Prof, congratulations on being a Dad!

One my professors is now a newly-anointed father of a beautiful baby girl! In an email to the students, he thanked us for our gift for his daughter, and shared with us his thoughts and feelings of being a father:

"It is a strange experience to become a father. Of course, the overwhelming feelings are ones of relief and happiness. But, I keep thinking of our daughter as my new best friend, whereas I imagined that feelings related to nurturing and responsibility would have been the strongest.

There are so many other nice things about a little baby: it forces one to be more optimistic, for if the world is so bad, why have children? One sees the importance of children in society in the wonderful way people have responded to her presence; and it disarms and brings out the best in other people."

Every parent out there would definitely agree with one thing: that being a parent and having children changes their context of life to become more positive (that is before the baby grows up and starts giving the parents so much headache!).

It makes me wonder how I was like as a baby and as a child. As a third child, did I give my parents more blessings or headaches?

But it also reminded me of how much my parents sacrificed and cared for me. And their fundamental wish as parents is to watch me grow up and live a life that works for me, and to live it happily. Parents, I believe, are among the most unselfish people in the world.

Mum and Dad, cheers. You rock!

Looking back at my time with the Corps...

42 members. 6 years of existence. 6 core values.

And 6 more months left with the Corps before I say goodbye and graduate, thus completing 2 years of service. Boy, time really flies.

Mais aucun jour ne passera près avec aucun regret -).

Too many coincidences in two weeks?

I never considered myself integral with the world of Public Relations (PR), nor be a magnet for the media. But too many media-related incidents have happened to me these two weeks to make me wonder if these coincidences are a way for God to tell me to go into PR or journalism - something that I've resisted because I've always thought that I have a different calling in life.

The first incident was NYC's publishing an article that they wrote of me and Project ENP in their monthly magazine. Although they did not clear the article with us, I'm glad that they gave some publicity for the project since they are our sponsor (although I shudder at how they have portrayed me).

The second incident happened two Fridays ago, when we hosted a dinner for 20 Saudi Scholars as part of my Business Study Mission (BSM) Middle East programme. I was in charge of media relations and was responsible for crafting the media strategy and documents, and leading the media team to pitch to over 20 media outlets. For 4 days, we worked the ground and crossed our fingers for the media to bite. Fortunately, at the last moment, we managed to secure coverage of up to 4 articles by Berita Harian and Blue & Gold. Berita Harian wrote a nice article on the Saudi students.

The next amazing thing that happened on that Friday was that Suria TV turned up without informing us beforehand with a cameraman but NO reporter. Sweating furiously, I decided to do an impromptu interview with the people there and send the footage to Suria for airing. With no script, I decided to throw questions off the top of my mind at the interviewees.

That was my first taste of broadcast journalism. It was very scary but extremely exhilarating. I heard that Suria aired the clip two Saturdays ago, and I'm still trying to get the clip for media tracking purposes. Not bad for a newbie like me!

The fourth incident happened last Friday when Blue & Gold magazine published a two-page-long reply by the SMU Student Associations Council (SAC) to my commentary on the need for more accountability and improved strategic communication by the SAC. By any standards, it was a long reply but it's satisfying to see that they are now making the effort to communicate more with the student population.

The fifth incident happened on Saturday when there was a record sign-up and turn-out for the Branding, Marketing & PR workshop for AIESECers that I organised with Rachel and Grace. By most standards, it was a success, and I used the opportunity to hone my craft with the guidance of our two trainers from Ogilvy & Mather. I took out more from the workshop than I ever expected.

And then, this week, my article on student journalism was selected to be published in the Straits Times: Youthink. It's been a long while, really, considering my last piece was published in the beginning of this year. It has restored my confidence in writing more often for the column.

Finally, the SMU Corporate Communications Office called me recently and informed me that The Straits Times wants to interview me and two other students on our experience with blogging for the SMU Blog which is targeted at prospective students. The journalist wishes to find out if we were subjected to any form of censorship (or self-censorship) that might have made us portray a too-good-to-be-true image of the school. For the record, we are basically free to write whatever we want on the blog but as always, we have to be responsible writers.

