Global Leadership Award

Yvonne Ong

Raytheon Technologies

For strong leadership committed to developing her team; for managing transnational teams interfacing with several disciplines on major global projects; and for bridging cultures and nationalities to achieve success.

Yvonne Ong is the associate director of the Engine Life Management Team (ELMT) for Pratt & Whitney, a Raytheon Technologies Company, in the Asia-Pacific region. She manages a multidisciplinary team that provides engineering support and solutions for 10 engine centers in Asia-Pacific and Europe. She has solid aerospace engineering experience across several disciplines within the aviation sector and has taken on various leadership positions with increasing responsibilities over the past 19 years.

Ong’s skill set has been enhanced with both technical and managerial positions within Pratt & Whitney, beginning as a product development engineer with the company’s International Aerospace Tubes Asia to associate director supervising 10 to 15 engineers and integrated product teams. In each assignment, she has collaborated with global technical teams in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States to drive growth and efficiency for the organization. Ong, who speaks fluent English, Mandarin and French, is currently based in Singapore.

Her continued accomplishments within Pratt & Whitney led to an excellent opportunity in 2018, when Ong became the first woman and first person to successfully establish an off-site integrated engineering team with original equipment manufacturer engineering and aftermarket repair capabilities. The ELMT is also the first non-U.S.-based engineering team composed of hybrid engineers with diverse skill sets and expertise.

Ong set up the engineering team to serve as a hub for the Asia-Pacific Engine Centers in Japan, New Zealand, China, and Singapore. The ELMT is charged with providing real-time technical support to the region and reducing the response time to resolve inquiries and investigate engine issues, hence reducing overhaul costs of engines in these engine centers. The ELMT hub services 60% of the company’s PW1100G-JM fleet, and maintenance of these engines is crucial for the region.

To overcome geographical, global trade compliance, knowledge transfer, and productivity difficulties, Ong collaborated with various teams to establish systems and processes, export licenses, and automated applications to conduct day-to-day activities. This resulted in a shorter and timely turnaround time for the engine centers and led to it becoming the principal ELMT in the Asia-Pacific region.

Ong has been recognized with numerous technical and business awards for her leadership, delivery of aftermarket operations, and her guidance of ELMT operations. She has received the Pratt & Whitney Aftermarket Operations Coin, its Mature Commercial Engines Integrated Program Management Team Coin, and 10 Pratt & Whitney Global Services Engineering Eagle Awards.

Her educational background is as diverse as her career. Ong holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and production engineering from Nanyang Technological University; a master’s degree in industrial process engineering from the Université de Technologie de Compiègne; an MBA in global business administration and management from Antai College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; and a global MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School.

Ong enjoys spending quality time with her family members and friends through outdoor activities. She contributes back to society via community cleanup and recycling activities, and frequently encourages her loved ones to do the same.