NUS Business School Alumni - MBA 1985

Managing Partner - Global Biotech Singapore

Tell us more about yourself and your background

I graduated from NUS MBA class in 1985. Since young, I have always been an active member of the communities that I am in. Similarly, when I was doing the part-time MBA at NUS as part of their third-ever cohort of students, I joined the MBA club and was elected the President of the MBA Alumni-NUS, the Founding President of NUS Business School Alumni Association (NUSBSA) and later became an inaugural member of the NUS Alumni Advisory Board when it was formed in 2005. 

When did you start your giving journey? Do you remember your first time? What led you to give to NUSBSA Bursary Fund?

Helping needy students is close to my heart as I came from a very humble background and relied on financial aid to pay for tuition fees. I wouldn’t have made it so far otherwise. It all started quite simply. I had wanted to make a donation to commemorate my son’s wedding in 2006, and my initial donation of $25,000 became the seeding fund of sorts when I later roped in nine other friends who also believed in the cause to donate. This was how NUSBSA Bursary Fund was started. The government matching structure also made it a very easy sell — the money you donate will help needy students in perpetuity! That’s very good ROI! Most importantly, I want university students to be able to focus on their work, and not have to give tuition to earn their degree.

What advice would you give to those who not know where and how to start in Giving?

Just give to your alma mater for helping you to be what you are today. NUS giving has made it easy for giving. 

Do not procrastinate till you are more settled. Just give according to your capacity - give a little when you are starting out, give more when you are able and capable. From my own personal experience, the more l give, the more I get to give. Very true for me