Since returning from my abroad experience in Singapore, I’ve reflected on what really made a lasting impact on me during my program, specifically as it relates to the business environment. I think one of my clearest takeaways is how welcoming the people I had the pleasure of interacting with were in both the professional and casual settings of my program. Going into this experience, I initially thought that the business leaders I’d meet with would have an air of intimidation and prestige because of my preconceived notions of Singapore being such a wealthy and competitive business environment. However, this was actually fairly different from the reality of what I experienced.
In our company visits I discovered that many of these executive business professionals were very down-to-earth. They spoke to our group as equals and were genuinely very interested in educating us on their professional lives and careers, as well as hearing about our own experiences. As a society, it seems the business atmosphere is very driven, yet very focused on formulating genuine relationships. This relationship-centric culture was specifically apparent in a networking dinner we had the privilege of attending at the home of David Ong, a fellow Aggie and founder of a mentorship program for students known as the Singapore Mentorship Committee. Dr. Ong welcomed us alongside other university students and Aggies from around the world, providing us with the opportunity to hear perspectives from a wide range of people and connect with business professionals to hear their stories. Dr. Ong and the community he’s fostered were a very welcoming and inspiring group; the experience as a whole spoke to the Singapore business environment’s focus on the formulation of relationships. For a country with a culture of competition and high work ethic, relationships are essential.
I am so grateful to have experienced this unique culture and will never forget my time in Singapore!
