MCI (P) 064/07/2022
INSPIRE TO ASPIRE 02 What’s Important – Journey or Outcome? 04 Supply Chain Reboot is Here
06 Ingredients for Succeeding in Tech 08 Sam Liew Chats about SCS
10 Caecilia Chu Outlines What’s Next for YouTrip
Issue
02 2022
Contents Vision
EDITOR’S MESSAGE
POWER BOOST
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To be the leading infocomm and digital media professional society in Singapore
Mission Lead the Way To lead and contribute to the vibrancy and growth of Singapore’s infocomm and digital media industry
Does Aspire or Inspire Come First?
Two Things That Make Aspiration Possible
THE BIG IDEA
#LATEST@SCS
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What’s Important – Journey or Outcome?
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How to Make the Most of Your SCS Membership
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Supply Chain Reboot is Here
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Highlights of SCS Gala Dinner and Tech Leader Awards
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Ingredients for Succeeding in Tech
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Newly Minted Tech Leader Awards 2022 Winners
SPOTLIGHT
Add Value
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Sam Liew Chats about SCS
To add value to the infocomm and digital media professional’s career and personal development
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Caecilia Chu Outlines What’s Next for YouTrip
GEEK SPEAK 25
Going from Zero to Hero
Be the Voice To engage and be the voice of the infocomm and digital media community
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The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society
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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
9:41 AM
Aspire or Inspire – Which Comes First?
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emember the age old question “Did the chicken or the egg come first?” We have the same dilemma when it comes to “aspire” and “inspire”. Does inspiration motivate one to become aspiring? Or is it the other way round – aspirations drive one to grow into inspiring people? Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer. What we do know however is that each of the recently crowned Tech Leader Awards 2022 winners had bold aspirations and inspiring journeys. Even as we root for tech veterans like Mr Chong Kok Keong to successfully solve global supply chain disruption problems, we are encouraged to see future tech leaders like Mr Joel Yap challenging himself to take the path less travelled. But perhaps, what really sets our Tech Leader Awards 2022 winners apart is their passion and perseverance. These qualities empower them to remain unfaltering in the face of difficulties. YouTrip’s co-founder, Ms Caecilia Chu, is one such example. When the pandemic hit and the travel industry came to a standstill, she gamely steered her ship into uncharted waters – and came out stronger on the other side. As it seems, the saying, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” is true, but so is
EDITOR Tan Teng Cheong CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chong Kok Keong Koh Chin Yong Vladyslav Koshelyev Joel Yap EDITORIAL SUPPORT Claudia Lim
ADVERTISING SALES For ad sales enquiries, email scs.secretariat@scs.org.sg MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION SCS members may manage mailing preference or opt out of physical mailing via Member Portal. All magazine issues are available on www.scs.org.sg/ media/scs-magazine. EDITORIAL & DESIGN Lancer Design Pte Ltd
“learning never gets old”. According to Mr Koh Chin Yong, it is one of the key essential ingredients that has guided his illustrious tech career. We can’t agree more. The technology landscape continues to evolve at an increasing pace. It is therefore pertinent that we learn new skills, grow our network and explore new possibilities to stay on top of our game. Towards that end, Mr Sam Liew, who took office as SCS President in March 2022, has outlined a comprehensive road map for strengthening SCS programmes and activities for students, youths, professionals and seniors. Besides more opportunities to engage with one another and a more vibrant and close-knit tech community, SCS members can look forward to partaking in community programmes and paying it forward. And the good news – we are just starting. Have fun reading!
TAN TENG CHEONG Editor Fellow, SCS tan.teng.cheong@scs.org.sg
FEEDBACK We value your feedback for this magazine. Simply email scs.secretariat@scs.org.sg with your comments to help us produce an even more interesting and relevant magazine for you in subsequent issues. You are welcome to submit articles for inclusion consideration. For advertising enquiries, please call 6226 2567 or email scs.secretariat@scs.org.sg. The IT Society is the official publication of the Singapore Computer Society. Any part of this publication may be reproduced as long as credit is given to the publisher, Singapore Computer Society. All views expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Society.
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THE BIG IDEA
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 02/2022
Is Success Defined by the Outcome Or the Journey?
The poet Robert Frost famously wrote “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.” That runs contrary to the Singaporean logic – which states that the popular option is the best option. We believe an established path provides security and maximises probability of “success”. But is there one standard our youths today use to measure success?
JOEL YAP Graduate Member, SCS Future Leader in Tech, Tech Leader Awards 2022 Founder in Residence, Entrepreneur First
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hat is success to you? Is it about earning enough money to live a comfortable life? Or is it a feeling of empowerment from working a job you are passionate about? The bar is different for everyone.
The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society
TO EACH HIS OWN I’ve often been labelled as a “serial entrepreneur”. But what does that mean? From my perspective, it means I try a lot. Growing up, I was always a decent student. I was never the brightest, but I learnt from a young age that if I worked hard and studied smart, good results would follow. I did however excel in something – I have the gift of the gab. My mother would often say: “You may not be smart enough to be a lawyer or a doctor, but you’d definitely be a good used car salesman!” It definitely wouldn’t be a stretch to deduce that my family’s reassurance seeded my confidence to attempt entrepreneurship. PASSION IS THE STARTING POINT Following National Service, I wanted to learn a new skill and landed on bartending. After working as a barback for three months, I packed my bags and went to London to attend bar school. There, I studied the theory and history behind cocktails, as well as picked up flair bartending skills. After two months of learning and travelling, I returned to Singapore armed with newfound knowledge and did shifts at my previous bar. However, it wasn’t long before I started my undergraduate studies and didn’t have the time for bartending shifts. This led me to my first business venture – Double Strained Bartenders which provided bartending services and curated menus for private events and weddings. The experience made me discover the joys of solving a problem I am passionate about. I also learnt the fundamentals of running a business, from procuring and pricing products to managing customers. This early success taught me that with the right mindset and creativity, almost any passion can be turned into a business.
