NTU, a haven of wildlife, brings friends of all stripes and species. NTU primatologist Assoc Prof Michael D Gumert sheds light on what to do when macaques get a little too close for comfort
Month: August 2021
Overseas grads: Still the time of our lives
Just like many of us, these grads dreamt of an expat life beyond our borders. Here’s how they made it happen and have continued to thrive in pandemic times
From country to country
Despite speaking four languages and having worked in three different countries, Rosma A Majid wasn’t satisfied. The onset of the pandemic prompted a period of self-assessment for the economics grad, who had been in her Tokyo-based position at a publishing firm for five years.
“The world is changing and so are the skills that will be needed. So I decided to quit and go back to studying. These two years would also give me time to think about what I really want to do to contribute to society,” says Rosma, who’s now taking her Master’s in International Business and Economics in Stuttgart, Germany.
Her journey around the world started in her freshman days.
“When I found out NTU offers Japanese as an elective, I rushed to secure a spot in my first semester, and moved up the levels in later semesters. In all, I completed five of the six Japanese courses available!”
Rosma’s keen affection for the Japanese language and culture didn’t go unnoticed by the “sensei” at NTU’s language school, and she was picked for an enrichment programme that took her to various parts of Japan in her second year. A six-month internship in Ho Chi Minh City in her third year only affirmed her globetrotting ambitions.
Her proficiency in Japanese landed her a permanent job at A+U Publishing, which specialises in bilingual (Japanese and English) periodicals. Within two years, she was posted to the company’s headquarters in Tokyo. If mastering the language was the first hurdle, adapting to local working customs was the next.
“I learnt kuuki wo yomu, or how to ‘read the air’. The Japanese way of speaking is quite indirect and there are unspoken implications, so you need to be on your toes and not say or do anything that might offend a co-worker. Also, when presenting an opposing point to a senior colleague, it’s better to say it in a roundabout way.”
Undergrads at NTU have the world at their feet, says Rosma. “NTU offers many programmes where you can gain exposure and build a network abroad. Keep your eyes peeled for these and take advantage of them. And I can’t stress this enough, learn the native language of the country you intend to work in, at least to a level where you can make a trip to the doctor on your own!”
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This story was published in the Aug-Sep 2021 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
Show and tell
The next time you watch an animated TV series, look out for Samantha Suyi Lee’s name in the credits. In the last four years, she has worked for DreamWorks, Warner Animation Group, Netflix and Walt Disney in Los Angeles.
She explains: “It might seem odd for someone to have worked in so many studios in a span of a few years when traditionally, most people believe job stability comes in the form of staying in a single company for a long time. But truth is, in Hollywood, it’s not uncommon for artists, editors, directors and production people to be hired for the length of a show’s production.”
“Once they’re done, they move on to the next show. Most artists prefer this too – we’re usually following our noses and moving around based on what show we want to work on rather than what studio we want to work in.”
An artist by training, Samm’s latest role sees her as a director at Disney, working on the animated series, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, which will air on the Disney channel next year.
A typical day at work is peppered with meetings over Zoom, art reviews, edit sessions and lots of drawing, though the highlights are online voice-recording sessions where actors read their lines for the show.
“I’ve seen some of my favourite actors and I try to keep it cool, but secretly I’m fangirling my heart out! I’ve also met James Baxter in the flesh while I was at Netflix. He’s a legend in the animation industry and known for his work on shows like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and The Prince of Egypt. Listening to him talking about his work process was really inspiring.”
While working overseas was never a goal, Samm, who graduated in 2010, says her time in NTU and the School of Art, Design & Media made her “well-rounded”, even if she didn’t appreciate it back then.
“As a digital animation major, I wanted to focus on just character animation, but I was ‘forced’ to experience other aspects of work in the animation industry, from modelling and rigging a CG character to lighting and texturing a scene. I’m glad I did! I’ve realised that as a director, I can communicate well with other departments like the lighting and modelling teams, because I know what their work entails.”
She adds: “In university, I recall many of us artists being a little resentful that we had to do general courses unrelated to art. But all these classes have turned out to be useful in my job. A sociology class I took came in handy for an episode I directed about gentrification, and the forensics science class I joined on a whim helps with any story where some crime scene investigation is needed. Also, Contract Law has been a life-saver!”
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This story was published in the Aug-Sep 2021 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
Inside the Theatre of Dreams
Before the pandemic, Cho Jia Yan’s role as a Manchester United employee included quarterly trips to Old Trafford and accompanying club legends to different parts of the world as part of the club’s partners’ marketing efforts.
“Yeah, I’ve met Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and most of the first team players. We would discuss and brief them on what to say when we film content for our partners’ marketing campaigns. I’ve also spent a lot of time with former players like Wes Brown, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole in places like Toronto and Shanghai when they have meet-and-greets or other events,” says the 2015 sport science and management grad, who calls Hong Kong home.
The seasoned jetsetter’s interest in working abroad was piqued as an NTU undergraduate, first when she did an exchange in Canada, then during her internship at Lagardère Sports, a global sport marketing agency, which took her on full-time in 2015 after she graduated. And when the opportunity to head up a new office in Shanghai came up, she immediately raised her hand.
