As I reflect on my two-week exploration of Singapore and embrace the culture that revolves around the Lion City, I have chosen a word that fully encompasses my experience in Singapore: “Pristine.” When I use the word “pristine,” it corresponds to a multitude of events and observations that describe the hidden intricacies within Singapore.
To start off, Singapore is the cleanest country I have ever visited. Emitting a pristine environment, one can truly embrace the beauty of Singaporean architecture, botanicals, roadwork, and even their MRT (Mass Rapid Transportation) system. It feels as if you are entering into a culture where a firm foundation of respect is placed, and I have a deep appreciation for this nature that is oriented around the country. Relating on an interpersonal level, I deeply valued the collectivist nature built within Singapore. Since Singapore is such a melting pot of cultures, consisting of four national languages, I noticed how respectful all residents were of one another, and I thoroughly enjoyed the visits we made to different cultural locations around Singapore, such as Chinatown, Haji Lane, and Little India. I truly got to embrace the educational experience of learning about the amalgamation of different cultures and the clear resonance displayed by each culture.
In terms of conducting business on a multinational level, I am forever grateful for the hospitality of the numerous company visits that my group got to attend. We were given seven amazing presentations from different markets, such as Islamic Banking, global supply chain, the oil and gas industry, global governmental affairs, the emerging field of AI, and even academia within the Asia Pacific region. With all these different experiences, they all correlate to the pristine work environment established within each company. Relating to the collectivist nature of Singapore, I noticed the beauty of collaboration and the ideals that teamwork makes the dream work. Business is conducted efficiently and productively where employees are all looking forward to stepping into the office and working effectively in a team to complete their project and continue to develop professionally.
As a Human Resource Management major, I was looking forward to hearing about the intricacies of balancing the melting pot of cultures in a business setting and how to foster an inclusive work environment that respects and appreciates every individual employee. One representative particularly stood out to me as he stated, “In Singapore, having employees from different cultures brings in global talent. At the end of the day, everybody is different, and it’s not necessarily about where they are from, but the experiences that have shaped their professional lives and how they use those experiences to contribute to the company.” I found this extremely fascinating, as I never truly grasped the concept of multinational business in this sense, and it has molded my outlook within this industry.
In conclusion, Singapore has given me a transformative experience that has molded my global mindset and established a firm foundation for respecting other cultures and expanding my knowledge of the Asia Pacific region and affairs within this area. I hope to use these skills and experiences acquired in the Singapore Business program to build a better future as I enter the professional workforce and continue to learn more internationally.