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SETBACKS ARE PART OF THE PACKAGE While studying Computing at the National University of Singapore, I made it a point to join at least one hackathon every month. I would often attend these hackathons without a team, so as to ideate and learn from different people. I believed that exposing myself to new tech and different ways of thinking was important. I also decided that my next business would leverage on my technical ability. Then came the downs. I tried launching various business ideas, from a service that enabled employees to receive their claims automatically, to an app that enabled businesses to manage their business intelligence better. A lack of traction as well as user feedback forced me to give up on these ideas. Despite these setbacks, I was undeterred. I knew that I just had to find the right opportunity and jump on it. SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THEY ARISE In the midst of COVID-19, an old friend reached out and pitched the idea of building an adaptive game that could personalise questions for students. Within 10 minutes, I knew he was onto something – and LevelUp was formed. Over the next two years, LevelUp grew from a founding team of four to 18. We also won numerous awards while bootstrapping to equity-free grants and competitions. In addition, LevelUp was featured in Business Times. The article “Student-led start-up merges study and play” highlighted the growing demand of personalised education and the need for innovation in EduTech.
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As with any startup, pivots are inevitable. LevelUp was no different. In mid 2021, the team started prioritising psychometry over technology. Resultantly, my role diminished in importance. Although I could comfortably continue in this capacity, I knew that if I want to create something great, I have to work on something I am passionate about even though it may be uncomfortable. Hence, I left LevelUp in early 2022 to continue my entrepreneurial journey at Entrepreneur First as a founder in residence. MY UNIQUE DEFINITION OF SUCCESS Elon Musk and Steve Jobs made “entrepreneurs” cool but that is only what people see on the surface. In reality, startups are about grinding towards an uncertain goal based on the founder’s conviction. That said, I am deeply drawn by the idea that I can make a difference and build a company that makes the world a better place. My startup journey thus far was not without ups and downs, but at the back of my mind I know that if I were to achieve anything, I’ll have to put in the work and try my hardest. For me, success is about making the world a better place by being a value multiplier. SUCCESS IS IN THE NOW AND THE FUTURE Although I have embarked on my journey to build success, I have yet to scratch the surface of my entrepreneurial or life goals. Come back to me in 20 years, I hope by then my aspiration to build Singapore’s next unicorn would have come true – and I can share good news.
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THE BIG IDEA
THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 02/2022
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Are You Ready for the Supply Chain Reboot?
CHONG KOK KEONG Member, SCS Digital Achiever (Individual), Tech Leader Awards 2022 Chief Executive Officer, Global eTrade Services
Global supply chains today are incredibly complex. When this highly intricate and interconnected system is disrupted, the ripple effects – from shortages to price hikes – are quickly felt by everyone. Digitalisation offers a solution at the heart of this crisis. 1
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/3/7/oil-soars-stocks-tank-as-russia-ukraine-war-rages
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his year, we witnessed how the intensifying war between Russia and Ukraine added to the global supply chain chaos triggered by the pandemic. Energy prices soared to record highs of almost US$140 a barrel1 while trading sanctions imposed on Russia restricted the flow of critical resources worldwide. There is no telling when the war will end but three key secular trends are transforming supply chains and shaping how supply chains of the future will look like.
The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society
RIDE ON OPPORTUNITIES E-COMMERCE BOOM OFFERS The first key trend is e-commerce. Growing steadily over the past decade, e-commerce surged during the pandemic – from shopping for grocery and fashion to food delivery. Online shopping had been on the rise before the pandemic, but COVID-19 accelerated the growth by two to five times.2 In the US alone, Americans spent US$1.7 trillion online during the past two years, a jump of about 55% from the US$609 billion spent in the two years prior to COVID-19.3 The trend is here to stay even as brick and mortar shops reopen to walk-in customers. Physical stores and face-toface touchpoints may reclaim part of online retail sales but more consumers are now sold on the convenience and price competitiveness of shopping online.4 Retailers likewise look set to explore new omnichannel models as they recalibrate their business models to meet evolving consumer expectations.5 It is my vision to empower these small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with solutions that allow them to navigate and meet compliance, financial, and other requirements for cross-border e-commerce fulfilment seamlessly. Notably, my team and I have recently developed an import/ export concierge to help manage such complexities for SME traders and logistics service providers. Besides providing them with end-to-end supply chain facilitation solutions, we offer in-built advisory capabilities to enhance their competitiveness against bigger players.
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TAP ON TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE RESILIENCE The second key trend shaping supply chains is technology. Even before COVID-19, many countries and companies were already ramping up digitalisation and leveraging Industry 4.0 initiatives such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, the Internet of Things (IoT) and other future-ready technologies. According to an Economist Intelligence Unit study, 96% of respondents increased their investments in digital tools or processes to manage supply chains during the pandemic.6 Asian companies, in particular, adopted solutions which enhance customer service and facilitate inventory management. Technologies like AI and machine learning provide supply chain managers with deeper insights and control. These technologies also empower them to make better decisions by predicting future demand, identifying bottlenecks and improving efficiencies through automation. In this vein, my team and I have been working relentlessly to reimagine the future of trade and supply chains in an increasingly digitalised world. With better integration and orchestration across physical, regulatory and financial activities, companies enjoy improved productivity and bottom lines from simplified trading systems, as well as more accessible and predictable crossborder trades. At the global level, countries are strengthening regional value chains through trade pacts and other policies promoting free and preferential trade. As more parties work together to make cross-border trade more seamless, predictable and efficient, we can expect tech adoption to grow – eventually enabling full end-to-end digitalisation of the entire supply chain.
