Achieving artistic excellence and connecting with the community through arts

Mr Pro-Chancellor, faculty members, guests, proud parents, graduates

1. Congratulations to the graduating class of 2019! You have worked hard for many years for this day. And to the parents, you have a reason to be proud of the achievement of your child. I am glad to join all of you here, to share in your excitement and anticipation as you enter the next chapter in your lives.

2. As a newly minted graduate, some of you are charged with excitement and are ready for the world ahead of you. Some of you are undecided on the path to take and wondering what the future holds. A small, open economy, Singapore is susceptible to global forces. Increasing anti-globalisation, technological advancements and demographic shifts are changing our economy, the nature of jobs, and how we relate with one another. You might be asking yourself, “Am I prepared for what lies ahead?”

3. I had the same question when I graduated. That was in 1985, when Singapore experienced its first economic recession after independence. Many of my Accountancy course-mates had difficulty finding jobs. It was also the start of the computing revolution, so technology was completely changing the way we worked then. We learnt how to use mainframe computers and COBOL programming language, shifted to word processors, and then later to personal computers that came with floppy disks. Many of you probably have no idea what I am talking about. But it was a time when what I learnt in school was made redundant in a few years. Change, rapid transformation, and anxiety affect every cohort of youths. It might sound nonchalant, but believe me, every generation will find their own way to discover new opportunities. And there is every reason to believe that your generation can too. So there is reason to be confident.

4. However, the journey will not be a walk in the park. Having worked for over three decades, I have three pieces of advice to share with you that I hope will be beneficial to you in your later life.

Learn constantly

5. First, learn constantly. Graduating from a university is not and cannot be the end of learning. Learning must continue. We can learn by observing what’s going on around us, by picking up new knowledge and skills from our friends or colleagues. There’s always something we can glean from the people around us. Embrace the spirit of humility and willingness to keep learning and growing, even when there is no set test date ahead of us. The examination in life will come any time, any place.

6. We can also tackle complex issues and solve problems better through collaborating with others, at times with those who hold very different views from our own. We need to develop the ability to work with people who are different from us, and pull the best ideas together, with empathy and with openness.

Learn broadly

7. Second, learn broadly. Not just from people in your workplace, but also from people in other sectors, who possess entirely different skill-sets. Don’t be limited by your past training; be guided by the needs of today and tomorrow. Have a strong sense of curiosity and spirit of exploration.

8. We cannot predict what jobs will look like in the future. Processes that can be codified such as data entry are already being automated. So the ability to work effectively across different functions and synthesise ideas will be more critical. For instance, someone who does marketing in a company and picks up skillsets such as IT and finance will have the versatility and growth potential to thrive.

9. You are also expected to connect the dots across industries. For example, if you are in retail or hospitality, there are lessons you can draw from FinTech, to deliver more exciting and more personalised customer experiences. So if you can make connections across different fields and disciplines, and apply yourself to create new value, you will have an advantage.

Learn bravely

10. Lastly, learn bravely. This means getting out of your comfort zone, venturing into areas you might not be familiar with.

11. With the changing global economic landscape, many new opportunities are now shifting to our ASEAN region and Asia. We’ve seen the rise of promising start-ups such as Gojek, Indonesia’s first unicorn company, and also the first South-east Asian company to rank amongst Fortune’s 50 Companies That Changed The World. In Thailand, there are fast growing conglomerates, such as Central Group, the leading retail group which recently acquired Zalora, and CP Foods, whose rapid international expansion has brought it to the top of the food production sector in several countries. So I encourage you to look beyond Singapore’s shores, to explore opportunities in our regional markets, and also to build up your ‘cultural quotient’, or ability to operate effectively across many different cultures and societies.

12. As you begin a new journey in charting your career path, don’t be afraid to invest in yourself by taking risks. Try, and if you fail, pick yourself up and try again. And I don’t mean just in start-ups. It could be in a new function or position of a company, or an overseas posting. The diversity in your experience will build up your portfolio of skill-sets, your resume, and most importantly your confidence in life. On the subject of confidence, it is often the most elusive quality – when we need it most, it’s absent. Confidence is nurtured and built up gradually over time, by trying, giving ourselves the permission to fail, and encouraging ourselves in the journey.

13. I remember when I was newly appointed as the CEO of PSA, the port company, I was brought to visit the crane by the wharf to understand its operations. These cranes are the huge bird-like structures that you see in photos of ports. The Operations chaps asked if I would like to go up to the operator’s cabin which was about 50m up in the air, which is equivalent to about 12 stories high of ladders to climb. I took up the challenge and climbed up to the cabin, not on blind faith, but because I had done platform diving in my teenage years, and had attempted many elements of height in my life. And those experiences, without me knowing it, were actually preparing me to take the real “test” given by my colleagues later.

14. Your time in NTU has similarly presented you with opportunities to stretch yourselves and test your limits. Many of you have gone on overseas exchanges, completed internships, and participated in community service projects both locally and abroad. You have formed relationships with one another, and with mentors, which are all valuable connections that will put you in good stead. And you should continue to build on your experiences to give you the confidence that you need in life.

Conclusion

15. So learn constantly, learn broadly, and learn bravely. But at the end of the day, do ask yourself: What’s my purpose in life? What is success to me?

16. These 2 questions are linked as success can only be defined by the purpose you have set for yourself. I would suggest to you that every one of you can have a purpose that is more than your own wellbeing, and that success is about leaving a worthy legacy in society. Whatever your answers may be, I leave you with this quote from Mahatma Gandhi, “Happiness is [when] what you think, what you do and what you say are in harmony”. In other words, you will find happiness when your thoughts, your words and your actions stay true to you.

17. I wish you all the very best in your journey ahead. Congratulations again!