Professional Overview
CheeTung (CT) Leong is the Co-founder and CEO (Americas) of EngageRocket, a Singapore-based HR technology startup specializing in employee engagement and people analytics. EngageRocket provides a SaaS platform that enables businesses and leaders to translate employee feedback into actionable management insights, thereby enhancing workforce engagement, productivity, and retention. The company, founded in 2016 by CheeTung Leong and Dorothy Yiu, has demonstrated strong growth, achieving an eightfold increase in size by the end of 2019, and operates across Asia and the Americas with a notable presence in Palo Alto, California.
Prior to founding EngageRocket, CheeTung held the position of Regional Director for Gallup in Southeast Asia, a leading global advisory firm specialized in human capital and workplace analytics. His background combines deep expertise in behavioral economics, people analytics, and organizational behavior.
Current Role and Responsibilities
As CEO and Co-founder, CheeTung is responsible for shaping EngageRocket’s product vision, go-to-market strategies, and regional expansion efforts, especially focusing on the US market. He also serves as the CEO for the Americas region, reflecting EngageRocket’s strategic push into North America. Since late 2023, CheeTung relocated with his family to Palo Alto, California, to lead this expansion and engage directly with the US SaaS and HR technology ecosystem.
He is active in thought leadership within HR technology, authoring numerous articles, podcasts, and interviews on topics including employee engagement, startup growth, US market entry strategies for SaaS companies, and the science of business operations. Key themes in his public commentary emphasize building differentiated products in competitive markets, data-driven management, and human behavior in organizations.
Educational Background
CheeTung Leong studied Economics at the University of Cambridge and holds a Master’s degree from Columbia University, New York, underpinning his analytical approach to organizational and employee data. His 15+ years of experience integrate economics, analytics, and leadership within the HR and SaaS domains.
Thought Leadership and Content Contributions
CheeTung consistently publishes content on leadership, HR trends, SaaS growth strategies, and employee experience, with recent articles dated through 2024 including:
- "Don't run out of money when expanding your startup into the US. Here's how." (Oct 31, 2024)
- "Accelerating early growth when expanding your SaaS startup in the US" (May 31, 2024)
- "Lessons in Cracking the US B2B SaaS Market from 350+ Startups" (Apr 12, 2024)
- "The Science and Art of Business Operations" (May 3, 2024)
He co-hosts the Engaging Leadership Show and HR Impact Show, platforms where he discusses leadership practices and HR innovations with industry leaders. He has also featured in media interviews and podcasts highlighting his expertise in employee engagement and startup scaling.
Company Context: EngageRocket
EngageRocket positions itself as a next-generation employee experience platform, combining automation, real-time analytics, and behavioral insights to improve organizational culture and management effectiveness. The platform supports leaders to:
1. Build a culture of continuous feedback and improvement
2. Customize engagement initiatives by team and manager
3. Foster high-performance teams with minimal administrative overhead
EngageRocket's approach addresses critical workforce challenges such as employee retention, manager empowerment, and organizational resilience—key issues for companies in dynamic and economically uncertain markets.
Notable Achievements and Industry Impact
- Recognized as part of Asia Tatler's Generation T Honorees for young leaders shaping the future of Asia.
- Featured in Forbes as an analyst and thought leader in HR tech and employee engagement.
- Has driven rapid company growth through rigorous application of analytics, achieving widespread adoption of people analytics in Southeast Asia and expanding into North America.
- Publicly advocated for innovative leadership models that emphasize empathy, flexibility, and data-driven decision-making in hybrid and remote work environments.
- Co-authored multiple reports and whitepapers on employee experience, HR trends, and organizational change.
Recommendations and Peer Endorsements
Colleagues and clients consistently commend CheeTung’s clarity, leadership, and focus on creating meaningful employee experiences. Key testimonials highlight his role in:
- Delivering client success through professional dedication and follow-through.
- Leading EngageRocket in transforming client HR functions by embedding analytics and behavioral economics.
- Navigating complex transformations for clientele including major financial institutions like Mizuho Bank.
Geographic and Network Presence
- Based in Palo Alto, California, enabling proximity to the US tech and SaaS markets.
- Maintains a robust professional network with over 15,000 followers on LinkedIn.
- Engages actively through social media channels and industry forums to maintain visibility as an HR tech influencer.
This profile portrays CheeTung Leong as a data-driven, experienced SaaS executive with deep expertise in employee engagement and HR technology, equipped to lead strategic growth initiatives for EngageRocket, particularly in the Americas. His strong academic background, coupled with practical leadership experience at Gallup and in startup scaling, positions him as a key protagonist in the evolving HR analytics space.
