Alumni Stories

Some of you may be familiar with Hopscotch and Cherki—but ever wondered about the people behind them? Meet your fellow alumnus Roger Yip (BAcc 2017), who aside from Hopscotch and Cherki, also runs mobile bar Mixes from Mars and digital marketing agency Story Box Collective. We caught up with him recently to find out what he’s been up to.

Issued annually by Forbes magazine, the list honours individuals in Asia under the age of 30 who made impact across different categories. For this 7th edition, 6 SMU alumni were recognised by Forbes for inspiring change and driving innovation amid the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the heart of the SMU spirit, the CIRCLE values play an integral part of SMU’s holistic approach to education. In recognition of students who embrace and exemplify these values through their active involvement and contributions to SMU and the community at large, the university confers the CIRCLE awards on them at commencement ceremonies every year. This year’s winners from the Class of 2022 share their thoughts on receiving the award, the core CIRCLE value that resonates most with them, and how they intend to make the most of their alumni experience.

SMU welcomed its 15th overseas alumni chapter and the 12th in Asia in Japan on 28 January 2022. Get to know Founding President Masafumi Saki (MBA 2016) as he shares with us the chapter's goals of building community and contributing to the university's internationalisation efforts. Define your experience at SMU in one word.Transformational.What is your current occupation?

Deddy Setiadi graduated from SMU in 2015 with a double degree in Business Management and Economics. Drawing inspiration from his personal experiences and driven by his passion for teaching and sharing knowledge, Deddy co-founded Kodecoon Academy, a coding school dedicated to advancing digital literacy amongst young students in Singapore.

On 1 April 2023, SMU announced the promotion of Ms Chan Wai Leng to Vice President with responsibility for both the Office of Advancement and Office of Alumni Relations.  As one of the four members of the new President's External Engagement Council, chaired by SMU Professor Lily Kong, Ms Chan will play a key role in SMU's ongoing efforts to enhance external outreach and engagement.  We sat down with Ms Chan to hear her thoughts on her vision and plans as she embarks on her new role.

Mario graduated from SMU in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and works as an Automation Engineer at Mapletree Investments. Being passionate about music during his time at SMU, he became the Vice-President and then President of SMU SoundFoundry (SF) student club, staging concerts, productions, and festivals both within and outside of SMU. In his free time, he enjoys reading, participating in competitive sports, and taking long walks on the beach.Tell us more about your background and your undergraduate days at SMU.

Being a full-time working mother (FTWM) is no easy task.  It has never been.  And those who have chosen to live the journey will testify that it is not for everyone, especially when the concurrent paths are riddled with multiple intersections, criss-crosses, the occasional opposing directions and head-on collisions. And then there are the road signs of societal norms and expectations, company and employment policies, and sometimes conflicting advice (well-meaning or otherwise) from others.

Despite having no experience in the food and beverage industry, Amanda took a leap of faith and left SingPost after seven years to become the Group CEO of Delibowl Group. Her time at SingPost proved to be immensely valuable, equipping her with the vital skills to navigate Delibowl Group in a complex business landscape towards growth and success.