Why did I join NUS

I get asked this a number of times, so I decided to write up my first blog post (on this new site) about this topic.

I was on a sabbatical prior to starting work at NUS. During that period, I was taking a break and trying to decide what to do next, on a professional level. I was considering something related to social impact. In fact, I was exploring whether it would be possible to make social impact my full-time gig.

Unfortunately, after a few months to figuring things out, the conclusion that I got was that it was not meant to be, at that point in time. Also, personal funds were running low so I needed to get something to put food on the table.

I recalled that someone shared about this role at NUS. I decided to find out more and saw synergy in the following three areas:

Here are the reasons why I chose my current role.

• I get to stay on in the startup ecosystem, albeit in a different role. Previously, I was involved in the startup ecosystem as an enabler (government) and a founder or operator (startups). In this role, I would be more involved from the talent side, matching students to startups for internship.
• I get to interact with students. It’s been a decade since I graduated and I wanted to stay in touch with what’s happening on the ground. I wanted to keep abreast of the developments and thinking of the youths of today. This role provided me the opportunity to interact with students and understand how they approach issues.
• I get the opportunity to travel and be based overseas. There was serious consideration about relocation and that was something that our family has been discussing and looking forward to. Therefore, when I found out that this role had that opportunity, it ticked all the boxes.

Drafting this now at my 11th month is a nice reminder of how far I’ve come and how much have transpired over the last 11 months. I’ve definitely experienced all three points, except the relocation part. Hopefully that comes sooner rather than later, but we’ll see.