An Interview with NCBV Program Director: Ms Gean Chu
Interview with Julia Koh, December 8th 2005
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| Miss Gean Chu at the Philadelphia Office of NOC (NUS Overseas College), located at the Science Center. |
1. What made you take up the challenge of working here?
Having worked for NUS for more than 2 years, I was presented with a recommendation for the NOC Programme, which was something challenging and would widen my job scope. I had 2 years of prior experience in regional Sales for a while before joining NUS, and I realized that relocating here would give me better exposure in terms of career development and enable me to add value to NUS when I eventually return.
2. How did you manage to acquire such a large network of contacts?
The beginning is always the toughest period. Even though Sharon [the former manager of NCBV] had built up a good network and there was demand among the existing companies for our students, there were companies that were either not doing so well, or had advanced beyond the hiring of interns, and so there were a decreasing number of companies in our pool to match our students to. This presented a challenge, and so I had to raise awareness of our programme, and get new companies into the fold.
I attend conferences and seminars, send emails, give cold-calls, meet up with potentials, and generally use all sorts of marketing strategies and do whatever it takes to garner more contacts and get companies to join our programme. I would say that following-up is the single most important thing to do, because you have to establish the relationship and enable the other party to get to know you as a person and to eventually trust you, which helps when you are trying to ‘sell’ students to them. It is also very important to maintain existing contacts, either by occasionally dropping them an email or giving them a call. So the trick is to maintain existing contacts and to make new ones at the same time.
3. What are the greatest challenges you have had in matching students and companies’ expectations?
Initially, our students were not allowed to choose the company that they went to. The matching process was based on the companies’ requirements and needs, and the students would be matched according to their abilities and skill sets. But now, we have realized that we must listen to the students’ expectations to result in a better fit all around. It is difficult though, because the students often do not see the full picture in the one year that they are here. Some of them may be unhappy initially if they do not get the jobs or company they had wanted, or even if the work they end up doing is not what they had expected. However, the students later realize that this is the true start-up experience, where things do not always go the way one expects or desires, and the knowledge and experience that they have gained will benefit them greatly when they go out into the working world after graduation, no matter if they work in a multi-national company or a start-up.
4. What is the process you use in matching students and companies?
I would first inform the companies individually about our incoming batch of students, and ask them if they are interested in hiring any interns, and if so, any requirements that they might have. When NOC Singapore sends the students’ resumes over, I try to match them, but not before speaking to the students and asking them about their interests and expectations. From there, I try my best to fit them with the companies’ job scopes and requirements. I send 2-3 resumes to each company, who will then either interview all the candidates, or select only one for an interview. The company then decides if it wants to hire a candidate, and if so, links up with Marina from Speedwing travel to settle the visa process. The whole process takes anything from one week to a month.
5. Tell us more about your experiences in NCBV?
It was very tough in the beginning, to build contacts and to get to know people. I had to be sincere and gradually make friends along the way. The entire experience has been a steep learning curve, but a very fulfilling one because I learnt to make decisions on my own using my instincts and judgement, making some mistakes along the way but also learning from there, and of course making new friends here, who have been a great help to me.
6. How was it like when you first came here; any homesickness, culture shock, etc?
I had the worst experience ever when I first arrived in December last year! The airline lost my luggage, and it was so cold, yet I only had my windbreaker in my backpack to wear because all my winter clothing was in the luggage! I couldn’t find anyone to help me, and had to use the airline’s compensation to buy a whole new set of winter clothes. I did have insurance for my luggage, but it definitely could not replace the priceless gifts that my friends had given to me as going-away presents! As they say, “Welcome to America!” Well, my first experience in the States certainly proved to be a memorable one!
Other than the usual homesickness and cravings for food back in Singapore, it has been okay for me. I believe that not every woman would be able to do this; she must have strength of character to go through all these by herself. And hopefully, I have what it takes, having been here for a year already! I did have this thought at the back of my mind: “What did you come here? It is so much easier and comfortable in Singapore, why put yourself through all this suffering?” But now that I have learnt so much and got the experience, I can dispense advice to others. Else, I would not be able to tell others what to do if I have not been through it myself!
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| Hawk Mountian Trekking Hanging out with some of the Batch 6 People. Kudos to the coolest program director! |
7. What are some of the things that you enjoy doing in the Valley?
I enjoy hanging out most with the Batch 6 people! Perhaps this is because I was the one who placed them, thus there is a stronger bond between us. Of course, I also enjoy travelling; since I am here I think that I should take the opportunity to travel. I also enjoy getting to know people, networking, and increasing my connections! It is nice to meet people, especially influential figures in Philadelphia, such as those in the biotechnology field.
I love sports, and I do hope to take up badminton, golf and skiing soon, but as usual, it is hard to find the time to hone one’s skills!
8. How do you feel that you have benefited from being the programme director for NCBV?
My personal growth, for one, has been exponential. It is too comfortable in Singapore, while here I go out of my comfort zone to find out things and do them myself, building up valuable networks in the process. I also try to bring all the students together and hopefully they will build a bond amongst themselves that will not break even after they graduate from the programme. I want to see NOC’s investment in them pay off, and not only in terms of success in the area of entrepreneurship. I want to see them succeed, be it as entrepreneurs or Investment Bankers. In fact, I would prefer to see them work for 3-5 years in the corporate world, to gain experience in the industry that they are interested to operate their start-ups in. The important thing is that they see themselves as having a stake in Singapore and want to contribute in some way to its success.
9. If this programme was available to you when you were studying in NUS, would you have gone for it? And how do you think you would have done?
Of course I would apply for it! I think family background plays a part here; my parents run a family business, and I’ve dreamt of being a businesswoman since I was little. It would be a great chance to go overseas and gain the exposure, plus NOC does not place a premium on grades, which is good because my grades were not that fantastic.
I would have wanted to do Business Development-related work, but even if I had ended up doing less-than-ideal office work, I believe that I would still have learnt a lot from the whole experience. When I was doing office administration work at my part-time job at American Express after leaving my first job and searching for my second, I was working for the Account Manager, which was strange because I was the Account Manager at my former job. But it was a good learning experience because I started at the bottom of the ladder and it proved useful when I started up my own company after that experience, because I gained an appreciation and respect for all kinds of jobs in an organization and could be a better boss who respected all of her employees and the work they did.
10. Lastly, any advice to give to budding entrepreneurs?
Firstly, if you wish to start a business, try to expose yourself and gain the relevant experience in that particular industry. You will need the contacts, connections and networks to succeed, plus other factors such as a good leadership, a strong team with the same vision as you and more. Whether you already have the technology or not, build up your connections and network first.
I had wanted to start-up an IT company, so upon graduation, I worked in the industry for 2 years before going into it. It worked out well but then my business partner dropped out of the venture due to personal reasons after six months and I had no choice but to look for a full-time job whilst carrying on the venture outside of office hours. I did this for a year in total. Looking back, it was a good experience, though one can never predict what may happen down the road. I do want to start-up another company again, perhaps 2-3 years down the road. This time, it will be a cafe, something in the F&B industry.
Secondly, at the end of the day, one should look at one’s own society and give back to it. Being a nature lover, I was a volunteer with Kent Ridge Park, and had helped in environmental conservation by helping to plant and prune trees and shrubs once a month. I also helped out at the Singapore Children’s Society on an ad-hoc basis, where I would co-ordinate events to help bring some cheer into the orphans’ lives during festive seasons. I got to hear of these openings from the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NPVC), of which I am a member.
It is easy to say that one is busy, but a good balance should be struck between oneself and the less fortunate. This helps us to see that we really are very blessed, and so we should bless others as well.