The theme of the 15th NOC Shanghai Company appreciation this year was “GLEE-SH”. Inspired by the TV series and its meaning of happiness, GLEE captures the spirit of the 15th SHEN here in Shanghai. In the TV series, the Glee Club “geeks” live out their passion for music despite facing many obstacles. Similarly, the 15th batch has braved numerous challenges to get to where they are today. The Glee theme song “Don’t Stop Believing” appropriately captures the entrepreneurial essence of the 15th SHEN who have pursued their ambitions and dreams here in Shanghai.

The biannual event, held on the 22nd of November was in appreciation of the participating companies which have played critical roles in grooming the entrepreneurial potential of the 15th SHEN. The guests came dressed in a myriad of colorful outfits according to the “GLEE-SH” theme, their enthusiasm filling the dining hall of 致真. The colors represent the energy and liveliness of the batch as well as the unique diversity of each individual. Equipped with a pair of colored “geeky” spectacles, the guests were directed to have their picture taken against a 2 metre tall backdrop bearing the colors of the theme. Our guest of honor and director of NOC, Associate Professor Teo Chee Leong appeared sportingly joined in the festivities in a velvety orange shirt. Professor Kau was also aptly dressed in bright pink.

Professor Teo formally addressed the event by thanking the various companies, which included Asia Voila, SheShan Golf Club, Strip and BrowHaus, DE Global, Love Box, Wild Fire and Trader Analytics, for their guidance and mentorship to the 15th Batch of NOC Shanghai Interns. He also emphasized on the importance of the close partnership between the National University of Singapore and the participating companies. On his ending note, he wished the 15th Batch the best and urged the juniors to do just as well. 

Professor Yin from the Department of Business Management in Fudan and a long-time partner of NOC, also addressed the guests. He spoke of the long standing partnership between NUS and Fudan University. He emphasized the importance of the exchange of cultures, ideas and friendships between the students from the two schools. Prof Yin magnanimously extended a hand of friendship to the all NUS students, encouraging us to maintain the strong bonds between NUS and Fudan.

A spread of scrumptious Singaporean food was presented to the guests at dinner time  as they tucked away in to our local favorites such as Satay, Fried Bee Hoon, Sweet and Sour pork as well as delectable desserts generously sponsored by founder of HoF, Brian Tan. As business cards were exchanged, so were smiles and laughter as the guests mingled convivially throughout the evening. Both the 15th and 16th batch of SHEN served as a connecting fabric by introducing the guests to one another and weaving together the entrepreneur network within the room. 

One of the highlights of the night was undoubtedly the hilarious video montage of the 15th SHEN, which showcased their fun and lighthearted side, sparking much laughter throughout the room. The president of the 15th SHEN, Tan Yan Liang, then gave his farewell speech. Yan Liang reflected on his one year in Shanghai. On hindsight, his entire NOC journey can be said to be “connecting the dots”, stringing together all his experiences, challenges, opportunities and decisions. He also expressed his gratitude towards the program and his company DE Global. Lastly, he urged the 16th Batch to bring SHEN to new heights and to make the best use of their time in Shanghai. 

The night ended with the incoming President of the 16th SHEN, Jerry Sim, sharing the direction which 16th SHEN. He presented the various aspects which 16th SHEN would look in to in the coming year which included the areas of Business Development, Community Involvement, Publicity Outreach and Fostering Cohesion.

The event gradually saw closure as the final pictures were taken and the handshakes exchanged. All in all, the 15th Shen NOC Shanghai Appreciation Dinner felt like a heartwarming reunion that brought interns, colleagues, professors and friends together. 

This episode of Glee-SH, all who walked out, were winners.

         "Put in extra effort in everything you do. These effort will not be wasted. Sooner or later, they will come back to you in the forms of opportunities, job promotions, etc. Everything moves in a circle. When you are young, you might not be able to see how your career and life will play out but you when get older, you will clearly see that everything you did when you were young has a meaning."

Also, Dawn, Long Qing and I had a chance to chat with Leong Wai Leng, Chairman of OCBC Bank China and Ms. Grace Fu, the Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts, and the Environment and Water Resources. During our conversation, what they asked what I did at my internship in Shanghai, I said " change water dispenser bottle" and they laughed because it made them remember the menial tasks (stapling, photocopying, etc) they did just starting out in their careers. Haha

Lesson of the Day: I might be only 'changing the water dispenser bottle' today, Ms. Leong and Ms. Grace Fu reminded me that they too, started from 'changing the water dispenser bottle'.

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Write-up and Photos taken at the event:

6^th Business Forum Organised by SSBA, “Entrepreneurial Journey – Innovation & Internationalisation” (创业之路-自主创新与国际化) was held from 09:15-13:30 on 25 November 2011, Friday at JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square. The program which was held in Chinese, focused on

•  How to transform a small domestic enterprise into a global renowned company
•  How foreign firms can capitalise on the opportunities in China
•  The application of Laozi's philosophy for building enterprises and doing business in China

Guest of Honour, Ms. Grace Fu, the Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts, and the Environment and Water Resources in Singapore, graced the event and delivered a keynote address.