“The first three months in Shanghai weren’t easy. I didn’t have friends there and had to adapt to using WeChat for almost everything and working at a super-fast pace. Once, I didn’t reply a client’s WeChat text within an hour and they complained to my boss!”
In 2019, she scored the move to Manchester United and to Hong Kong, where, in her words, the culture is “work hard, play harder”.
“We give it our all during office hours, but make an effort to wind down after a long day, such as at the nearby bar. We have team bonding activities like art jamming and junk boat parties. We were supposed to go for the Rugby Sevens, but it got cancelled because of COVID-19.”
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This story was published in the Aug-Sep 2021 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
Snow time like now
Life’s an adventure – you just need to say “yes” when opportunities knock. A few years ago, it dawned on chemical and biomolecular engineering grad Tee Chin Yaw that he could go further, literally, after a casual conversation with his wife.
“We talked about the prospect of living overseas while we had few commitments. I’d had short stints in different countries earlier in my career, but the thought of relocating long term never crossed my mind,” says Chin Yaw, who was then in his sixth year at consumer goods manufacturer Unilever, his first job after graduation. Being employed by a multinational corporation worked to his advantage as he was able to arrange for an international assignment as part of his career progression.
Still, he admits it was a “huge gamble” as he accepted a lower pay and his wife would have to find a new job. It also meant learning a new language and adapting to a new climate and culture. What he did have was a positive mindset and a strong conviction.
Life in Schaffhausen in Switzerland has been “idyllic”, he says. “We chose a modern apartment, situated among centuries-old buildings, that felt like our HDB flat back home. We picked up skiing, which was really just an excuse to go to the beautiful mountains every weekend! And of course, we started making new friends through our German classes.”
Transitioning into his new role as a procurement manager brought back memories of his six months in the UK as an NTU student.
“NTU has given me wonderful opportunities to broaden my horizons, experiences that have moulded me into a ‘global citizen’. Electives like Spanish, Chinese poetry and my minor in entrepreneurship also gave me insights into the diversity that exists in the world. These probably influenced me to join an international company too.”
With the benefit of hindsight, Chin Yaw has these words for others considering a similar path: “If you are 50-50, take the plunge. It’s impossible to anticipate everything. Go with an open mind and a strong motivation to succeed and enjoy the adventure.”
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This story was published in the Aug-Sep 2021 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
London calling
“You don’t get a second chance at being young and passionate,” says Nedra Lim, who seized a one-way ticket to London last year when she cliched a job in UK-based travel technology company Skyscanner.
Working overseas has been an ambition since her time as an exchange student.
“My stint in Berlin, Germany, really changed my perspective of the world and the phrase, ‘The world is my classroom’. I learnt from friends from different countries and cultures, and discovered a curiosity for life and the world beyond my bubble in Singapore.”
“Living alone came quite naturally for me since I’ve gone on exchange alone, but this was different. Relocating to London for work felt like I was going through ‘hyper-adulting’. I had to find a place to rent, get furniture, pay bills and sort out everyday necessities on my own, and all this at the point when the pandemic started to hit the UK.”
With the travel industry being among the most severely impacted sectors, Nedra was affected by a major restructuring at her company, which let many of her colleagues go.
“I had to adapt in an instant to big changes in roles and day-to-day projects we were working on. This meant I had to pick up many new skills.”
No two work days are the same, though on a typical work day, she talks to partners from around the world while managing marketing campaigns and linking up with the engineering team. The 2017 mathematical sciences grad believes in finding silver linings and being thankful for the opportunities given to her.
“I have a job I love, an amazing worklife balance and autonomy over my career development and goals. Having talented colleagues to learn from will help me down the road too.”
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This story was published in the Aug-Sep 2021 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
Pandemic reflections
Since the start of the pandemic, Samm, Nedra, Jia Yan and Chin Yaw have all been working from home. All agree that their ideal working arrangement would consist of them going into the office half the time, mainly for the social interaction that feeds the creative process.
Samm counts herself lucky that the animation industry has emerged relatively unscathed.
“Disney sent me a whole setup – laptop, Cintiq and secondary monitor. But I do miss lunches with colleagues and meeting people face to face for casual chats and discussions. When I was promoted to director, I would have everyone meet online on Thursdays for an hour or so to chat. We’d crack a cold one and just have a chill time together.”
In London, Nedra, who has been given the option to work from home until the end of this year, says: “I would like to go back to the office for the interactions and chats, because that’s where you learn a lot more about the other parts of the business from people who aren’t in your team.”
Hong Kong-based Jia Yan’s work calendar is filled with video conferences, and she has the rules of Zoom down pat, including muting appropriately and identifying herself before speaking.
“More importantly, I’ve also learnt to respect my time and that of others. I take breaks when necessary and avoid scheduling calls during lunch,” she adds.
“Empathy has become more important,” Chin Yaw says. “Virtual interactions also require more sensitivity to prevent misunderstandings. We are all in different boats in the same choppy ocean, in both business and personal contexts.”
Calling the pandemic a “black swan” event, he adds that the unpredictability of life shows the need for adaptability.
“We may not be able to foresee these events, but we can put ourselves in the best position to survive them. We need to constantly learn, develop and evolve.”
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This story was published in the Aug-Sep 2021 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
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