetings. She further notes that she is glad to see more and more women in the industry in the current era.

When presented with the question of how she empowers the women around her at Fuyu Dezain, Zoe describes how her partner and she lead by example. By doing so, they aim to demonstrate that women can thrive in all aspects of the industry while still showing their character and style. Zoe earnestly elaborates that they do not have to sacrifice self-care and appearances in order to be professionals in the male-dominated industry. Plus, Fuyu Dezain offers a flexible working arrangement with a 1.5-hour window so various schedules can be accommodated for their diverse team.