Thomas Griffith once said that "journalism is in fact history on the run" while Napolean lamented that "fame is fleeting but obscurity is forever". I had (will have) my few moments of fame and I will move on just as quicky as it happened.

Unless God has other plans for me.

Best of FAIL Blog...Enjoy!

The sweat and hard work was all worth it...

I just received a photo from a Thai friend, of the well that the Project ENP team helped to build in the village of Hui-bak-bak during our April-May expedition.

Simple happiness lies in knowing that in a short span of three days, we turned the swamp (see below) of mud, mosquito-breeding stagnant water, and overgrown trees into......


A sheltered well that is 3 m by 2 m by 1.5 m deep, and now serves as a complementary source of clean water for a village of 250 people that is 6 hours drive away from urban civilisation. This photo was taken in May shortly after we left and the well is brimming with clean water now.


The next Project ENP team is heading off in April-May next year to continue volunteer and reforestation work with the Elephant Nature Park, and work on similar projects at other villages being supported by the Park.

If you have what it takes to join the team, especially documentary and film-making skills, then please drop me a personal message!

Making a stand as Projects Directors

Yesterday, I wrote an open letter to the Projects Directors who attended the training session on Saturday.

For them, sitting through every single critique session wasn't easy, especially when their plans were in the lines of the 'firing squad'. I appreciate their willingness to be open to criticism and learning, which forms the very basis of the Projects support network which can only grow if there is a culture of open learning.

At Saturday's session, I saw determination and tenacity in the eyes of the attendees. And my love for them and this wonderful organisation leap-frogged my lingering skepticism of my role, and the future of AIESEC Singapore.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Hi guys,

Thank you for sharing your plans with us on Saturday and contributing to the critique of your peers’ projects. Hope you all picked up new ideas and insights from each session.

Grace and I talked yesterday. We are simply amazed by all your plans and hopes for your project, and if you’re able to achieve all your targets, the net impact on AIESEC Singapore will be tremendous. AIESEC Singapore has come a long way from the past, even from last year. As an organization, we are growing. We both feel it and I hope you do feel it too.

Personally, as a projects leader in 2007\08, I never had anyone to turn to for help, no mentors to provide guidance, nor an idea of what a Pbox is (and how to design and execute one), or the luxury of having a critique session like Saturday’s. Those were the days when projects weren’t given much of a priority, when we practically didn’t have to report to anyone (because few people really cared), and had to scrimp and scrap every possible contact beyond the organization for funding and expertise.

If you think you are all alone and underappreciated now, think about how we would have felt then.

The role of a Projects Director even today is demanding. Very demanding.

Not only do you have to juggle project management and sales, you also have to manage a huge team, be responsible for member retention in your team, initiate partnerships and keep them happy, know something about marketing and PR, answer to the top (MC) and bottem (members), plus a whole lot of other factors that makes starting a new business look like child’s play. As a Projects Director, you are also forced (not asked!) to become a friend, a team worker, a mentor, a babysitter, a preacher, an activist, a partner, and many other roles.

And lo and behold, we are also full-time university students being subsidized by the wonderful taxpayers of this country!

But it is an honour and a privilege to be a Projects Director. I spent a year away from AIESEC last year. When I was away, I learnt new things that I wouldn’t have learnt in AIESEC, but I also realized that there is no other student organization that is unique like AIESEC, and a role as demanding as that of a Projects Director. Only a minority of people in our local universities have the opportunity to do what you’re doing, and grow and learn from it. But I can certainly think of many people who are hungry enough to do what you are doing but yet do not have the opportunity to do so.

Compared to other functional departments, Projects has plenty of leeway, freedom and power to try new things and experiment with new ideas. As the main engine of growth for exchanges and campus outreach for AIESEC Singapore, there is understandably plenty of expectations and demands set on you guys. And with great power and expectations, comes great responsibilities.

