There are careers, and then there are journeys. For Phoebe Wong, Director of HR Outsourcing at Links International, the past 18 years represent both – a professional story built on hard-won growth, resilience and a genuine belief in the people around her.
Based in Singapore and overseeing operations across multiple markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam Philippines) and the UAE, Phoebe has grown from a two-person office into one of the most experienced leaders in the business. Below, we share her story and journey at Links.
From Two to Many: Building Something from the Ground Up
Phoebe’s Links story began in a modest service office with a team of exactly two. Looking back, the contrast with where things stand today is striking.
“I started as a two-man office here in Singapore,” she recalls. “Over the past 10 years alone, we’ve managed to grow the team size and the number of locations to 30+ across APAC and the Middle East.”
That growth wasn’t just geographical. As the portfolio expanded, so did the team structure, from a flat, heads-down operation to a proper hierarchy with clear progression paths. For Phoebe, this was more than an organisational shift. It became a platform for people.
“We created a lot of learning opportunities and a proper progression ladder for the team. It makes retention more stable – the opportunity to grow is real.”
The Accomplishment She’s Most Proud Of
Ask Phoebe about her proudest achievement, and she doesn’t reach for a headline number. She points, instead, to something harder to quantify: reputation.
“Apart from the number of locations we’ve expanded to, what I’m most proud of is the stability of the team and the employer brand we’ve built. Candidates come to us excited – they want to join.”
That reputation was earned gradually, through bringing in quality hires, instilling structure, and holding the team to meaningful KPIs. The result is a unit that delivers not just on volume, but on quality – something Phoebe says, clients feel directly.
That quality has not gone unnoticed externally either. As a team, Links has earned recognition as an award-winning Payroll Outsourcing Provider for 11 consecutive years in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malysia, and industry accolades as ‘Star Performer’ in Multi-Country Payroll (MCP) Solutions and Employer of Record (EOR) Solutions from Everest Group – a testament to the collective operational standards and client experience the team has built together over the years.
A Partnership Built on Shared Vision
One of the defining chapters of Phoebe’s journey at Links has been her working relationship with Scott Thomson, Group Managing Director, a partnership grounded in trust, aligned values and a shared ambition to build something lasting.
“When Scott came on board in 2013, we immediately had a clear direction,” Phoebe reflects. “We wanted to grow to multiple locations, and we were committed to doing it the right way.”
What followed was a period of deliberate, purposeful expansion, from two locations to today’s 30+ – bringing in the right managers, building cohesive teams across new markets and establishing the kind of operational rigour that regional clients demand. This includes managing multi-country payroll mandates for clients who rely on Links to run accurate, compliant payroll across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously, each with its own regulatory requirements and timelines.
“Our goals and direction have always been aligned. That consistency, that clarity – it gave the whole team confidence and momentum.”
It’s a dynamic that continues to define how Phoebe leads today: clear expectations, open communication, and the conviction that growth done well is growth that lasts.
What Keeps Her at Links
For Phoebe, staying at Links for 18 years isn’t a matter of inertia, it’s a choice she renews through the work itself. One of the things she values most is the culture of trust that’s been built with her leadership. “My leader gives me the respect and space to grow my own team, pursue my own targets, and own my results.”
She also credits the pace of the industry and the constant need to evolve. “It’s a very fast-paced industry. There’s always a new challenge, always room to improve. We’re constantly looking for better ways to reduce client escalations, to have more open conversations with the team, to raise the bar.”
She adds, “Integrating AI into our processes, keeping our SLA commitments, continuing to evolve – that’s what keeps me engaged.”
A Career That Shaped a Life
There’s a personal thread running through Phoebe’s story that she shares with quiet pride. Her eldest child, now a pre-university student preparing for national service in the Singapore army, grew up alongside her career at Links.
“He manages his studies and his life well. In her own quiet way, my younger daughter has also started taking on small leadership roles in primary school and has shown encouraging performance outside of school. I’m very proud of that and I think the values I’ve tried to bring to my work have shaped how I show up at home, too.”
Looking Ahead
After 18 years, Phoebe isn’t slowing down. Her goals are characteristically grounded but ambitious.
“My aim is to keep delivering stable, high-quality results, that’s the foundation. But beyond that, I want to see a bigger footprint: more clients, more markets, more recognition. Right now we’re ranked among the top within our organisation, and I want us to step even higher.”
“If people can recognise us more easily, if we can tell our story more confidently to prospective clients – that’s the next goal.”
As we celebrate the long-standing colleagues who have shaped Links into what it is today, Phoebe’s story is a testament to what becomes possible when ambition meets the right environment. Eighteen years, multiple markets, and a team built with purpose, it all starts with a culture that believes in its people.
If you are looking to grow your career with an organisation that invests in your development and gives you the space to lead, we are hiring – reach out and follow our LinkedIn page to explore opportunities at Links International!