In-Convo: Splash Interactive

May 5, 2013 in SHEN Event

On 11th March 2013, we kicked off the year’s In-Conversation series with a session with Mr. Tay Kay Kin, otherwise affectionately known to us as ‘KK’. As the CEO of Splash Interactive – a firm offering full service digital solutions – KK was in a most fitting position to share his experience in the digital landscape in China. The whole session was set in an informal tone, as seen by the cups of milk tea and bags of bread everyone brought along as snacks. But alas, all mouths stopped chewing and all eyes were on KK when he started sharing.

 

 

KK shared about the internet population in China, their demographics and usage patterns, before plunging more in-depth into their behaviour on the different channels such as internet portals, search engines, social media, mobile and BBS. Some main trends brought up were the fact that many in China were actually using their mobile phones to surf the internet, some as a supplement to their computer usage while others rely solely on their mobile phones. Another major trend was the fact that gaming is big in China and social media is used largely for leisure in China, rather than for communication purposes as seen in the West. KK also pointed to the growing power of the search engines, and the marketing opportunities present that have yet to be fully utilised.

 

Of course being the active and curious students that we are, the session was also littered with our questions, as well as contributions on the trends we have observed in our limited time in China. Questions ranged from the serious, like what KK foresee to be the next big thing in online marketing in China, to the cheeky, such as how much Splash Interactive charged their clients. Of course, the latter was a tough question that was very skillfully answered, satisfying the inquisitive audience.

A proper photo of SHEN 

 

On the whole, the session was a very informative session, where we got a look into the different online channels, in a local context. It was definitely lovely getting to know and hear from a fellow Singaporean entrepreneur, who ventured into an unfamiliar market. Thank you KK and see you around! 

A not so proper photo, as is our norm.

No Comments »

Shanghai: A home away from home?

April 7, 2013 in Uncategorized

The following personal entry has been written by Felicia Khoo from the 19th Batch. The 19th batch of SHEN interns arrived at the end of February.

It has been close to two months since the 19th batch first touched down in Shanghai. I could still remember the apprehension and uncertainty before coming to Shanghai, and the interviews with the NOC office did not seem that long ago. but after two months in shanghai, everything has been great. We were able to settle in smoothly much thanks to the senior batch!

 


The first few days after we arrived were the most tiring yet memorable. We went from agent to agent, apartment to apartment, going to and fro 娄山关and 中山公园. We walked so much in the first few days that it was usually what i walk in a week in Singapore. However,  renting and surveying a house was definitely a new and interesting experience. Through that I learnt that the locals walk a lot and their definition of a "5 minutes walk" is in fact a "10 minutes walk". after searching high and low, we eventually settled down into a house where the 17th batch seniors used to stay in (and found remnants of them in the house hahaha)

To make good use of our remaining free days before work starts, we went to hangzhou for a one day trip! The train was so clean (cleaner than some of the trains in Europe) and it took about 1.5hrs to reach Hangzhou. We cycled around the lake, took in the beautiful sceneries of hangzhou and went to have dinner at a popular restaurant- 外婆家! The food was good and cheap and with our satisfied bellies we took the train back to Shanghai.

 


As for food in shanghai, Shanghai has a lot of good food. it is mostly cheap (the xiaolongbaos you see below are only 6RMB a basket!) but I am still getting used to type of food – the amount of oil used is inversely proportionate to the cooked food . Sometimes the amount of oil they put in just amazes me. However, there are still many good ones dotted along the streets and it is a personal achievement when i find a stall that is good, cheap and with minimal usage of oil.

 

The delivery culture in shanghai is also a new experience that is different from Singapore. We will all definitely miss this delivery culture when we go back! Everything can be done online-paying bills, top up phone card, buying groceries etc. It is so convenient that technically we do not have to step out of the house at all. Shopping wise, buying shoes in shanghai is particularly awesome. and that was how we filled up our shoe racks in less than 2 months here. Most shoes cost below SGD 15.

 During one of the weekends, we went on a one day trip into the suburbs of shanghai. on the itinerary list were 2 major attractions- 青浦strawberry farm and 朱家角. It was my first time visiting a strawberry farm and it was really fun picking strawberries while trying to maneuver through the narrow lanes in the farm. I loved朱家角! I can’t seem to pinpoint why exactly i loved that place but the mixture of quaint little shops selling dainty little items, abundance of stalls selling street food and cute little cafes which looked really relaxing to be in somehow made it a rather peaceful and enjoyable place to be at.


