Q: What were your personal/career goals when you joined NUS?
I did not join NUS with a specific goal in mind. But I had some vague notions of what I wanted to achieve during my time here.
Firstly, I wanted to explore the range of academic options that my Business and Economics double degree programme offered to me, before deciding on a career path. To this end, I intentionally attended career events, bounced ideas off peers, and took on internships in different industries.
Secondly, I wanted to find ways to do good and contribute toward sustainability. But not knowing where to begin, I joined a social entrepreneurship interest group to find out more about integrating social causes and business goals, to implement these ideas in my own social enterprise, BRice.
Finally, I wanted to challenge myself academically. Hence, I decided to take on a double degree in Business and Economics. This would allow me to gain the finance knowledge necessary to manage my personal assets well, while building a core quantitative foundation through Economics.
Q: How has NUS guided you toward that objective?
I must credit the NUS Overseas Colleges Programme (NOC) for being a developmental catalyst. I had my eye on it even before enrolling in NUS, as I wanted to determine if the start-up ecosystem was a good fit for me. I eventually joined a social entrepreneurship student club now named “Social Impact Catalyst”, attended start-up events regularly, interned at a start-up during my first summer vacation, and even started my own social enterprise.
My experiences with the club deepened my interest in the entrepreneurship space, and led me to embark on a six-month NOC programme in Israel. I chose to apply to the Israel programme, as I also took an interest in Middle Eastern geopolitics. It was an astute decision, as I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with venture capital (VC) firm Singtel Innov8 in Tel Aviv, and received exposure to cybersecurity, smart cities, fintech and gaming.
Hean Shuen (in black-rimmed glasses) with his NOC Israel colleagues.
Upon return to Singapore, I remained connected to the local start-up and innovation scene. I joined Protégé Ventures (Southeast Asia’s first student-run VC), continued running my social enterprise, BRice, and did internships with other start-ups.
Q: How has NUS Business School transformed your life?
NUS Business School was instrumental in helping me discover my career path.
The School provided strong support and extensive resources to aid us in career preparation. This ranged from industry information sessions to company events and skill workshops. I vividly recall attending an intimate sharing session with alumni from major consulting firms, which piqued my interest in the management consulting industry. So while I had a lot of fun and learnt a lot in the start-up space, I eventually found my call in consulting. I now eagerly await the start of my full-time role as a consultant with Oliver Wyman.
Another thing I appreciate about NUS Business School is the strong career-focused culture. This permeates all of the conversations amongst the business school students, which really helped to guide my thoughts and decision-making.
Q: What are the biggest takeaways from your time here?
Without a doubt, the friendships forged, both in class and through my co-curricular involvements. I recount with fondness, the invigorating conversations and banter over which modules to take, what clubs to join and what internships to pursue.
We also dreamed and envisioned our future careers together over round-island cycling rides, and meals after school. The journey I’ve taken with these peers have shaped me into the person I am today, and have profoundly influenced the choices I’ve made.
Q: What are the memorable moments of your time at NUS?
Of all the wonderful experiences I’ve had at NUS, two particularly stand out.
The first was my NOC Israel internship with Singtel Innov8. Great professional learning and colleagues aside, being based in Israel was an eye-opening experience. I was able to appreciate the socio-political complexities of the people from an insider’s perspective.
Hean Shuen (second from left) with his NOC peers near the Dead Sea in Israel.
The other defining experience was my time with Conjunct Consulting, a student club that does pro-bono consulting for non-profit organisations. I led a diverse team to craft a strategic plan for a Malaysian non-profit alliance. I visited Kuching twice over a 10-week period to conduct a co-creation workshop and present our recommendations to the client. While it was both intimidating and tiring, it was also tremendously rewarding, and further crystallised my desire to pursue management consulting as a career.
Hean Shuen (second from right) at the co-creation workshop in Kuching, Malaysia.
