CEO and Co-founder, #Meetarts and Sunrise Group
Retail Arts Dealers
Irene Chong is a woman who wears many hats. She runs a full-time real estate business, manages #MeetArts, an online e-commerce platform that supports local emerging artists in Singapore, sits on the boards of a few charity and education foundations as well as on the NUS Alumni Advisory Board and, increasingly, spends time mentoring women because she desires to see more representation of women in leadership roles in Singapore.
But this is not all.
Three years ago, she returned to studying even though she already held a dual Executive MBA from INSEAD and Tsinghua University, China.
Embarking on a new academic journey after several years can be intimidating, especially when surrounded by distinguished and knowledgeable younger colleagues. However, for Irene, joining the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy’s Master in Administration (MPA) program in 2019 was a transformative experience.
She discovered the power of a supportive community and the value of embracing challenges with a fresh mindset. Furthermore, the exceptional faculty, exemplified by Professor Lim Siong Guan, played a pivotal role in Irene’s personal and professional growth.
Going back to school after so many years was tough, but my classmates were encouraging. They taught me to embrace all these challenges with a different mindset and went all out to support me.
“Going back to school after so many years was tough, but my classmates were encouraging. They taught me to embrace all these challenges with a different mindset and went all out to support me."
Another motivating factor was the quality of the faculty at LKYSPP. I was in the Effective Implementation Module by Professor Lim Siong Guan. He used to be the head of the Civil Service in Singapore and was part of our nation-building. It was great to learn from somebody like him, who is so high up there, yet humble and generous in sharing his experiences. He readily offered advice to us. He is truly a role model and has made me a better leader. It’s amazing that he still responds to former students. I just emailed him a few days back, and he got back,” says Irene.
She describes her MPA experience as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, solidifying her belief in the importance of persevering and embracing the journey alongside like-minded individuals. “Ask me why I did MPA. It was a concise journey but a wholesome period of self-discovery. If you want to interact with culturally diverse people, this is the only place at NUS with this kind of diversity. My cohort had people of 19 nationalities. My classmates were highly accomplished and brilliant people. I have learned a lot from them. The MPA program helps one to get a breakthrough in oneself. If you want to push your limits, LKYSPP is the place to go.”
And, of course, the MPA program did just that for Irene, especially with the #MeetArts venture. The idea was to bring impact to the visual arts ecosystem. After winning the NUS Resilience & Growth Challenge in 2021, #MeetArts joined the NUS Enterprise’s incubator program in Hangar and, later, the Alibaba Netpreneur Training program to gain valuable insights into building an e-commerce platform. Through this training, Irene learned about the power of leveraging social media and how live streaming can transform the art market. #MeetArts now serves as an inclusive space for up to 500 emerging artists, promoting visual art and building a supportive community.
Irene conducted house visit to rental flats.Recently, to address the recurring issue of ex-convicts struggling to find meaningful employment upon release, #MeetArts hosted an art exhibition featuring artwork by these artists, in collaboration with the Singapore Prison Service, an agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs. “The exhibition will showcase a significant portion of their creations, allowing us to promote their talent and hopefully help them to monetize their artworks. This initiative is special in my heart, aligning with my long-standing commitment to serving the community.”
Another area of particular interest for Irene is to promote women’s leadership. “Women directors are a minority, with only 20-30% of board seats in Singapore going to females. More can be done to bring more women directors on board actively. She firmly believes that for women to get a chance for board roles, “networking is critical because senior positions often don’t go to strangers. Sure, there is a head-hunting process, but boards typically bring in those they know are credible, capable and will be able to add value to the organization.”
Irene also encourages women to seek sponsors and get into mentorship programs. “Mentorship gives you insights and helps with introductions. And thirdly, I would say that you have to make yourself known. Learn to use social media skills and communicate what you do to people. You have to build a brand for yourself and promote awareness.”