Shanghai has a good mix of its rustic charms and urbanized areas, which makes it a pretty nice place to live in. I did not regret choosing shanghai at all! There are still so many places I have to explore, hopefully the bird flu will die down soon!

No Comments »

March 17, 2013 in Uncategorized

 

CAD 2012 was a blast. If you guys don’t know what CAD is yet, it’s the Company’s Annual Dinner, held in appreciation for the companies that have hosted us over the entire year. This year was no different, with a theme that was a blast from the past. What better way to celebrate and commemorate a whole year of living and working in Shanghai than to do it… Old Shanghai style.

Our retro theme saw everyone dressed up in elaborate cheongsams and swanky suits. It was truly a memorable sight.

NOC 17th Batch together with Dr Kau, Deputy Director of NUS Entrepreneurship Centre and Brien Lee, Program Director of NOC Shanghai.

Though the girls looked fabulous in their Cheongsams, Darren and Jet Chun stole the show in their getup, reminiscent of Stephen Chow’s comedy action flick, Kung Fu Hustle. All they really needed was a Guzhen.

The event began with a lovely speech from Professor Kau, who praised the Seniors and their drive, and of course thanked our partner companies. Then of course, the food and drinks!

Here's Weijie, President of the 17th NOC Batch thanking his company and his batch for the support rendered to him over the one year:


Chanelle, the emcee for the evening, doing a great job.

Activities for the night included a heartwarming video, made lovingly by the outgoing P and VP of SHEN, Neo Weijie and Hammie Teo. They actually recorded a song for their batch, set against the backdrop of all the memories they shared together. I think Xingquan even teared a little, though he said it was the onion soup.

Another video that night that had the whole crowd roaring with laughter was made by the 18th SHEN. We had such a fun time recording it with our VERY sporting seniors, and we were really happy that everyone was so happy with it. Set to the theme Old Shanghai Style, the (dance?) music video saw the seniors dancing to the very popular song by Psy, Gangnam Style. What made it even better were the lyrics, which were changed to fit Shanghai, and sung with much emotion by the seniors. Chengyoke teared a little when she sang ‘No more Taobao…’. Quite frankly, I’d cry too when my time comes, as I recline on my Taobao-ed hammock and sip coffee from my Taobao-ed expresso machine.
The video ended with a heartfelt message from the seniors to their companies… in their pyjamas of course.

The video will be up soon, stay tuned! (I blame the Great Wall, YouTube is impossible)

After all the laughing, crying and hugs that seemed to be everywhere that day, we had a token of appreciation to the companies, presented by our esteemed guest, Professor Kau.

Anne from Alphatron together with Xing Quan and Dr Kau.

Annabelle together with her mentor, Roger from Sheshan International Golf Club and Dr Kau.

Weijie together with his mentor from DE Global and Dr. Kau.

Dr Kau together with Magdalene from the 17th SHEN and her mentor Jayne from KeZhanYou.

Hammie from the 17th Shen together with Prof Kau and her mentor from Shanghai Singapore Business Association

Jingqi ( in the middle) from 17th Batch NOC with her HOF colleagues, which includes Kay Siong and Lixuan from the 18th Batch ( front row).


The pretty ladies from the 17th Batch; from left: Annabelle, Magdalene and Cheng Yoke.

Sadly, the event ended too soon, and we had to say goodbye. Not before taking a zillion photos though. All in all, it was a great event, and everyone had a fun time. From the 18th Batch to the 17th, it was a great half a year with you, thank you for the help and support rendered, the times spent, and of course showing us all the good food. Yes, we will miss you, yes we won’t ever forget you, but NO we will not help you bring back your taobao stuff.

(Just kidding, but you have to pay for kuaidi)

No Comments »

A Session with Dr Liu Thai Ker

January 23, 2013 in Uncategorized

NUS Greater Good Series Liveable Cities –  The Singapore Experience & Insights event in Shanghai

Apart from interning at start-ups in Shanghahi, SHEN students helped out in ensuring the smooth operation of the entire event. Our bilingual batch mate Wang Shuxian from the 18th batch doubled up as an emcee and made her deliveries in fluent Mandarin.