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EMBRACE THE RENEWED FOCUS IN SUSTAINABILITY The third key trend is sustainability. The pandemic has led to a paradigm shift in how companies approach supply chain issues – many now view sustainability as a necessity. While fundamentals such as diversification to reduce dependence still apply, digitalisation is increasingly seen as the way to improve supply chain performance and mitigate effects of a supply chain crisis. Hence, it is no coincidence that sustainable supply chains also call for technology adoption. The implication is that we need futureready digital solutions to overcome disruptions, reduce inefficiencies and facilitate the ease of trade in the new normal. In addition, better integration and stronger orchestration across the supply chain will enable players to share and coordinate resources globally. This helps to optimise the overall performance of the chain while meeting trade compliance and crossborder requirements. That is why my team and I are constantly pushing the boundaries of simplifying the complexities of logistics and compliance requirements through our software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms. Although the pandemic has created many new challenges in global markets and supply chains, we are here to help local businesses bounce back stronger with our suite of innovative services and expansive network of customs nodes that interconnect governments and businesses. By enabling better integration, we hope to not only make cross-border trade more accessible, predictable and easier, but also more ready to weather turbulent times with stronger and more resilient global supply chains.
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/coronavirus-leading-through-the-crisis/charting-the-path-to-the-next-normal/all-chips-are-on-the-table https://business.adobe.com/sg/resources/digital-economy-index.html https://www.ubs.com/global/en/wealth-management/our-approach/marketnews/article.1548128.html https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/adapting-to-the-next-normal-in-retail-the-customer-experience-imperative https://impact.economist.com/perspectives/sites/default/files/eco128_citi_supply_and_disruption_9.pdf
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THE BIG IDEA
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 02/2022
Essential “Ingredients”: What You Need to Succeed in Tech With the world continuing to digitalise at an increasing pace and tech at the core of these transformational changes, it has set me thinking about the key ingredients for success and their pivotal roles in empowering my tech career over the past two decades.
KOH CHIN YONG Member, SCS Digital Achiever (Team), Tech Leader Awards 2022 Chief Information Officer/ Director (IT), Maritime and Port Authority
The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society
TECHNOLOGY MAKES THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE I remember how as a young software engineer working on my first project at PSA, I spent days on sites to assess how the long queues of hauliers waiting to clear gates at the PSA Container Terminals can be reduced. Particularly, the situation at the Brani Terminal was especially bad on Saturdays with the hauliers rushing to complete their jobs before the weekend kicked in and the public concurrently making their way to the then World Travel Centre (located near the current VivoCity) for their weekend activities. Within two years, automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies made what seemed impossible a reality. We automated the gate clearance process with technologies like RFID, CCTV, automated weighing bridge and self-service terminal with contactless card. Subsequently, image recognition and pager technologies were also implemented to clear the declared containers and transmit yard locations to drivers. Technology had replaced the need for manual container number verification and waiting for yard location print slips at the gate, reduced the gate processing time from an average of two to three minutes to near instantaneous clearance with most trucks simply “flowing through” the gate. Technology had increased the gate handling capacity by multiple folds and reduced the need for more physical infrastructure when container volume grew. Through accurately identifying time-consuming activities, it became possible to systematically apply technology to improve the overall process, leaving manual handling at the gate for exceptions. FROM SOFTWARE LIBRARIES AND MIDDLEWARE TO TECHNOLOGY STACKS In another project where I led the formation of a system architecture team, I learnt the importance of common software libraries, middleware planning, etc., which were required to support the evolution of enterprise-wide systems and e-commerce portals using objectoriented programming languages like
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C++ and Java in early 2000s. These essential building blocks, similar to the technology stacks in today’s term, enabled agile development rather than having to “reinvent the wheel” for every project. More importantly, they enhanced systems’ performance in terms of reliability and security, which ought to be managed only by seasoned software developers and architects. PROCESS INTEGRATION AND TRANSFORMATION STARTS WITH SPEAKING A COMMON LANGUAGE I realised how important process mapping using a common modelling language was in a government agency’s project involving mainframe migration to a J2EE platform for their e-services. Rather than using words to describe the process in verbatim, it was more effective to conduct process review with users across business functions in that manner. It ensured that there were no “surprises” later for all those affected. This is equivalent to performing a usercentric service journey mapping before the start of any tech automation in today’s term. Such process visualisation avoids unproductive rework, which often leads to cost overrun and project failure. Business process mapping, starting with a review of the end-to-end processes and required data at each stage, including the controls and mechanisms to conduct the process, is a key tenet of overcoming poorly integrated silo systems. It should be carried out before any meaningful conversation, business process reengineering or transformation work happens. As a matter of fact, process mapping is an enabler for knowledge management and retention in any organisation. Process mapping can also go hand-in-hand with user experience designs in modern tech applications through prototyping. However, it is an often neglected step, resulting in substandard performance of developed systems. DATA, CYBERSECURITY AND IT GOVERNANCE AS TOP AGENDA Today, as the Director for IT and Chief Information Officer (CIO) in Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA),
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data, cybersecurity and IT governance are among my top priorities. They are not only key for well functioned IT organisations, but also essential for enabling repeatable performance through regular updating of internal processes and augmentation with modern tools for efficiency and predictability. The use of agile software development with product management mindset, integrated DevSecOps processes and tools, data science discipline, and a hybrid cloud computing strategy enabled by a strong ICT infrastructure that embraces modern technologies for scalability, resiliency and process automation, are key ingredients that enable MPA to respond fast and effectively to changes in business environment and user needs, as well as capitalise on technology advancements. Through leveraging best-in-class service providers in their respective fields and building a skilled internal team with identified tech capabilities, my team and I are currently working on ambitious digital transformation programmes to realise a smart digital port ecosystem that will extend Port of Singapore’s connectivity to stakeholders across the global maritime transport chain digitally – thereby raising port efficiency and effectiveness as MPA builds the nextgeneration Tuas Port, and maintains our competitiveness as a Global Hub Port and an International Maritime Centre. GROWTH DOESN’T STOP HERE Having spent the later part of my career looking at the business side of tech and understanding how tech can be managed to become strategic assets to organisations, it has broadened my perspective of doing the right things, in addition of doing it right at the execution level. As assets digitalise and become capable of interoperating with one another beyond the boundaries of organisation, it is crucial to have the capability to do the right things amid the more complex system landscape. To this end, I will need to constantly learn and enrich the essential ingredients of what make IT works, in advancing Singapore’s digital port ecosystem, as well as enriching my personal journey in tech.
