Stories from the LKCSB Community

While travel restrictions are still in place and international programmes on hold, students can still gain cross-cultural exposure — all within their coursework. SMU's diverse student body and faculty offer infinite opportunities to learn from one another through the University's interactive pedagogy and hands-on programmes.

Inventive, groundbreaking, trailblazing: These hyperbolic adjectives often attached to new startups tend to suggest that product originality is pivotal to success for a burgeoning business. However, more often than not, the next big unicorn or company to go public isn't always a first adopter, but a pragmatist that has taken an existing product or idea, and innovated it for usability, greater visibility or enhanced experience.

SMU MSc in Innovation alum Nicholas Ong had the honour of commanding the ceremonial parade at the Padang during NDP 2020. “As an SAF officer, I have been tasked with many challenging assignments and different experiences. These opportunities have shaped my character in the various command, leadership and management roles that I have held,” Nicholas shared.

Ying Han Cheng drew on her personal experiences, along with the business skills she learned during her MSc in Innovation, to launch her own professional coaching business, Y-Age.

The Master of Science in Innovation (MI) grad was inspired to formulate and produce her own natural deodorant after learning about the long-term harmful effects of chemical ingredients in conventional deodorants. She also realised that levelling up from hobbyist to being the girl boss behind her own Jomingo brand of natural deodorants takes a whole new suite of competencies.

Have you been turning on the camera in your computer during all those Zoom meetings that have become ubiquitous during this time of COVID-19? If you’ve been preferring to keep your quarantine dishevelment to yourself and leaving that screen empty, then Yee Chong Moon, Executive Director of Nielsen Media, and Head of Nielsen Sports Southeast Asia has some advice.