The following articles in both English and Chinese are contributed by Mandy Hang Yuan Yuan (EXECUTIVE, Development Office of NUS). 

How has Singapore, a country with scarce natural resources and small land size, evolved to become one of the world’s most liveable cities? At the recent National University of Singapore (NUS) Greater Good Series Liveable cities, urban solutions – The Singapore Experience & Insights event in Shanghai, Dr Liu Thai Ker, a renowned architect-planner who is considered the “Father of Singapore’s Urban Planning”, talked about his research and experience.

Dr Liu pointed out that a city is not defined by the height of its skyscrapers or the work of famous architects. It is the systematic process of urban planning that matters the most.

First and foremost, the government should establish people-oriented policies and work closely with professional and technical institutions. The planner must also develop a systematic and ‘big picture’ approach whilst taking into consideration current economic, social and environmental factors. During the actual implementation, theories must be constantly reviewed and improved based on actual experience.

Dr Liu explained that a city is not a theme park, but a home and a community where people live and breathe. Therefore, the infrastructure should always take priority over the project’s image. The planners must also take into account international trends and global networks.

Dr Liu also shared his expectations for NUS in the area of urban planning. He believes that NUS’ role is to undertake research and nurture young talent in related disciplines such as architecture, urban design, urban planning and the study of Asian cities. Through collaborations with international education and research institutes, NUS can share the Singapore experience to the benefit of cities in transition throughout China and Asia.

This event was the first “NUS Greater Good Series” to be held in Shanghai and was attended by senior executives and government officials from both Singapore and China. The Series aim to raise awareness of philanthropy and its impact on society, featuring talks on topics related to philanthropy. These include giving and service to the community as well as leadership, personal well-being and mental resilience. The Series was made possible thanks to a generous gift from Newsman Realty Pte Ltd.

———


资源匮乏、面积狭小的新加坡是如何成为如今全球最宜居的城市之一的呢？在11月14日于中国上海举行的“新加坡国立大学Greater Good” 系列活动之“宜居城市建设 — 新加坡的经验和见解”晚宴暨座谈会上，世界著名建筑规划师、被尊称为“新加坡规划之父”的刘太格博士为来自新加坡和中国的政府领导、商界精英与社会名流做了精彩的诠释。

    刘太格博士指出：要打造一座宜居城市，最重要的不是建筑物的高度，也不是著名建筑师的作品和数量，而是科学合理的城市规划。首先，政府部门应确立以人为本的指导思想并积极与专业技术机构紧密合作。在此基础上，既要从系统布局的观点出发，立足于整体，统筹全局，同时，也要做到对经济、社会、环境等因素的多方考量。在具体实施中，根据实践经验，不懈完善理论。

    刘太格博士也提出，城市并非主题公园，而是人们赖以生存的家园与社区。所以在规划中应该始终坚持先地下后地上，先基础工程后美化形象。在保证可持续发展的同时，也需要放眼世界，关注国际潮流，重视网络关系。

     在座谈会上，刘太格博士对于新加坡国立大学在城市规划中的角色提出了殷切的期望。他认为新国大应该对新加坡城市改造的经验加深研究，加以分析，不断充实。同时，还应致力于培养相关学科的精英人才，例如建筑学、城市设计、城市规划、亚洲城市研究等等。通过与国际院校以及合办研究所的紧密合作，分享新加坡城市发展的经验，为转型期的中国乃至亚洲城市建设作出贡献。

     作为新国大在中国上海举办的首个“新加坡国立大学Greater Good”系列活动座谈会，本次活动吸引了新中两国众多商界与社会领袖的出席。该系列活动旨在聚焦与讨论和公益事业相关的前瞻性、领导性课题， 涵盖教育、科研、奉献与回馈社会等相关内容。活动通过广邀有识之士参与主题座谈，提高公众对公益事业的认识，拓展公益事业发展，从而扩大对社会的影响。该系列活动由新加坡名望产业私人有限公司赞助支持。


 

 

No Comments »

SHEN participates in Love without Boundaries!

January 3, 2013 in Activities, Event, Non-SHEN Event

SHEN was glad to have been part of Love without Boundaries, an annual charity event organised by Beacon of Love. Beacon of Love is a Shanghai Expatriate Organisation that supports children suffering from Congenital Heart Disease. Love without Boundaries is a charity carnival that raises funds for these children so that can live healthy lives and have a brighter future.