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SPOTLIGHT
THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 02/2022
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Getting to Know the New SCS Leader SAM LIEW President, SCS Managing Partner, Government Strategic Business Group, NCS
In March 2022, Sam Liew took over the reins as SCS President. Sam is SCS’ 17th President since its inception in 1967.
Earliest Tech Experience: Using WordPerfect for a university assignment Earliest Professional Tech Experience: As a COBOL Programmer in my first role Last Played: Minecraft and Rise of Kingdom An Item You Can’t Live Without: Make it two – my clipboard (with my handwritten notes) and my water bottle Favourite Way to Relax: Spend time swimming and gaming with Jonathan Liew Best Partner in Crime: Jonathan Liew (Sam’s nineyear-old son)
Some of you have probably heard about the SCS 4 + 1 approach at the recent SCS Gala Dinner on 6 May. But if you haven’t, it is not too late. The IT Society chats with our new SCS President, Sam Liew – the man who came up with the 4 + 1 approach, to understand what it really is and his game plan for making it happen. Q: Question, SL: Sam Liew Q: What is the SCS 4 + 1 approach? SL: The SCS 4 + 1 approach was birthed as a result of us tracing back to the basics of what SCS truly represents. It is about contributing to the community we live in. That is why at the heart of the 4 + 1 strategy, it is about the people we need to engage and support. The “4” represents the students, youths, professionals, and seniors and vulnerable groups. The “+1” represents the trade associations and chambers of commerce (TACs). TACs are experts in their industries and business domains. SCS hopes that through our outreach to them, we will be able to support them in infusing “Tech” and “Digital” into their agenda.
lives have improved. Our society has also grown to become a lot more efficient and inclusive. Knowing that SCS has the power to support our community invigorates me and reaffirms that our focus on the SCS 4 + 1 approach is the right strategy.
Q: Why is this a good time to launch the SCS 4 + 1 approach? SL: When I first joined the industry, it was all about computerisation. Then came the internet evolution, and now, emerging tech like cloud, data and artificial intelligence (AI). It is quite clear across the years that the technology evolution is here to stay. Thanks to technology, our
Q: That sounds fantastic. How does SCS plan to galvanise everyone in embracing the 4 + 1 approach? SL: Good question. Let’s break it down. As I mentioned, the students are a group that SCS actively supports. As they say, catch them when they are young. Get them excited about tech and equip them
SCS as a tech society, has been around for 55 years and over 52,000 members. My mission is to rally everyone to come together to support these community groups under the 4 + 1 strategy. If we can do that well, we can help our country be even more successful – especially during these challenging “emerging from the pandemic” times.
with the right skills so that when the time comes for them to pursue their careers, they can make the right choice. If they do eventually join the tech industry, great! And even if they don’t, they can still put technology and their digital skills to good use in the profession of their choice. Our SCS Student Chapters help bring tech topics closer to students in schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) through infocomm clubs, webinars and events like the SCS Splash Awards. Another important group is our youths – anyone below the age of 35. They have just embarked on their careers, and from the SCS perspective, we can provide them with mentorship, guiding them in their career choices and how to navigate this tech-driven environment. From our interaction with members of our SCS Youth, we note that many of these youths have strong desires to contribute to the community through their tech skills. For example, at the recent Digital for Life Festival, our SCS Youth volunteers went ground-up to provide technology support for the various activities.
The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society
In line with SCS’ mission, we are also looking to enhance the support for our professional members through our 13 Chapters and three Special Interest Groups. Besides webinars and sharing sessions, plans are underway to organise a first of its kind conference, DTechX Conference, which will touch on domains strapping across at least eight SCS Communities of Practice! In addition, we recognise that the needs of our community and the professionals have changed over time. So on top of the usual certifications, we will be rolling out more micro-certifications to stay relevant to our professionals’ development needs. We will continue to strengthen our flagship mentorship programme – SCS Career Compass. Our 215 SCS mentors have helped many people in the past two years. Now as the country opens up and people get around their daily lives, it is even more critical that SCS mentors are on hand to offer advice to mentees who want to know more about the tech
SPOTLIGHT
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industry or how to chart their career growth. Importantly, we also want to instil in our members that SCS membership is more than just knowledge sharing and networking, but also to contribute, volunteer and pay it forward to the society and the community at large. After all, I believe each of us aspires to make Singapore a better place through our profession and our craft. And the craft of SCS’ 52,000 members happens to be technology. Hence, we recently combined a number of initiatives and committees under the umbrella of Tech for Good to support different segments of our community – particularly seniors and vulnerable groups – who might need support from a tech perspective. Q: It sure looks like you have your work cut out for you. What can we expect on the immediate horizon? SL: We have been thinking a lot about member services and ways to drive up the value of SCS membership – both in terms
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of what SCS can give our members as well as how our members can contribute back to the tech and the larger community. For the former, we have already put in motion some big plans. DTechX Conference is one of them. It’ll be the first time a number of Chapters are coming together to push the boundaries of knowledge and sharing across domains across our Communities of Practice. Additionally, our annual Tech3 Forum will be back this year in August with an excellent speaker line-up. Our 19th Splash Awards promises to be another exciting flagship event. And, not forgetting, the SCS Golf Day – I know for a fact that many golfers are already polishing their boots in anticipation. In addition, we will also be looking to ramp up our momentum in engaging and doing good for the community, by building upon our past experiences in community programmes such as PC for Good, SG Enable initiatives and collaboration with Sembawang Family Service Centre.
