On Hari Raya Puasa (a public holiday in Singapore that marks the end of Ramadan’s fasting period), I met up with Jess and her son to learn about her career path. Jess majored in psychology at The University of Hong Kong and studied abroad at Wellesley in 2011. Below are some highlights of our conversation!
Working As a Consultant
As a consultant, Jess works with a variety of companies, brands, and firms. Her projects vary in duration and can last anywhere from six months to three years. For each of these projects, Jess and her team are brought in to help their client address challenges, reach benchmarks, and achieve strategic objectives through a high-level approach to problem-solving. Typically, she is hired for a very specific phase of product development, so she rarely gets to see the aftermath and long-term outcomes of the solutions she implements.
Jess’s work exposes her to a broad spectrum of fields, which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of many market dynamics. She enjoys identifying trends across markets and discovering how different sectors ebb and flow together. Jess highlighted that consulting is a great field for people who enjoy storytelling, continuous learning, and thinking outside of the box. The ever-changing nature of her work keeps her engaged, and she enjoys the “newness” that each project brings.
Choosing to Work in Singapore
Jess grew up in Hong Kong before relocating to Singapore after having her son a few years ago. While living in Hong Kong as a young adult, Jess began noticing the shifting corporate landscape. She saw global tech and data companies gradually leaving the region. Jess believes that these firms were trying to distance themselves from China due to increasing data security concerns and geopolitical tensions. She also noticed that Hong Kong’s business sector was very China-oriented, with many firms simply viewing Hong Kong as a gateway to China. The broader Asian market seemed underrepresented in Hong Kong’s corporate sphere.
In contrast, Singapore presented a new economic sphere. Jess was first drawn to Singapore because of its accessible language and its status as a regional hub for corporate firms. Singapore provides increased exposure to markets in Southeast Asia and Asia in general. She also found that Singapore places a big emphasis on innovation through a future-forward society that embraces new technology. Ultimately, Jess felt that she could make a greater impact in Singapore, prompting her decision to move.
Wellesley Impact
Despite only studying at Wellesley for one semester, Jess believes that Wellesley had a large impact on her, both personally and academically. Most importantly, her experience impacted how she perceives education for her son. Coming from a school with large lecture-based courses, she found she preferred Wellesley’s discussion-based liberal arts classes. The smaller classes encouraged deeper engagement, greater critical thinking, and more meaningful interactions with both her professors and peers. The courses opened her mind to different study models and ways of learning. Looking back, the classes made her more conscious of the learning environment she hopes to provide for her son. Additionally, the liberal arts environment allowed her to form strong connections beyond the classroom. She built meaningful relationships that have remained a large part of her life long after her semester at Wellesley.