Fullerton Markets EUGENE PAIK General Manager. Fullerton Markets.
Q Hi Eugene, thanks for appearing in Game Changers. How did a man with a background in Science end up in Finance? Living in the great lion city Singapore, I went through the academic route, in which I achieved all Distinctions for the GCE Advanced Level examination. This gave me the opportunity to pursue the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Direct Honours Degree at the National University of Singapore (NUS). In my final year, I did a stint in a Chemical Polymer Plant. Wanting to challenge myself, I requested my manager to throw me the works of a full-fledged Chemical Engineer. Everything seemed perfect. However, before I left, my manager told me: “You did great, but you need to find your true passion, somewhere you truly belong.” That sentence struck me strongly. He was right. I could feel the flames dying out as I worked in the plant. Like a frog leaping out from a tiny well, I ventured into something that I was always keen in, but never had the courage to do. I took a Financial Markets Accreditation course in Singapore Management University while still in NUS. I almost dropped out as the night courses were demanding and my classmates were high-ranking professionals in Finance. Using logical thinking from my Science background and together with much grit, I successfully obtained the Financial Accreditation! It was a huge step forward for me – both in determining my passion and breaking into the banking and finance industry. Q Standard Chartered is a huge brand to begin your career in. How did you manage to enter this big institution and what was your work experience like? Getting into the Management Associate Program of Standard Chartered was no easy task. I recall doing IQ and logic tests, a two-hour long interview call from London, and a face-to-face interview with the Head of Wealth Projects and Processes. The last sentence I said before stepping out of the interview was: “I may not have the background, but I come with great passion and a love for people.” With that, I began my career in Standard Chartered.
Eugene Paik General Manager of Fullerton Markets