“For someone considering a tech career, I would advise them to be curious, be adaptable, and be willing to learn. And if you are new in tech, I would suggest for you to pick the hardest thing and start with that – so that you can learn and grow. Last but not least, join a society like SCS to network with other like-minded people, learn about the tech ecosystem, or be mentored by someone who can guide you onto the right path.”
The blueprint of SCS leadership during your tenure in one sentence.
What is a personal mantra that guides you professionally?
I am looking forward to the day when...
What is one thing you will like to tell all SCS members?
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 02/2022
What does it take to become Tech Leader of the Year? CAECILIA CHU Member, SCS Tech Leader of the Year, Tech Leader Awards 2022 CEO and Co-founder, YouTrip Earliest Tech Experience: Tech investments at Citi Currently Reading: Re-reading Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore App You Can’t Live Without: YouTrip Pet Topic of the Moment: Post-pandemic travel adventures Favourite Way to Relax: Ski trip to Niseko
The pandemic literally brought the travel industry to a standstill. It is natural to assume that a FinTech business which launched Singapore’s first multicurrency travel wallet would be hard hit. However, newly crowned Tech Leader of the Year 2022 Caecilia Chu, CEO and co-founder of YouTrip, proved otherwise. The IT Society speaks to Caecilia Chu to find out how she not only saw YouTrip through the pandemic, she also grew YouTrip to become the Best Multi-Currency Mobile Wallet Provider1, ASEAN’s Best Startup of the Year and Best Fintech Startup2. 1 2
Singapore Business Awards 2022 Global Startup Awards 2019
Q: Question, CC: Caecilia Chu Q: Congratulations on winning Tech Leader of the Year. What’s Caecilia like as a leader? CC: I’m an incredibly direct person. I believe in radical honesty, so that it’s always the best ideas that win in the organisation, rather than the person with the highest title. I also have incredibly high standards for myself and everyone on the team, and I don’t hide it. If I see something that is not up to par, I will be honest about it. In a startup environment where one is looking to do good and impactful work, brutal honesty is important for progress and should be expected.
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Q: Who inspires and shapes your leadership style today? CC: It is hard to pinpoint one particular person because at every turn of my journey, I meet different people and they offer different inspiration and advice. However, I will say that my parents are my lifelong role models. I came from a humble background. Growing up, money wasn’t always abundant. Tough as it was, I learnt valuable lessons that continue to serve me well today. Firstly, life can be very simple – I don’t need that much money. The next is the value of being hardworking and resilient. My parents didn’t have much education or training but they worked hard to provide for me. They taught me that if I work hard, I can succeed. With their support, I went to some of the best business schools on scholarships and worked in companies with great training programmes. I am fortunate to have much more than my parents, but I always remind myself: Who am I if I don’t do anything with what I have? Q: What made you take the plunge to become an entrepreneur? CC: Becoming an entrepreneur is a deeply personal choice. For me, I believe my entrepreneurial spirit was sparked by my father. He was a chartered accountant who – despite lack of education and capital – persevered and started his own business. He showed me that I too could achieve something with the resources I have been given.
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So I decided to take control of my own destiny and started my own company. Q: How was it like transitioning from working in a large organisation to becoming a cofounder? CC: When I worked at Citi or McKinsey, it was easy to have meetings arranged and information readily available. But when I first co-founded YouTrip, nobody knew us. It was like I became nobody overnight. That was a sobering moment, but it also drove home the realisation that it all came down to the value that I bring to the table – to every conversation and every person I meet – and the meaning in what we do as a business. Q: Was it challenging to steer YouTrip through the pandemic? CC: It was definitely challenging, to say the least. We launched in late 2018, grew quickly and expanded to Thailand in November 2019. Then in January 2020 COVID hit. The world came to a complete stop – meaning zero travel – and we had a major loss in business overnight. Rather than sit around and hope for the market to recover, we chose to focus on what we can control – the tactical steps we can take and how to keep going. The first thing we did was to look at what our customers were doing. With the lockdown and working from home, people were experiencing the world differently. Instead of physical experiences, they were looking for rich digital experiences – shopping, gaming and learning online. Hence, to capture
“I’ve always believed in one thing – to be a good leader of an ambitious startup, I have to go through a few near-death experiences. I just didn’t expect it to happen so early – we were only on the market for one year when the pandemic hit. Nonetheless, although the crisis came sooner than I hoped for, we didn’t just rise above it, but emerged stronger.”
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A corporate multi-currency payment card for small and medium-sized enterprises.
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that opportunity, we focused on users’ online spending with our strengths of offering the best exchange rates and no fees. Eventually, we managed to grow our business volumes to pre-pandemic levels. Looking back, the pandemic has been a blessing in disguise. It brought out our determination to be an all-weather company. From our initial focus on consumer payments, we’ve diversified into areas like corporate payments and insurance, and today we no longer rely on just travel to be successful. Q: What’s next for you and YouTrip? CC: We are at an inflection point this year – coming out of the pandemic is an extremely exciting time for us. We recently launched YouBiz3, and the early market feedback and adoption have been great. New features such as travel insurance are also in the pipeline, and these are all products that we have been building and planning for during the pandemic. Coupled with the fact that travel is picking up, this year will be a flagship one for us. As for myself, I live and breathe the business. But I think if we can bring the company to a good place, I might give myself a holiday. So if you see me taking a trip to Niseko, that means we are hitting some really good milestones.
what do rocket fuel, thermo electric power generators, and the first programming language have in common?
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POWER BOOST
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What Does Passion and Perseverance Have to Do with Aspiration? Folk parables tell us iron is forged in fire; philosophers remind us what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, and history books abound with stories of great stoics who achieved greatness through perseverance. There is clearly something about the gym of life – we must face and overcome challenges to build character and skills, before eventually reaching our potential as individuals and professionals.