As part of the carnival, SHEN helped to run and facilitate the game stalls in the charity carnival, ranging from mini-fishing pond, mini-golf, chap teh, nerf gun, basketball shooting and a booth of mystery gifts!

 





We had a really fun and fulfilling time, because not only were we given the opportunity to run the games, but to bring joy and fun to the families that participated in the carnival. For many families, the carnival was a family outing and it was certainly very endearing to watch how father and son bond over a game of chap teh, and to watch how the young are so relentless in their attempts to get a game right. It was tiring but it was rewarding to see all the happy faces of the children and to also know that with each contribution made, it gives a child out there a better future through better health. Thus, being part of this charity carnival was also a good opportunity for SHEN to set aside time and come together to give something back to society, to love without boundaries!

We would really like to thank Beacon of Love for giving us the chance to be part of their carnival.

With that, I present to you the 17th and 18th SHEN batch!

 

Epilogue

The organisers for Beacon-of-Love invited SHEN students from the top 3 booths which attracted the most number of participants for an Appreciation Lunch held in Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao Hotel. The booth which attracted the highest number of participants was the mystery box booth manned by Seah Kay Siong and Lee Lixuan from the 18th Batch. Coincidentally, both of them are also housemates and colleagues interning at House of Flour. For this ‘mystery box’ booth, participants pay tickets to have a try to ‘uncover hidden prizes’ in the boxes. The prizes ranged from KFC vouchers to little accessories.

Second in line was the nerf gun booth manned by Dexter Sim and Wang Shuxian. The booth had many small figures which participants would have to gun down using the nerf guns. The guns were contributed by a small boy (8 years old) who wished to share his love with others and contribute a part to charitable causes. The booth attracted several young gun shooting enthusiasts.  

Last but not least, we have the water balloons booth manned by Abriel Ang and Justin Wong. Originally, the participant were supposed to fish for water balloons in an inflatable pool. However, to make the game even more interesting, our SHEN students decided up ‘sacrifice’ their handsome faces. The way they went about doing so, was to cut out the face from a poster and put their own faces into the gap. They then challenged participants to dunk the water balloons onto them. This is indeed the epitome of entrepreneurship whereby ‘innovation was generated from limited on-hand resources’.

The winners were acknowledged for their contributions and had a hearty enjoyable lunch, courtesy from the organisers of Beacon of Love. All other SHEN students who helped out in the event were also given a token of appreciation by the organisers. It was indeed a meaningful and enriching event and extended the significance of our 1-year stint in Shanghai beyond work and study.

Pictures from the thank-you lunch:

Chanelle and Dexter from the Nerf Gun booth receiving their token of appreciation from the Beacon of Love committee.

From left: Justin, Dexter, Abriel, Amanda, Shuxian, Hammie and Weijie. 

The lovely and passionate Beacon of Love committee together with (a part of) SHEN.        

SHEN would like to thank Beacon of Love for allowing us to be part of this meaningful and fun-filled event, and we hope that we will have many more projects together in future!

 

                                                                                       

No Comments »

Our SG Conversation in Shanghai

December 5, 2012 in Activities, Event

Written by Darrell Van of 18th SHEN. Photos Credit: OSU & SHEN.

The series of Our Singapore Conversations which focuses itself on seeking public opinion and inculcating a sense of ownership to Singapore amongst Singaporeans had reached its stop in Shanghai. Representatives from the Overseas Singaporean Unit facilitated the event which was held at the Consulate General of the Republic of Singapore along the quaint Wan Shan Road on the evening of the 22nd of November 2012. The event saw 30 odd participants and was graced by Consul-General, Mr. Ong Siew Gay and Member of Parliament, Ms Sim Ann. Both attended the session in their personal capacity and were addressed affectionately by fellow Singaporeans as Siew Gay and Ann respectively. Despite the relentless drizzle, spirits were high amongst participants as they bonded over Singaporean cuisine like “Chye Tao Kway” and “Chicken Curry”.  The event attracted Singaporeans from various walks of lives thus adding to a diversity of opinions during the valuable sharing session which followed after dinner.