This event was an excellent opportunity to interact with a wide variety of professionals. Panelists shared thoughts on the challenges of doing business in China and how enterprises and business owners can grow their companies through innovation and internationalisation.  

Guests who arrived early.

Melrose Pizza

Pre-event networking

VIP table 

Broadcaster and Compere – Xu Hui 

Xu Hui starts the event.

As Xu Hui was talking, everyone was listening attentively

Darren gives his opening speech in Mandarin

Senior Minister, Ms. Grace Fu delivers her opening speech

After Ms. Grace Fu's speech, the panelists are welcomed onto the stage to start the Zhao Qiguang.                                     

Q&A Session

SSBA Presenting The Token Of Appreciation To Sponsors Of This Event

SSBA presenting the Token of Appreciation to sponsors of this event

SSBA presenting the Token of Appreciation to sponsors of this event

SSBA presenting the Token of Appreciation to sponsors of this event

Post-Event Networking                                       

Post Event Buffet Lunch

Very nice spread of buffet lunch!

About the Panelists:  

Leong Wai Leng was appointed as Chairman of OCBC Bank China in August 2007. She has overall responsibility for directing and executing OCBC Bank's growth strategy in China in her current role.   A Singaporean and a graduate of the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Ms Leong has more than 22 years of experience in finance  both  in the corporate world and in corporate banking.  She has worked in China for  the last  ten years ,   including  seven years of corporate experience with Philips Electronics Group  as its China Country Treasurer and  VP,  and China Group CFO.  She held several senior banking positions in Citibank Singapore, JP Morgan Chase Singapore, and HSBC China. 

Zhao Qiguang is Burton and Lily Levin Professor of Chinese at Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota. He was born in Beijing and grew up in China. He has an MA in English and American literature from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He started the Chinese Language program at Carleton College and has been teaching courses in Chinese language and literature, comparative literature, and Taoism for more than twenty years. He has frequently appeared on Chinese television, on both national and local channels, discussing culture and international relations. He talked about Taoism on Shanghai television in a ten-part series called "The Wisdom of Lao Tzu," which was broadcast in November 2007, and is published in book form. He also did a seven-part lecture series on a Shandong Television program, "Laozi, Number One Under the Sun." He has published six books including a comparative study of Eastern and Western dragons.

"Walking down the narrow lane of Tianzi Fang at Taikang Lu ('Art Street'), you'd be wondering if you were really in cosmopolitan Shanghai. At a glance, Taikang Lu features a mix of old and refurbished brick houses. However, do not be fooled by the traditional old lanes or wet clothes hanging on bamboo poles above your head. Taikang Lu sure deserves a second look. These days, many artists and local designers have set up boutiques and laid-back cafe is that have been drawing crowds of yuppies, fashionistas, designers and expatriates. 

(by the way, can any photographers please tell me what use is such a big lens for?)

At the heart of Taikang Lu are many art studios and galleries. This area has been home to many artists seeking a reprieve from the threat of demolition of artist's villages and communities by property developers in recent years. These studios which are mostly situated at Buildings 3 & 5, feature many contemporary works of design, painting and photography."

Yep, they have cosplay in Shanghai too

Super big lens part 2

Super big lens part 3

Cute baby!

This is not Tian Zi Fang. Its a park which I discovered when I was randomly cycling the other day.

Yea man he's the Indian chef from Bombay!

Our pursuit for happiness and success is often met with obstacles. While it is easy to attribute failures to all the external factors in our path, we need to acknowledge that we are our greatest enemy. When opportunities present themselves, it is up to us to make the best of it, and I am a firm believer that having the right attitude makes a difference.

“The Traveler’s Gift” is a book loaned to me by my boss Brendon. Having read the book, I can see what he meant in saying that it “changed my [his] life”. Here, I would like to share the key points in the book, with hope that it will motivate and inspire a more positive attitude in all of us!

The first decision for success: The buck stops here.

You are responsible for your own success. The outcome of a situation is the result of youractions or decisions made in the past.Rather than blaming others,acknowledge your responsibility to the current problems that you are facing. It will free you to move on and focus on making better decisions in future.

The second decision for success: I will seek wisdom.

Our future lies in making the right decision. That can only be done when you have amassed sufficient knowledge and wisdom. Be humble andseek guidance from the wise and experienced. Choose friends who motivate andencourage you to do better. Their influence is important on your route to success.

The third decision for success: I am a person of action.

Seize every moment and opportunity when they present themselves, so that you will never experience regret for the time wasted or opportunities lost. Do not let fear of failure get in your way of making things better for yourself.You are only a failure if you are a quitter. You are capable of making a decision, and making it now. Be a person of action, seize the moment, and choose to act NOW!

The fourth decision for success: I have a decided heart.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Be very focused and dedicated to what you intend to achieve. Success comes to those who work towards their goals with determination and perseverance.

The fifth decision for success: Today I will choose to be happy.

You are a master of your own emotions. Choose to be happy and greet each day with optimism.

The sixth decision for success: I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.

There are times when you are angered by an unthinking or uncaring person. Then you waste valuable hours imagining how to get back at them. On the other hand, the offender is completely oblivious as you simmer in anger.