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he idea of effort and overcoming difficulties to achieve mastery is present in virtually every society throughout the centuries. Modern culture continues this theme. One popular business book in recent times, “The Obstacle Is the Way” by Ryan Holiday describes methods for turning hardships into success. Another prominent book, “Grit” by Angela Duckworth, explores how career success is less about genius or natural talent and more about passion and perseverance. Every obstacle is a step on the stairs up – the one who can climb the longest wins but only those who enjoy the climb are energised to keep going. PASSION DRIVES PERSEVERANCE In fact, passion appears to be absolutely necessary to persevere. Luckily, those of us in tech have a massive advantage – it is easy to be passionate about what we do. We are a fortunate bunch who get to participate in some of the most cutting edge innovations that are changing our world. As some will say – technology is the closest thing to magic we have. Granted, the daily grind to this exciting future can be difficult and stressful. However, just thinking about the
perceivably limitless possibilities presented by artificial intelligence, virtual reality, space travel or digital platforms that can empower anyone to start their own side hustle and gain access to ready customers, it’s hard to not be excited or charged up to power through busy days and sometimes nights.
VLADYSLAV KOSHELYEV Member, SCS Product Marketing, Meta Founder, The Koshelyev Company
PERSEVERANCE REWARDS THE PASSIONATE That’s not all – passion is not a one-way street. Even as we give our all to build a better world with tech, tech also inspires and feeds our appetite for learning. For anyone who is keen to hone their craft or enrich their minds, online video and social media offer a wealth of educational materials. Some examples: Struggling to rekindle your north star after a difficult week? Watch videos about amazing innovations your efforts contribute to that will remake the world in the coming decade. Need guidance on challenges at work? Read how some of the most adept tech leaders addressed similar obstacles. Want to gain a hard or soft skill that can help you do your work better? The internet is the best free university humanity ever had. Trials and hardships precede transformation and new exciting adventures in almost every hero’s journey. Likewise, stress and hard work underpin fulfilling careers. As long as we stay inspired and passionate to triumph over obstacles, we can come out on the other side stronger – skills and mental strength. Per Aspera Ad Astra!* * This means “our aspirations take us to the stars” in Latin.
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How to Make the Most of Your SCS Membership BE THE VOICE Co-create a robust digital economy with your experience through SCS’ communities of practice Movers and Shakers
THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 02/2022
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STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE Keep your pulse on all things tech with a library of thought leadership articles and videos from SCS Digital Resources
No matter which stage you’re at in your tech career – aspiring youth, adept professional or industry veteran – SCS offers opportunities for you to learn, grow and stay connected.
SUPERCHARGE YOUR CAREER Pick up knowledge across different tech domains at SCS events and unlock new possibilities Tech Learning
Digital Resources
STRENGTHEN YOUR NETWORK Network with fellow members and industry partners to foster camaraderie and a closeknit tech ecosystem Networking
INSPIRE FELLOW PROFESSIONALS Mentor future leaders or lend a hand to mid-career switchers through SCS career mentoring sessions Career Mentoring
Veterans
GROW DOMAIN EXPERTISE Pick up best practices and grow specialist skills and knowledge with SCS Chapters and Special Interest Groups Communities of Practice
BOOST PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS Grow professionally with SCS membership and give your credentials a boost with SCS Certifications
FIND YOUR TRUE NORTH Explore career advisory and resources from SCS Career Compass and make an informed decision for your next move Career Compass Resources
Certifications
Professionals
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Tip: With an average of 2.7 events happening every week – professional development, social networking, career mentoring, volunteering and more – there is something for everyone.
Tip: Interested in an event but can’t attend? SCS Digital Resources gives you access to expert opinions and recaps for missed events anytime, anywhere.
BE EMPOWERED Find inspiration and hone leadership and collaborative skills through youth engagement opportunities
GROW WITH #GENTECH Connect with #GenTech community leaders and fuel your aspirations with like-minded peers
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Youth Activities
For more details, visit:
EXPLORE FUTURE PATHWAYS Get a head start with site visits to tech organisations and advice from career mentors Student Chapter
SCS Youth
ENRICH CLASSROOM LEARNING Learn through first-hand sharing from industry subject experts on emerging tech skills and real-life applications Student Activities
BUILD YOUR NETWORK Attend a wide range of events from SCS and grow your professional network
PAY IT FORWARD Put your digital skills to good use through community projects and make a positive impact to society Tech for Good
PITCH YOUR IDEAS Come up with innovative solutions and pitch your ideas at the Splash Awards Splash Awards
LEVERAGE GRADUATE MEMBERSHIP Enjoy free Graduate Membership upon graduating from participating Institutes of Higher Learning Graduate Membership
Upcoming Events
Youths
Students
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 02/2022
SCS Gala Dinner and Tech Leader Awards Made a Return!
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fter a two-year hiatus, SCS held the annual SCS Gala Dinner and Tech Leader Awards on 6 May 2022 at the Shangri-La Hotel. The signature event was well-attended by over 500 infocomm and digital media professionals from both public and private sectors. In her opening address, Guest-ofHonour, Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information outlined the 3 “C”s – Connectivity, Cloud and Cybersecurity necessary to scale new highs in the ever-changing technology
landscape. Subsequently, SCS President Mr Sam Liew shared SCS’ vision to leverage tech to build an inclusive community using the “4 + 1 Approach”. Through engaging and supporting different segments of our communities – students, youths, professionals, seniors and the vulnerable community and Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs), SCS aims to contribute towards Singapore’s advancement ultimately. Seventeen distinguished individuals and teams were also recognised for their achievements that evening at
the rebranded Tech Leader Awards 2022, formerly known as the IT Leader Awards. Other distinguished guests at the event include Former Minister of Manpower Mr Lim Swee Say, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Mr Zaqy Mohamed, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Mr Tan Kiat How, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health Mr Chan Yeng Kit and Chief Executive of Infocomm Media Development Authority Mr Lew Chuen Hong.
Opening address by Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information.
Welcome address by Mr Sam Liew, SCS President.