"Do you see opportunities for yourself as young Singaporeans?"

Topics discussed included how the rise of China would impact Singapore in the coming two to three decades. The general consensus was that China would see continued growth albeit with caution thus Singapore had to constantly reinvent itself to remain relevant in the global economic landscape. Suggestions revolved mainly around how the Singapore education system can nurture increasingly creative individuals in an effort to produce a workforce that is able to differentiate itself from the rest of the world and compete in today’s globalised economy. Ideas such as inculcating greater emphasis on technoprenuership and creativity were passionately debated.

Shu Xian from 18th SHEN sharing her experience

Needless to say, discussing the Singaporean education system was opening a Pandora’s Box. The system which drew much flak drew an equal amount of praise. What was of essence however was the mentioning of how Singaporean society had a “narrow definition of success”. Participants shared openly about their own personal experiences with regards to the topic, drawing much passionate discussion.

Another topic brought up was the lack of a sense of belonging. This topic was close to every Singaporean’s heart, particularly for the participants in the room, who had been away from home for a period of time. They shared their difficulties about returning to Singapore after being away. Issues ranged from housing to the more intangible element of culture. As put across by a participant, “When I go back, what used to be a vacant land has now become a mall. I cannot recognize most places now.” Indeed as our nation constantly reinvents itself to remain competitive, our city’s landscape inevitably changes at an alarming pace. This paradox of progressing forward yet retaining familiarity amongst Singaporeans was truly thought provoking and left more question than answers.

Finger painting exercise after the dialogue session

Thank you Ms. Sim Ann for sharing your perspectives with us & engaging us in dialogue!

As the night drew to a close, participants concluded that despite the challenges and complaints, it was unanimous that every Singaporean looked forward towards building a Singapore where no Singaporean is left behind as we progress forward together as a nation. Despite the challenges that the winds of change would bring to Singapore, participants believed that with prudence amongst Singaporeans, we would be able to tap on opportunities that comes with change. While there was much to be done, there was consolation in knowing that almost everyone felt Singapore was work in progress and that the best is yet to be!

17th & 18th SHEN with CG Ong Siew Gay and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Ms. Sim Ann

 

No Comments »

Waimai Chaoren: Sharing Session by Lucas Englehardt

November 12, 2012 in Event, Sharings

Written by Seah Kay Siong of 18th SHEN.

After spending three months in Shanghai, I can’t help but wonder how I survived all those years in Singapore without food delivery services. Although we have delivery services provided by restaurants like MacDonald’s and Ameen Makan House, it is nothing compared to the 外卖 culture in China. Come rain or shine, one can order anything conceivable, ranging from the famous xiaolongbao (小笼包) to the palatable shao kao (烧烤)  and have them delivered to his doorstep with no additional delivery charges. I vividly recall the day when piping hot xiaolongbaos were delivered to my apartment in spite of the typhoon that swept through the city. It was the worst typhoon to hit Shanghai since 2005, and the deliveryman was all drenched of course. 

Xiaolongbaos that braved the stormy weather

However, the greatest challenge we, as consumers in this food delivery culture, face is the process of getting the contacts of the F&B delivery service providers. More often than not, we have had to go down personally to their shops to collect a copy of their menus and contact numbers. This is where a website like Delivery Hero China (www.deliveryherochina.com) comes in handy. As an online aggregator of more than 300 restaurants in Puxi, Delivery Hero China allows users to order a wide selection of food choices directly via their site. Unlike competitors such as Sherpa or Mealbay which focus on high-end restaurants, Delivery Hero China concentrates more on affordable quality local shops. 

Delivery Hero China

With a keen interest to know more about Delivery Hero China, a few of us from 17th and 18th SHEN attended a sharing session by Lucas Engelhardt, the founder of Ai Mi Fan, which was acquired by Berlin-based Delivery Hero recently. Organized by Next Step (http://nsevents.tumblr.com), the event was held at Glo London, one of the restaurants under Delivery Hero’s listing. 

Glo London is located on 1 Wulumuqi South Road near Dongping Road, Shanghai, China

Englehardt was eager to share his startup experiences. He started his sharing with an obvious point – business is all about sales. This may seem to be utter common sense, but according to Englehardt, many entrepreneurs often overlook this in our eagerness and enthusiasm to start a new venture. This was also why his previous ventures like 88 Spaces and BloggerInsight did not take off. He shared that the challenge lay in attracting people to use one’s products and converting them into loyal users of the products.

