Alumni Stories

How far would you go to pursue a hobby? What if this pursuit led you to an opportunity that could change the world and make a positive impact on others? Find out how Fengru’s avocation turned into a vocation that would provide millions around the world with access to sustainable and high-quality dairy products. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic hits all forms of travel equally hard, the tourism industry is undoubtedly one of the hardest hit as well. Bervyn chats up with Kevin Cheong (DBA 2019), a successful hospitality professional, about the need for a quick turnaround to keep the business going.He shares his 20+ years of experience in the field, the key shifts due to the pandemic, and his thoughts of the tourism outlook in Asia. 

He has come a long way since serving pizzas out of a food truck at Seoul’s Han River in 2016 to managing a global franchise of more than 100 outlets today. Behind GOPIZZA’s runaway success lies a story of a man who just wants to make affordably-priced single serving pizzas that could be consumed on the go.Think you live a hectic life? Take a glance at SMU alumnus Lim Jae-won, Jay's (BBM 2012) jam-packed calendar and you'd be amazed at the numerous meetings and appointments that he has to attend on a daily basis. 

In January 2021, at the inaugural Asian Financial Markets Forum, Ms Jacqueline Loh, Deputy Managing Director (Markets & Development), Monetary Authority of Singapore said, "Asian financial markets are well positioned to support the positive growth momentum of Asian economies in this new decade and in building of a more sustainable world."

It is not uncommon for academic and career interests to change over time. Take Chad Ruenthongchai for example, an SMU MBA alumnus from the Class of 2014. A Thai national, Chad came to Singapore in 2002 and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 2006. After working at Continental (a German multinational automotive parts manufacturing company) for five years, Chad decided to further his studies.

When the COVID-19 outbreak struck in 2020 and spread across the globe, it caused wide and profound disruptions to our lives. Almost overnight, everything pivoted to the digital space. From studying, working, ordering food, shopping, Netflixing and even doing yoga, these were all made possible online thanks to the advent of digital technologies.

“I used to dislike the financial industry when I was studying at SMU. It seemed like a purely transactional industry to me, where minimal products or offerings are created and exchanged for a return,” recalls Sharon in amusement. “Never did I expect myself to be now working in the technology side of financial services and loving what I do.”

If there is one thing we can learn from our pioneer graduate Adora Chong (BBM 2004), it is how she channels her energies into opportunities for growth. Groomed to be industry-ready, find out how SMU’s transformative education molded Adora into an accomplished individual she is today in the same company that she joined 17 years ago.

Meet 3-time alumna, Dr Josephine Tan (BBM 2004, MBA 2015 and DBA 2019). To our knowledge (and in our records) she is the only individual who has done the ‘grand slam’ at SMU, having completed her Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate programmes with us. And to cap it off, she is currently one of our adjunct teaching mentors at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, in Marketing!