Lin Xun (BBA 2012) started her career in corporate banking covering Asian multinational corporations.
She derives satisfaction from interacting with clients, understanding their businesses and working with product partners to customise financing solutions for clients.
Lin Xun always had a strong interest in Finance, starting her investment journey from 18 years old, when she reached the minimum age required to open a Central Depository (CDP) account.
When her parents asked her what she want as a present for her 18th year old birthday, she requested for some shares. Her time in university was when she further pursued her interests in business and finance, and she led the NUS Investment Club as President and was co-Partner of the NUS Case Consulting Group.
Q: How were your internships like? What were the biggest takeaways from those experiences?
My first internship was with International Enterprise Singapore, where I did research on overseas market opportunities for Singapore companies and assessed ways in which they can expand.
After my exchange program at New York University Stern School of Business, I also did an internship in San Francisco with a small family-owned retail company, which was considering a product line expansion and opening a new outlet in New York. I conducted feasibility assessments by gathering inputs from various departments for the financial modelling, and did consumer market research.
The year prior to graduation, I did an internship in private wealth management, where I was rotated to various teams including sales, product and investment. This opportunity significantly helped me to understand the various roles within the finance industry.
My internships were varied across industries, and the insights gathered from these real world experiences continue to serve me well and are applicable regardless of industry. A common takeaway is the importance of being proactive in reaching out to people for guidance and advice. By doing so, you can gain a wealth of perspectives, which equips you to decide which career paths are in line with your interests. An internship is the best time to explore.
Q: Why did you choose in NUS Business School?
A degree in business was a natural path for me, given my keen interest in finance. At that point in time, I was considering either a local or overseas university education, and it was admittedly a difficult decision to make. My family has always been very supportive and gave me space to decide what I wanted for myself, though they did express their wish for me to stay in Singapore.
The lure of studying overseas was always there, but I thought NUS offers immense opportunities as well, being right in the heart of a region where there is huge growth potential. Deciding on NUS was one of the most pivotal moments in my life, and I am glad I made the choice. I am extremely thankful for the friendships forged and the valuable experiences, which will stay with me over the course of my life.
Q: When did you start discovering your passion in investments?
As a child, my mom would ask me to help check stock prices on Teletext, and I dutifully did so, intrigued by the discovery of this marketplace. This got me acquainted with the world of investing, and as I grew older my parents gave me advice so I could learn from their investing experiences. Now, we continue to share and discuss perspectives on investment opportunities and business ideas. We are not always aligned in our views, and I have come to realise the importance of experience in investing. As much as analyses can be logical and accurate, market sentiments may move against your positions. It can be frustrating at times, but it is also what makes investing in markets fascinating.
Q: How was your experience at your first job?
Fresh out of school as a corporate banker in a global bank, it was the get-go from day one, learning on the job, picking up skills and product knowledge, supporting senior relationship managers, meeting clients, and juggling different responsibilities. I am thankful to have bosses and mentors who gave me guidance along the way, and I appreciated the opportunity to handle client relationships from the early stages of my career. Being trusted with responsibilities empowered me, and it was a rewarding and enriching experience.
I also had the opportunity to attend a training program in London, where graduate trainees from different countries congregated for induction, classroom learning and projects.
Q: What were the challenges you faced at your first job?
Having to multi-task in my role as a corporate banker was initially overwhelming. More often than not, a relationship manager has to juggle many issues at the same time – working on transactions, meeting clients and product partners, responding to urgent client queries, operational hiccups etc. I look up to seniors who could handle everything smoothly, and questioned myself what it takes to develop the capability. When mistakes are made, it is important to reflect what went wrong and strive to be better. That said, recognise that as much as we may do our best, uncontrollable factors may work against us. Sometimes, I get impatient when things are not progressing as quickly or as well as envisaged, and I would remind myself of a mentor’s advice: Seasons and cycles are inevitable in our lives. We should learn to embrace and ride the seasons.
My advice to undergraduates is to have confidence in yourselves. If you have put in hard work in an efficient and effective manner, and have a positive attitude, time and experience will do their magic.
Q: What could be the reason that attract people into your role / be hesitant?
I would say that the role of a relationship manager is suitable for someone who enjoys client interactions and collaborations with different stakeholders. Personally, I am driven and motivated by the stimulating discussions with clients and product partners, which comes as part of the role. A relationship manager has to be well-versed with the entire suite of financing solutions, and hence breadth of knowledge is important. Some people may prefer a more specialised role, such as a product specialist who has the depth of knowledge in a single product.
Q: How does technology affect your role?
Technology has freed up capacity and bandwidth for more value-adding work. With some of the more routine and mundane tasks taken care of by technology, we are able to use our time more effectively, spending more time with clients to understand their needs and tailor solutions for them.