Englehardt then moved on to talk about the evolution of his startup Ai Mi Fan. After a year of operation, Ai Mi Fan was acquired by Berlin-based Delivery Hero. The new name made the company’s value proposition and product offering even more obvious to first-time users. Leveraging on popular social media platforms like Weibo, Delivery Hero managed to gain moderate success. Today, Delivery Hero boasts over ten thousand fans on its Weibo page. Beyond this, making use of existing customer base of the restaurants under Delivery Hero’s listings proved to be a very effective mode of marketing as well.

               

For the second part of the sharing session, Englehardt shared some important insights from his wide array of startup experiences. Firstly, he emphasized on the importance of making one’s business venture scalable. For an e-commerce venture, the website must be able to support the eventual huge traffic before it could consider expanding. Secondly, knowledge of one’s kryptonite would also be extremely important. In Englehardt’s case, he did not have a background in programming and it posed as a very big challenge in his startup process. Networking, as we know it, would be very helpful to an entrepreneur looking for the right talent to fill in for his kryptonite. However, Englehardt felt that it isn’t about the number of name cards swapped during a networking session; the person with whom one interacted with matters most. One person can make the difference in the world. Hence, Englehardt would always make it a point to talk to the right person at any session – the one who is of most value to his venture. Lastly, the importance of building a local team with people familiar with the bureaucracy and local know-how was also highlighted. This is especially so if one is to start his business venture overseas. 

             

As someone who is currently interning in an F&B company, I must admit that in this day and age, increasing the online presence of the brick-and-mortar shop is essential to ensure that the brand name remains competitive. With the proliferation of social media platforms, F&B establishments that do not engage customers online lose their competitive advantage. Aggregator sites like Delivery Hero definitely give F&B companies an additional platform to increase their online presence. However, knowing China, it is only a matter of time before many competitors spring up to create the same aggregator site targeting the same market. While Delivery Hero has successfully differentiated itself from competitors like Sherpa and Mealbay, it would be extremely interesting to observe how they deal with the up and coming rivals like 饿了吗 (http://ele.me). Don’t forget to order some 外卖 as we watch the future of Delivery Hero unfold!

Kay Siong (18th SHEN) & Jing Qi (17th SHEN) at the sharing session

Xing Quan (17th SHEN) at the sharing session

No Comments »

Field Trip to Microsoft, Shanghai Campus

October 17, 2012 in Blog, Sharings

Written by Justin Wong of 18th SHEN.

On 24th September 2012, the 17th and 18th batch of SHEN had the opportunity to visit the Shanghai campus of Microsoft. Despite it being a distance away, all of us were in high spirits. It was definitely a rare chance for us to have an insight into the company that had brought us so much of the familiar things we use these days.

Upon reaching the grounds of Microsoft, we were welcomed by our Shanghai NOC senior/ alumni, Neng Jiin, who is currently with Microsoft Shanghai. Through the linking up of our NVC prof, Dr. Virginia Cha, Neng Jiin had very kindly liaised with Microsoft and made this trip possible for us. 

We entered a room termed the Hackerspace within the Microsoft compound. According to our Microsoft host, we were told that this was where Microsoft staff were welcome and open to trying out whatever innovative ideas they have and testing/creating it in the space, with all the resources available there.

The Microsoft Hackerspace

Past Hackers

Hackerspace Mantra

As an example of what goes on in the Hackerspace, our host showed us a face-recognition camera which he said he used to determine the number of people that were in the room. This would then be sent straight to the main system and be reflected on a website. He proceeded to explain that in the past weeks before we arrived, there was a mini competition of sorts within Microsoft where their in-house developers, engineers and innovators would get hands-on with their creative ideas. The winners would then get a chance to see their idea being implemented amongst the many applications of Microsoft.

Our next speaker that morning was Jim. He is one of the evangelists in Microsoft for cloud computing. This, he explained, was very difficult to establish in China due to reasons ranging from political to commercial. However, despite the great difficulties and competition, Jim and his team are still looking at ways at which they could penetrate the Chinese market. Jim was also quick to point out that the Chinese are not being stagnant. While Microsoft was making inroads into the Chinese market, other nascent Chinese companies such as Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba are growing and increasing their roles and/ or reach in the digital space as well. This encroaching threat would serve to motivate Microsoft to quicken their pace. 

