MIA graduate Winston Tan is an investment consultant at the Huafa Group, a state-owned enterprise in China. He talks about how he applies what he learnt at LKY School in his current job, and offers some advice to MIA students.
Winston at his Valedictory Dinner in July 2019
Tell us about your job.
[ALUMNI-INFO TEXT="I work in the investment arm of the Huafa Group, which is based in my hometown, the city of Zhuhai in China. The Huafa Group has interests in real estate and finance, as well as scientific development. My department oversees infrastructure construction, and my primary responsibilities include procedural jobs, such as government paperwork, as well as providing legal advice to my superiors. There are many legal and policy restrictions on real estate investments in China, so I have to find out what the key policies and regulations are.
The infrastructure and real estate industry is new to me, but I enjoy the challenge of having to acclimate to this environment quickly. It helps that I have a mentor whom I report to daily. I also intend to take up a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) course within these two years, because my job requires financial and accounting knowledge.
Apart from being inspired to keep learning, I know that I’m making a difference through my work, as my department supports local governments in building industrial parks that will bring economic and social benefits to people. "][/ALUMNI-INFO]
What did you gain from studying at the LKY School?
I’ve always been curious about the world at large, and I started reading about world history and keeping up with the international news when I was in high school. I studied International Affairs as an undergraduate, and when I learned that the LKY School was offering a Master’s degree in International Affairs, I wanted to be part of its inaugural cohort.
[ALUMNI-QUOTES TEXT="Singapore offers diversity in an Asian setting, and my objective was to develop soft skills such as adaptability, as well as the ability to communicate and collaborate across cultures. The LKY School broadened my horizons, and being immersed in the school’s culturally diverse environment helped me to improve my communication and presentation skills.
The class I enjoyed most was “China and the Global Economy” by Professor Gu Qingyang, who has won a teaching excellence award at the NUS. In the class, we discussed China’s domestic economic reforms, and how this has influenced its cross-border trade and investments.
I gained insights into how the Chinese central and local governments interact with each other. I also learned more about my country’s policymaking processes, which helps me now when we deal with government agencies. For instance, when I participated in company discussions about housing policies, I anticipated that policy decisions would be made by city-level administrators—and not at the municipal level. As a result, I was able to advise my superiors to connect with city-level officials."][/ALUMNI-QUOTES]
Winston with Professor Gu Qingyang
What advice would you give to MIA students?
Finding a job can be difficult for graduating students, not only in China, but all over the world. Time management is crucial when you are job hunting, especially when you are still a student. I would advise students to begin their job hunt by the first semester of Year 2. In fact, have a job hunting plan in place when you start your MIA programme.
For students worried about uncertainty, or having to work in an unfamiliar industry, I would recommend reading “The Principle” by Ray Dalio, founder of the world's largest hedge fund firm, Bridgewater Associates.
Dalio advocates making decisions using a framework of sound principles. He also says that we can get virtually anything we want in life, as long as we remain open-minded and determined. In his book, he writes: “Whatever your nature is, there are many paths that will suit you, so don’t fixate on just one. Should a particular path close, all you have to do is find another good one consistent with what you’re like.” These are words that I live by.