The Imperial British Hussars knew this well. As sword-welding horsemen who are responsible for disrupting enemy formations and stirring fear in them, they are the first to charge into battle before their infantry do. With the long lines of enemy rifles aimed at them, they knew they would be the first to die on the battlefield and the last to leave. But it was a great honour to be a Hussar, not simply for what they did and could do, but for what they stood for.

And hence, we hope that you can all stand for something that goes beyond just the mundane tasks of raising exchanges and executing forums. When you meet your team in person and try to get them excited about your plans, you stand for something. When you meet potential partners and clients, and face the prospect of being rejected, you stand for something. And when you spend the wee hours of the morning writing emails and proposals when you should be studying for a quiz, you too stand for something. That something lies in being a Projects Director for AIESEC Singapore. Think about it.

And we hope that as a community of leaders and AIESECers, we can all support each other, during our darkest hours, or during our highest peaks of triumphs. The great philosopher, Cicero, knew this when he said,” Rome became great not through its conquests, but through its undying support for its allies”. Let’s help each other by being open in sharing, learning and supporting. As a community, we will have to consciously work at growth, and grow together.

On behalf of the NTT, I would like to proudly say that it has been an honour and a privilege to be a part of the process of supporting you all through providing training, mentorship and advice.

We look forward to the next training session and till then, all the best for your projects and remember, if you need help, don’t hesitate to holler for us!

Sincerely Yours,
Kenny

Picking up the piano again...

A couple of days ago, I caught The Secret, starring Jay Chou and Kwai Lun Mei. The film, directed by Jay Chou himself, is a love story revolving around the theme of pianos, time travel, heartbreaks and mystery - a seemingly unusual combination which collectively adds up to become a combustible epic which won many awards such as the 2007 44th Golden Horse Award, the Outstanding Taiwanese Film of the Year, and Best Original Film Song awards,

Just check out the famous piano duel in the film. It's one of those heart-stopping moments that I've not seen in any film in a long while.

The film also made me rediscover my interest in playing the piano again. When I was in JC many years ago, I bugged many of my friends to teach me how to play the piano. With some pointers here and there, I started picking up the piano by myself, without formal classes. Along the way, I collected the scores of some of my favourite pieces.

I once bugged my parents to get me a piano. When my Yamaha Clarinova arrived, I spent hours practising and playing on it, even sometimes past midnight. The effort was always worth it - it was simply a joy to be able to create music, one of the best things in life that speaks to Man's soul.

My interest tanked however when I started working and did my NS in 2004. When I moved house in 2006, I lost my beloved set of scores (and I spent hours marking the piano notes on them, damn!) and the Clarinova was relegated to a neglected position in my new home. What a pity.

Perhaps it's time to dust the top of the Clarinova and start playing again. I've always wanted to play the piano duet from the film Road to Perdition.



Once I find the score, I will start rockin' away again. My fingers have become stiff over the years and I almost forgot how to read scores now. But I'll try my best, hahas!

One Republic & David Archuleta - Apologise

Here's One Republic and David Archuleta lighting up an otherwise bland Sunday afternoon with their joint rendition of Apologise. Enjoy!

"Conversations That Matter"

I was having supper with Nathaniel one night and knowing that he used to serve on the Student Associations Council (SAC), I began to enquire about his views on the recent SA elections and fiascos. Being a Workers' Party member, he also shared with me his take on local politics and why Singaporeans are so afraid of being associated with the political opposition.

That's when an idea struck me.

There are so many people out there with vast experience, great ideas, and expounding visions that are both challenging and admirable. When I made a mental calculation of the number of forums and talks I attend, and the number of personalities I come into contact with, I realised there is a wealth of knowledge over there that can be tapped upon.

Imagine if there is a platform where conversations with such personalities can be freely published. Through a format of inquiry (i.e. kind of similar to the YEP Social Enquiry methodology of facilitation and reflection), there is much to be taken out of such conversations.

Imagine if there is a platform which the youth or the public can access to get insights into how such personalities think, act and feel, and walk away feeling somehow inspired by their work, ideas or vision. Or just a platform where one can air his views freely in support or rebuttal of these personalities. It's all about bridging the chasm between the public and such personalities.