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 02/2022
Tech Leader Awards 2022: Updated and Refreshed T
he rebranded annual Tech Leader Awards – formerly known as the IT Leader Awards – celebrates the stalwarts of excellence and innovation within Singapore’s vibrant tech industry.
– comprising tech professionals, entrepreneurs and adopters of digital technologies across tech and non-tech sectors, the young and old, covering the past, present, and future.
The rebranding signals a stronger and more inclusive recognition of individual, team and organisation contributions in our society’s digital transformation
This year, 17 outstanding individuals and teams were honoured for their achievements under four categories – Tech Leader of the Year, Hall of Fame,
Digital Achievers (Individual/Team) and Future Leaders in Tech. The Awards were presented by Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister of Communications and Information, Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, and Mr Lew Chuen Hong, Chief Executive of Infocomm Media Development Authority, accompanied by SCS President Mr Sam Liew.
The winners of Tech Leader Awards 2022, together with Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information, Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, Mr Lew Chuen Hong, Chief Executive of Infocomm Media Development Authority and Mr Sam Liew, SCS President.
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TECH LEADER OF THE YEAR CAECILIA CHU CEO & Co-founder, YouTrip Caecilia is the CEO and co-founder of YouTrip, a locally launched Southeast Asian financial technology company. Under her leadership, YouTrip received several accolades such as the Best Multi-Currency Mobile Wallet Provider at the Singapore Business Awards 2022 and ASEAN’s Best Startup of the Year at the Global Startup Awards 2019. Combining her passions in finance and technology, Caecilia aims to nurture the future fintech workforce. She also chairs the Action Community for Entrepreneurship’s women founders sub-committee where she endeavours to raise female representation within the industry and inspire future women technology leaders.
HALL OF FAME EDDIE CHAU Co-founder & Chairman, V-Key Eddie is a serial entrepreneur who has founded seven startups including e-Cop, Brandtology and Esseplore. His accomplishments over the past three decades distinguish him as an exemplary and well-seasoned figure in Singapore’s tech landscape, and a highly sought after mentor and advisor. Besides his entrepreneurial feats, Eddie serves as a board member and advisor for non-profit and charity organisations, industry bodies, and Institutes of Higher Learning, including NUS School of Computing Industry Advisory Committee, Mount Alvernia Hospital and Tsao Foundation’s Technology Committee. He is also currently the Chairman of Singapore Standard Council’s Coordinating Committee for Cyber Security.
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 02/2022
DIGITAL ACHIEVERS (TEAM)
Project: Digital Factory Project Leader: Koh Jin Hou, Director (Digital Factory), Enterprise IT Programme Centre, Defence Science and Technology Agency Digital Factory was conceptualised as a scalable and sustainable approach to digital product development. A reference model that facilitates better and more cyber-safe product development, Digital Factory brought about the digital transformation of the Ministry of Defence and the Singapore Armed Forces with mobile applications Soldier Health and OneNS.
Project: GPConnect for CCF and VacOps Project Leader: Sherry Du, Assistant Director, Digital & Integration Services, Software Engineering and Development, Integrated Health Information Systems Initially an application used in GP clinics to support primary care services, IHiS’ GPConnect was selected as the national electronic medical record system to support more than 120 vaccination sites. Its integration with national healthcare systems, high resilience, scalability, and fast deployment contributed towards the processing of over 10.7 million vaccination doses as of endDecember 2021.
Project: Patient Risk Profile Portal Project Leader: Sylvia Wong, Director, Digital & Integration Services, Digital Services and Solutions, Integrated Health Information Systems The Patient Risk Profile Portal (PRPP) was introduced in April 2020 to frontline General Practitioners (GPs) as a one-stop portal for COVID-19 operations. Enhanced with 35 releases since launch, PRPP provides a common touchpoint for the GP community to manage COVID-related initiatives and facilitates timely and accurate data submission to Ministry of Health for over 1,400 clinics.
The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society
Project: Digital Port Ecosystem Project Leader: Koh Chin Yong, Director (IT) / Chief Information Officer, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore MPA developed four smart port initiatives: Singapore Maritime Data Hub; digitalPORT@SGTM; digitalOCEANSTM and digitalSHIPTM under the Digital Port Ecosystem programme to raise port efficiency and productivity. To date, the Maritime Data Hub for maritime-related datasets has supported over 50 million Application Programming Interface (API) calls from more than 80 organisations.
Project: Intelligent Logistics Ecosystem (SmartBooking & iBOX) Project Leader: Sriram Ramanujam, Assistant VicePresident, PSA Singapore PSA Singapore’s Intelligent Logistics Ecosystem, comprising SmartBooking and iBOX, facilitates smarter capacity management for better asset and resource optimisation, a more efficient logistics ecosystem and lower carbon footprint. SmartBooking is an integrated one-stop booking platform for container depots, terminals, hauliers, and logistics facilities while iBOX is a depot management solution that digitally connects the port with container depots.
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Project: Vessel Height Measurement System 4 (VHMS 4) Project Leader: Angelina Lim, Project Director, NCS Engineering Fully automated, the Vessel Height Measurement System 4 (VHMS 4) detects, tracks, and measures vessels’ height along the Johor Straits. Through automation and video analytics, VHMS 4 improved operational efficiencies by 95%, enhanced operational safety by up to 95% with its intelligent small vessel filtering algorithm and reduced repair time for key components.
Project: Intelligent Water Management System (IWMS) Project Leader: Marcus Ng, Vice-President and Head of Software & Analytics, Mission Software & Services, ST Engineering A joint project between PUB and ST Engineering, the Intelligent Water Management System (IWMS) integrates systems used to analyse data across the water loop, and applies insights to improve service delivery and engineering operations. Through providing PUB’s Joint Operations Centre quick access to important information, it enables prompt response to water-related incidents.