When you willingly give forgiveness, you free your spirit to pursue your future happily and unencumbered by the anchors in your heart. By the act of forgiving, you are no longer consumed by unproductive thoughts; and that becomes a gift to yourself.

-The Traveler’s Gift is written by Andy Andrews

Published in 2002 by Thomas Nelson

Definition and concept of Internet of Things: [From report prepared by Maarten Botterman for the European Commission, Information Society and Media Directorate General, Networked Enterprise & RFID Unit (D4)]

We need to form a link through cyberspace between the physical world and communities to enable innovative un-foreseeable services and applications, and gaining new knowledge about economics, environment and us. Semantic integration can be that link between cyberspace and the physical world and consequently information about the real world can be offered as knowledge (Just like documents and websites today) to communities.

Making sensor-generated information usable as a new and key source of knowledge will require their integration into the (existing) information space of communities, which will lead to semantic integration. For semantic integration, we need to have middleware to which we add a semantic layer that allows different applications to talk with each other and create a mash up of real world knowledge.

Thinking a bit bigger you can see the world as one big box of knowledge, and the dream would be to access all this knowledge like a database. This requires structured querying; integrated views, and aggregation and analyses leading to reasoning upon the data.

Think about this:

Yesterday, I first come across this phrase “internet of things” I would presume that it is new to many of you too. After google-ing it a bit, I realize it is actually a very cool concept and a very essential one. Imagine how cool it will be to have a hand phone (fully charged) with you and you will be able to have access to any information in the world and actually touch base with the preferred services. You would think, Hey isn’t that what we are having now. Yeah, sort of, only better. First of all, the chip will be so small that it can be house in a cell phone, palm size preferred. Second, the WiFi will be so stable and fast that connection is seamless. Thirdly, with boundless communication span ideas can bounce of individual from different parts of the globe and the ideation process with be much accelerated. Fourthly, you can control things at home virtually, giving new definition to “multi-tasking”. Imagine doing laundry/vacuum house virtually from the office and have the task done in reality via smart home appliances. And the list goes on…..

However, one must be skeptical and concern about such adoption. One very imminent problem is the loss of control in our quest to gain control. As we go digital and virtual, we are in actual fact giving control to the virtual server that we think we are commanding, we are giving control and access to people who are drafting such servers and actually maintaining them. As we gain “control” we losses them, as we hind in the web of virtual reality, we expose secrets to the world.

In conclusion, you will have complete control over your world as long as your phone battery is not flat. When it’s flat, your phone has control over you. Think about it.

Two things, apart from being awed, that I learnt from this video: 

1. I have come to be of the age where I am replaced by a new “young generation”. Coding is the new language. Everyone below the age of X is going to know how to code/some form of code and own some kinda personal app. It was like HTML and blogging in the old secondary school days. I learnt my bit of blog design/template stuff in those days. Man, need to keep ahead! 

2. Successful education policy would be getting kids to realize that they need to sieve and stitch the information out there. Like a module without any textbooks, but one where students have to google their own “textbook”. I may seem to take the idea to extremes but a textbook is simply Singaporean. It’s not about working to carve yourself into that which others already defined to be a niche, but carving out your own niche. 

This is a guest post by Dawn Lee. Dawn is a fourth year Economics major at NUS. She works with startup company Trader Analytics Corp. Among the many, her favourite activity still is jaywalking the roads of China. 

This post is taken from http://nocshanghai.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/interview-with-pivot-interns/

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Whilst you are still young, give entrepreneurship a go.

If you screw it up, screw it up real big.

Englehardt’s latest venture Aimifan is an online food ordering system. It has a restaurant point-of-sale system integration as its competitive advantage. The team at Aimifan also partners with major food delivery networks to give users wider selections when they order out. Hence even food outlets which currently have no food delivery service is able to leverage on the Aimifan scheme to reach out to more than their typical walk in patrons.

What I felt was the most unique selling point of Aimifan is that users in the same social circle are not anonymous, it is almost akin to facebook where each user can see his/her friends’ restaurant reviews and recommendations, thus helping the user make a more informed dinner choice. This I felt was ingenious, no more dubious posts from dianping users but rather choices from people I know, I hang out with and whose taste I can rely on.

Englehardt was curious to know about the food delivery market inSingapore, and whether a service like Aimifan or Sherpa’s would work there. Honestly I do not think either are viable business ideas in Singapore; since aimifan relies on delivery networks – either the food outlet’s existing delivery service or specialized food delivery men. No doubt fast food chains like McDonalds and KFC have their delivery boys, but if I can sing Pizza Hut’s 62-35-35-35 jingle off the top of my head I do not need to go through the hassle of ordering online. Whilst Sherpa’s delivery model is more feasible, but the cost of labour inSingaporewould demand such a premium for the delivery fee that only pregnant women carving their favourite bak kut teh at 3am will be willing to give it a go. Either way the food delivery market does not appear very lucrative especially since the neighbourhood hawker centre already spoils us for choice.

But then again I could be wrong, after all I love rice, don’t you?

Find out more about AMF at http://aimifan.com/.