Q: How was your time in NUS?

My time in NUS was one of the best periods in my life! I stayed in Sheares Hall for 4 years and was a full-time Shearite, sportsman, part-time investor, and student. I was really active, playing sports for my hall, NUS, and club, both in Singapore and overseas.

Apart from academics and campus life, my internships were important as well. They helped me connect the dots between theory and real-life applications, opened my eyes to the working world, and prepared me for it.

Q: What were your expectations when you entered the workforce, and how did reality compare?

My internship gave me a good introduction to being a "full-time adult," so that helped to manage my expectations. The experience also gave me a good idea of what I liked and disliked doing.

Q: What advice would you give to students starting their first job?

I would tell students not to be afraid of connecting with professionals and seniors. Go out there and be proactive, engage them to learn from their wealth of experience, and then "give it a go" to put your ideas into action.

Q: How did your skills evolve as you took on leadership positions?

Engineering taught me foundational problem-solving. As I progressed, a lot of work was less technical in nature. But it was no less challenging and demanded a wide range of other skills.

Finance became a large part of it — running a business and understanding numbers in complex operations. When I had to manage people, I had to hone my communications and change-management skills as well.

Personally, I have never lacked having an opinion. Over the years, having a strong point of view and conviction has allowed me to lead and influence others toward a common goal. While that has allowed me to grow into the leader I am today, I have also learnt humility from so many who have guided me in my journey.

Q: How should students decide whether the semiconductor industry could be a career path for them?

Semiconductors is probably one of the most important and exciting industries, yet one of the least understood by many. It is the foundational technology of the digital economy, AI, and multiple future inflection points.

I would encourage students to step up and look to make their mark in this exciting arena. On that note, I am glad that NUS is taking a more multidisciplinary approach when imparting new skills to undergraduates. The world is increasingly complex and competitive, and it is clear that we will need a multidisciplinary suite of skills and a dose of grit in order to get an edge.

Q: If you could go back and give your Year 1 self one piece of advice, what would it be?

I had a lot of fun in school and would not have had it any other way. What I wished I had done a better job at, would be to build a broader network beyond my faculty and my natural community.

Interview by: Huang JingWei (Alumni Relations Student Ambassador)