6TH BATCH SPIN: PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH
Delievered on December 16 2005, Sheraton University City
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Eric Feng,
SPIN President
6th Batch NCBV
Let's make it happen!
What you have just seen (the launch of SPIN website) was the result of a group of people who have made a stand to get our SPIN website out by hook (but not by crook) on the 16 Dec so that everyone here tonight can witness it. And they made it happen.
I still remember a couple of months back, Batch 6 came together in Tandoori India for dinner (coz it’s cheap). And we decided that we wanted to do something together. And within three weeks time, we put together the Entrepreneur Seminar and invited over 50 people including our bosses and classmates. We made it happen.
In a month’s time, we will be launching our first SPIN e-mag titled Trail Blazer. Quite an appropriate name as well because we will be the first NOC college to launch our very own newsletter. And this was the result of yet another group of people who said, “Let’s have a magazine that we can call our own!” And trust me, they are going make it happen too!
Sitting before you are people who not only have great ideas. But they have what it takes to make things happen just because they say so. And these are the same people who want their peers to succeed as much as they want to themselves. And it is because of all these reasons that gives SPIN a golden ticket to shoot for the stars!
Tonight, allow me to share with you our vision.
We aspire to be a leading organization that facilitates entrepreneurial exchanges between Singapore and Greater Philadelphia.
In other words, we want to be an organization that creates an impact in both regions because of what we do. Linking up entrepreneurs, companies and organizations. And as a result of that, creating opportunities for collaborations and growth in both regions.
There are three critical roles we have to play. For the past one year, we have been playing the role of the ambassador and connector very well. But I will like to take a step further.
SPIN has to start playing the role of the catalyst. We want to help companies here set up their businesses in Singapore so that they can capture the Asia market. For us to do that, we need to actively seek opportunities to bring them over. In other words, we got to start creating strategic linkages with organizations in Singapore and Philadelphia.
This may sound ambitious but not impossible. As the President of SPIN, I am committed to bringing SPIN one step forward towards this ambition, with the help of every single of you!
In the next 6 months, there are two things that we want to do well.
One, to raise the profile of SPIN in Philadelphia through Trail Blazer and SPIN website. We want to leverage on these two mediums to sell SPIN: to inform our stakeholders of who we are and what we can do for them. For the next six months, you will see projects revolving around these two mediums.
As an organization, we are also looking for opportunities to increase your visibility in our network and expand your social capital. And we are going to achieve it through our collaborations with organizations in Philadelphia. Not just any organization but organizations that can help us forward our long-term agenda of bringing companies to Singapore.
Since the new EXCO took position two months ago, we have built two very important relationships. One with Science Center and the other with Fox Leadership in University of Pennsylvania.
Let me share with you more about our collaboration with Fox Leadership. During May next year, we will be launching the SPIN-FOX Xchange or SFX. It was an initiative by both SPIN and Fox Leadership to provide UPENN students with the opportunity to engage and learn from a wide range of diverse leaders in business, political and cultural aspects of Singapore.
I would like to encourage every one of you to get involved in this initiative as this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with a large group of people (both current SPIN members and SPIN Alumni). And in the process, you will gain valuable experience both as a team player and a leader.
The second thing we want to do well this year is to ensure that what we do doesn’t end with us. A lot of it has to do with building the SPIN spirit. And this is not just the job or one or two individuals. All of us have to be responsible because ultimately when SPIN succeeds, you succeed. What we will have with us is an exclusive channel of support and resources that we can tap into. And this will make you a valuable asset to your company in future.
In another 6 months time, we are all going to be leaving this place. We are going to have our own graduate dinner as well. And when you are sitting at the seats of where our seniors are sitting right now, what would give you a sense of accomplishment? How would you want to live your mark?
Tonight, I would like to invite all of you to take up this opportunity to join me on this ship that our seniors from the previous five batches have took time and sweat to build. It is time for us to head out to the rough sea and show this world what we can do as a team.
Here’s one thing I can guarantee. In ten to twenty years down the road, when SPIN flourished and we looked back, we can all give one another a pat on our shoulders and this is what I will tell you. “You know what, it was fun! We should do it again.” And for those people who do not believe in our vision, here’s what we will tell them.
“Eat our dust!”