We then left the Hackerspace room and had a tour around of the compound. There was the gym, where Microsoft staff could for -out whenever they wish to. We were also honoured to be given a brief tour of the offices where, our host explained, was the place where many new applications were being created every day. It was indeed a place brimming with creativity and innovation as we heard the programmers and developers furiously typing away – possibly coming up with the next big thing that we would all be using in future.

An ecstatic Xing Quan from 17th SHEN at Microsoft, Shanghai

After the interesting tour around the campus, it was time to head back. In the short time that we spent at Microsoft, each of us had managed to learn a great deal from the candid conversations and sharing with our hosts. A huge shout-out to Neng Jiin, Dr. Virginia, and all at Microsoft who hosted us that day: thank you for everything! This trip was a fruitful event that SHEN was privileged to experience and definitely added a meaningful page to our NOC Shanghai journey.

17th & 18th SHEN with Jim and Neng Jiin at Microsoft, Shanghai

No Comments »

In-Convo with Dr. Charles Poon

October 2, 2012 in Blog, Event, SHEN Event

Written by Phang Jing Qi (Jacelyn) of 17th SHEN.

17th and 18th SHEN organized our first in-conversation session with Dr. Charles Poon, Medical Director from Raffles Medical Group on 31st August 2012. 

A dermatologist by profession, Dr. Poon has also more that 5 years of regional business development experience. The chat session was informative, as we found out more about his career and experiences from setting up new ventures into emerging markets to becoming a Medical Director.

Over some home-cooked and well-missed beehoon and curry, we got to know more about Dr. Poon’s background from being the owner and practitioner of Health Image (Singapore) Clinic that specializes in Botox and Lasers and hear some of his advices, comparing different business environments (specifically Singapore, Vietnam and China). 

Dr. Poon has a way to connect with youths as he did not just share many valuable work experiences. He lightened the mood of the session by sharing many personal stories like how he had met his wife and dropped plenty tips on coping with working life abroad. We would like to thank Dr. Poon for his hospitality and sharing with us; it was indeed a night well-spent!

Wei Jie of 17th SHEN presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Dr. Poon on behalf of SHEN

All in all, it was an excellent chance for us to know more about Shanghai from an experienced senior and we say hello to a new friend made by SHEN! 

Dr. Poon with some 17th & 18th SHEN members

No Comments »

Singapore Consulate-General Open House 2012

September 27, 2012 in Blog, Event

Written by Neo Wei Jie of 17th SHEN.

SHEN participated in the Consulate-General of Singapore Open House Event on 1st September 2012.
 
 
 
The mission of the Consulate-General is to safeguard the interests of Singaporeans visiting, living and working in its consular district of the Shanghai Municipality, and the Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces and to promote political, economic and cultural links between Singapore and China.
 
Since Singapore and China established diplomatic relations in October 1990, the former Singapore Commercial Representative Office in Shanghai was renamed as Singapore Consulate in Shanghai. It was later upgraded to the Consulate-General in Shanghai in January 1996.
 
On 1st September 2012, the Consulate-General open its doors to Singaporeans residing in Shanghai and the event attracted nearly 200 enthusiastic participants.
Guests were treated to a sumptuous buffet spread of Singaporean food, movie-screening <We not naughty 孩子不坏> and various performances put up by Singaporean children studying in Shanghai. 
The event also has a mini pasar malam (street market) concept, by which different vendors have different things to offer. There were booths doing T-shirt painting competition for children, booths selling familiar gourmet sauces Singaporean pastes etc.
SHEN also has an active participation in the event. We put up a booth for old Singapore childhood games such as five-stones, pick-up sticks and hopscotch.
 
 

 
In fact, our hopscotch was so well-received that even CG Ong himself participated in a couple of hopscotch rounds.
 
 
We hope that by organizing such games, children can have a rough idea of the games their parents used to play in the 'olden days'. 

 
The day ended with participants going home happy after a fun-filled afternoon. SHEN is happy to have been part of this event and hopes that more of such events will be organized to for Singaporeans in Shanghai to gather in future.

No Comments »

← Previous Entries