Nurturing a Future in Finance

Even in his youth, Chan Soon Huat has always been drawn to numbers, so looking to banking and finance as a career was only natural. Unfortunately, a financial crisis around the time he was graduating from university meant that banking jobs were few and far between, so he took up a teaching job and ended up discovering what turned out to be an excellent career path.

Along the way, he also spent about six or seven years gaining valuable on-the-ground experience in the finance industry, after receiving his Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of Malaya, an MBA (Finance) from the City University Business School in London, as well as a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Rhode Island.

Right now, he is a Senior Lecturer of Finance at the Singapore Management University (SMU) Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB), as well as the Academic Director of the Master of Science in Applied Finance.

“I think the finance industry is not only very competitive, you have to also deal with various stakeholders. It’s not only investors, but also the multiple departments in any institution. It’s not something you can learn from books, you have to be out there in the industry. That’s where you learn it’s not all about crunching numbers, but the soft skills as well,” explains Dr Chan.

One important soft skill he suggests is the development of people skills and how to build strong relationships with others. “You need to be able to articulate your models or ideas, and give people the confidence to convince them to invest with you,” he says,
 

At SMU, his lectures cover a range of topics, but his favourite two are Advanced Equities Analysis in the post-graduate programme, and Financial Instruments, Institutions and Markets in the undergraduate programme.

To him, finance is not just about cold, hard numbers. It is a dynamic subject that lives and breathes, and changes every day. “The financial markets provide us a live illustrations on how these financial institutions function and operate and how the financial instruments can be analysed and employed,” he describes.

He also sees it as a critical resource in any society that can be used as a tool to lift living standards. “I believe utilising finance in a constructive way can go a long way in helping society, so the motives of the finance industry are important to me,” he says.

That’s why he recommends his students not just read books about investment practices, but about the lives of successful investors themselves, such as Warren Buffet. “You’ll learn not only their skillset but their life philosophy and how it’s not all just about making money, but about contributing to society and the philanthropic work. That should be the right motive for students who want to enter into finance world,” says Dr Chan.

For instance, even when it comes to climate change and environmental issues, he feels that finance should be on the side of sustainability. “That means supporting companies that are not just driven by profits, but providing sustainable growth for their company. And I hope my students will take on this mindset to help influence trends of investments in the future,” he explains.

Interestingly enough, it ties in with his personal hobby – gardening. Even though he only does it on a small scale, with a few potted plants at home, Dr Chan associates his love for gardening with his love for teaching – both involve a spirit of nurturing.

“I find that when you see a plant grow healthily and bear fruit, you get a great sense of satisfaction. When I teach, I’m always happy to see my students now working in good positions in the industry, doing very well. I get that sense of pride when they do well,” he says.