Project: Operational Medical Networks Informatics Integrator (OMNII) Project Leader: Michelle Chung, Assistant Vice President of Emergency Response Systems, Mission Software & Services, ST Engineering The Operational Medical Networks Informatics Integrator (OMNII) serves as a platform for pre-hospital emergency care stakeholders – the Singapore Civil Defence Force and hospitals’ emergency departments – to improve patient care management throughout the continuum of care. OMNII enables real-time system integration between SCDF and the hospital’s emergency department, and wireless relay of information between them.
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 02/2022
DIGITAL ACHIEVERS (INDIVIDUAL)
CHONG KOK KEONG CEO, Global eTrade Services As the CEO of GeTS, Kok Keong is passionate about powering global trade at all levels and promoting Singapore’s standing in the global trade arena and trade connectivity. He contributes to the local community by rolling out innovative services to help local businesses cope with challenging market environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. His CALISTA Finance offering enables small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to secure loans via a fuss-free application process. Under Kok Keong’s leadership, GeTS has received numerous industry awards, accolades and accreditations, including the APAC CIO Outlook 2019 Top 10 Logistics Technology Solutions Providers.
TAN WEILIE Founder, Schemes SG Weilie is the founder and lead engineer of Schemes SG, a machine learning search platform that helps users find relevant social assistance schemes in Singapore. In 2013 and 2014, he also redesigned food-rationing operations in two rental estates, and enhanced the service model with a mobile app. This benefited 900 seniors and low-income households – giving them access to better customised food rations. He also pilots assistive user interface designs and consults for non-profit organisations looking to innovate. Harnessing the power of technology for public good, Weilie actively gives back to the community via his innovative efforts.
LEE SEIU KIN Judge, Supreme Court of Singapore Seiu Kin is a High Court Judge of Singapore with a focus on information technology cases (amongst others). He has been instrumental in advancing Singapore’s legal technology industry. Amongst his contributions, Seiu Kin helped conceptualise and develop LawNet, a primary source of electronic legal research for the local sector today, and the Electronic Litigation System, a case-centric e-document system. Seiu Kin also takes a special interest in developing procedures and practices for online trials. In July 2020, he became the first High Court Judge to conduct a fully virtual trial – bearing testament to his passion in empowering the legal sector with technology.
WEN YONGGANG Professor, Nanyang Technological University Yonggang is a Professor and Alibaba-NTU President’s Chair in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technological University. He has been spearheading major research initiatives to help shape national research that promotes digital transformation of infrastructures and operations since 2018. He was a key contributor to a Green Data Centre Technology Primer, and in 2021, was instrumental in setting up the S$23 million Sustainable Tropical Data Centre Testbed. His work in green data centres and research has earned him several accolades, including nine innovation awards and seven service awards from IEEE and ACM.
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FUTURE LEADERS IN TECH (INDIVIDUAL)
ALWIS LIM Student, Singapore Polytechnic Alwis is the chief executive of Cyber Youth Collective, a division of Cyber Youth Singapore. Passionate about digital education and empowering youths to explore technology safely and responsibly, Alwis led CYSummit’21, which enabled more than 500 youths across various educational backgrounds to explore and deepen their interest in cybersecurity. He is also the colead of ProjectDG, which seeks to educate underprivileged youths on cyber safety.
JOEL YAP CTO, LevelUp
KRYSTAL LIM Student, Temasek Polytechnic Krystal founded the Singapore’s Girls in Tech Committee. Certified in Python, data science, machine learning, and blockchain, Krystal has also applied her skills in IMDA and GIC projects, and won the Best Trade Booth Award in the Junior Achievement Company of the Year Competition, and first runner-up at the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s PolyFintech100 Hackathon.
Joel is a serial entrepreneur. To date, Joel has founded three startups. He had participated in more than 20 hackathons and competitions, and served as a teaching assistant in data management, data visualisation and machine learning previously. In April 2022, Joel will begin a new chapter as a founder-in-residence at talent investor Entrepreneur First.
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构建万物互
的智能世界
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GEEK SPEAK
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Going from Zero to Hero By Francesca Siow
H
ello fellow geeks! Do you remember who your childhood hero or heroine is? For the life of me, I can’t remember mine. It could be Powerpuff Girls and Professor Utonium but I also found Professor X in X-Men really cool (particularly his hairstyle). Still, I know for a fact that nobody came close to Frankie, my very own brother. Frankie was popular in school with many friends. From cleaners and school canteen aunties to teachers and even the principal, everyone knew Frankie by name. His school results were always talked about during assemblies and among teachers. ZERO TO ONE It was a different story at home. Our parents couldn’t stop worrying about Frankie – what if failing subjects in school signpost his failure in the working world too? Does scoring zero in exams translate into an empty bank account when he
grows up? Is he a bad influence to his younger sister (me!)? Well, they worried unduly. When kids were still doing their school projects with typewriters, Frankie built us a computer (or PC) – unheard of in those days. The enterprising Frankie then went on to start a “timesharing business” where our classmates paid a small fee for turns at using our PC for their project work. ONE TO MANY Soon, when there were more classmates than we had time on our PC, Frankie birthed a new idea – assembly PCs for these classmates at a charge! That marked the start of One Frankie, Many. Many. PCs. As you’ll imagine, that put my parents’ fear about Frankie’s zero bank balance to rest. And Frankie had it going for a good long while. Remember the first time all
of you met Frankie in 2016 – when he was still manning the Hapless Helpdesk? Between helping clueless users reset their passwords and troubleshooting IT woes, he was running orders for his PC assembly business. TO INFINITY AND BEYOND But that’s history now. Frankie retired that business when he left Hapless Helpdesk, but not before he had rung up many zeroes in his bank balance. So no more Helpdesk, no more PCs, and a fat healthy bank balance. The restless Frankie is currently on to his shiny new toy – his very own startup. The last I checked – his team size has just zoomed past 100, and he was preparing for his submission for the SCS Tech Leader Awards 2023. Frankly, if there were one thing my parents got right, it was that Frankie is an influence – but (maybe) not a bad one.
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