"Conversations That Matter" will have no preference for individuals from any sectors, industry or school of thought. I believe political, business or social leaders all have one thing in common: that they believe in a vision greater than themselves that will benefit their community, and perhaps beyond.

I then made a mental list of people whom we could engage as writers and publishers for this platform. Nathaniel even suggested we could start off as an online blog\website, generate income from ads, then sell the rights to a media outlet with the promise that the platform will retain its accessibility and unbias for readers. Or we could brand it as an SMU publishing project which will be non-profit and run entirely by student volunteers.

Or we could simply shelf the idea and revisit it at a later date because it is so convenient to do so.

I need discipline, time and resources to make this happen!

Conversations with a Russian Billionaire

Whoever says Russians are fierce, aloof, pompous, ignorant, cold or have a penchant for corruption and economic mismanagement?

The recent Russian-Singapore Business Forum (RSBF), which was attended by several well-heeled Russian movers and shakers, certainly helped change that perception as it shed some light into their mentality, way of life and mode of operation.

There are many interesting stories to share but for me, one individual really stood out: Mr Vladimir Tyurenkov, Managing Director of Hansberger Global Investors (HGI), a U.S. investment advisory firm managing more than $10 billion in assets for global, emerging markets and international mandates. I was privileged to be the Liaison Officer to him as he was among the VIPs who was invited to come to Singapore for the RSBF.

When we first met at the RSBF opening party, Mr Tyurenkov caught me way off guard by apologising to me for speaking in Russian with his friends.

"I have not met many of my Russian friends in a long while. Hope you understand", he apologised, not once, but on three separate occasions over the duration of the RSBF. And he politely asked me if it's possible to bring him and his girlfriend to the Helipad at the top floor of the Swissotel where they will have an unparalleled view of the F1 racing. What a charmer.

When I politely informed him that the Helipad remained off-limits because of the bad weather, he smiled and replied, "It's fine. I understand. Thank you for checking for me."

On the drive to the Fullerton for the lunch with SM Goh, I was able to engage in a more in-depth conversation with him regarding his views on the Russian economy.

The big story in Russia now is still oil. Most of the stock market (around 60.6%) is in oil and gas which only consist of 21.5% of Russia's economy. But opportunities are abound with the expanding real estate market, rising corporate debt market, a huge increase in Russian mutual funds, and more Russian IPOs. In fact, the debut of Rosneft could easily be the biggest IPO in history.

This is a sharp contrast to the post-Soviet Russia where "oligarchs" practically became millionaires overnight by using their influence to purchase state-owned enterprises at firesale prices. This was a sad story of Russia's privatization scheme where a minority enriched themselves while the average Russian was left to fend for himself. Vast inequality persisted and state infrastructure was virtually neglected.

With his vast experience working for the Russian government to develop and implement business plans for Russian companies entering the private sector, Mr Tyurenkov pointed out his role in creating "new wealth" for Russia and providing opportunities for a new breed of businessmen to create wealth "from scratch" and contribute to Russia's growth. His companies help restructure company product lines, formulate financial resource management strategy, and provide credit to business developments.

On the topic of doing business with the mainland Chinese, Mr Tyurenkov lamented that it was "very difficult to do business with them" because they are very "shrewd" and "always asking more for less".

However, he had many good words for Mr Michael Tay, our former Ambassador to Russia, who was a "good friend" of his and who is "well-respected" in Russia, and was instrumental in launching the RSBF as a platform for Singaporeans and Asians to engage the Russians.

Mr Tyurenkov also enquired to me about the real estate market in Singapore, as well as youth perception of careers in the private versus the public sector. Obviously, he does show some interest in developments in this little red dot of ours.

The RSBF is a successful event but more importantly for me, it allowed me to gain some insights into the mentality of Russia's "new wealthy". With his personal charm, eloquence, down-to-earth personality and experience, I am indeed awed by Russians like Mr Tyurenkov.

And with his drive and vision, I'm sure Mr Tyurenkov will become a bigger player in helping to shape Russia's economy and future.