spexBusiness Athlete Stories

Success Stories from Team Singapore Athletes

Kacy Lim, Team Singapore Athlete (Water Polo)

Meet Kacy Lim, a dedicated Team Singapore (TeamSG) Water Polo player who recently participated at the Malaysia Milo Invitation Age Group Championships in Kuala Lumpur. With aspirations to surpass SEA competitors, especially Thailand, Kacy and her team mates work together, constantly pushing one another to new heights. However, all these achievements did not come easily as Kacy had to juggle her extensive water polo trainings and overseas competitions while gaining meaningful job experiences outside of sports. 

“I had a hard time finding an internship role with time flexibility, and one that can allow me to take time off for my overseas competitions,” Kacy remarked. Fortunately, Kacy’s journey to finding flexible internships that accommodate her rigorous training and competition schedule was greatly facilitated by the spexBusiness programme. She discovered this invaluable resource as she has been receiving numerous emails from the team on athlete-friendly job opportunities. After failed attempts to secure internships with companies that can support her sporting pursuits. Kacy decided to reach out to the spexBusiness team.  Since then, she has received unwavering support from the team, who were instrumental in refining her resume and providing continuous guidance throughout the internship sourcing process.

Kacy’s first internship, secured through spexBusiness, was with Under Armour (UA) as a Merchandising Intern. UA’s internship initiative, called the Rookie Programme, offers a unique experience with paid opportunities globally for students across various majors to dive into real-world projects, collaborate with industry experts, and immerse themselves in the UA brand. Through the team’s recommendation and Kacy’s capabilities showcased during the interview, the UA team decided to take on Kacy for the role. As a merchandising intern, Kacy coordinated shipment tracking, created purchase orders, and supported regional demand planning. A standout experience for her was attending the UA trade show in Thailand, a rare opportunity for an intern. UA fostered an engaging environment where Kacy built lasting relationships, developed valuable skills, and thrived.

"Kacy's dedication and adaptability made her an asset to our team. Her involvement in the trade show exemplified her commitment to learning and growth," said Saniyah, Manager, Planning at Under Armour.

With her positive experience working with the spexBusiness team, Kacy reached out to the team again to look for another internship with another athlete-friendly company to expose herself to a variety of roles and experiences. With the team’s assistance, Kacy is currently interning with Fujifilm Business Innovation Singapore (FBSG) as a PCC Intern in Programme Management, where she plans internal events and drafts monthly newsletters. She also collaborates on exciting projects, contributing to an engaging and vibrant workplace.

It is not just Kacy who benefitted from working in the company. FBSG sees the value of hiring athletes and welcomed Kacy greatly into the team. "Kacy's enthusiasm and creativity have greatly enriched our team. She balances her sporting commitments with professionalism and dedication," remarked her supervisor, Leah Davison, Manager, Programs and CSR at FBSG.

Both Under Armour and Fujifilm Business Innovation Singapore have been exemplary in accommodating Kacy’s sporting commitments. Both companies have understanding colleagues who provided support and workplace flexibilities for Kacy, allowing her to adjust work hours around her training. When Kacy had to travel overseas for her water polo competitions, she simply informed her supervisors in advance, and they made necessary arrangements to support her.

Kacy advises fellow athletes to stay vigilant for job opportunities from spexBusiness and not hesitate to reach out for assistance. Networking sessions organized by spexBusiness are also valuable for exploring different roles and experiences.

With a seamless and supportive process in securing internships through the spexBusiness programme, Kacy can gain meaningful experiences that align with her athletic commitments.

Nicholas Ting, Team Singapore Athlete (Water Polo)

With just 2.5 years under his belt, Nicholas Ting, the resilient goalkeeper for the Singapore Men’s National Water Polo Team, has already made a significant impact on the team. His journey, marked by dedication and hard work, has seen him compete in prestigious tournaments like the Asian Championships and World University Championships. Nicholas’s focus has always been on consistent participation, personal improvement, and contributing to the team’s success. Now a member of Team A, Nicholas aspires to push Team Singapore to new heights on the international water polo stage while excelling in his professional career.

Balancing a demanding training schedule with career aspirations is no easy feat. Nicholas trains every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with two sessions each Saturday and Sunday. This intense schedule often leaves little room for recovery, let alone a full-time job. Finding a company that not only understands these commitments but also aligns with his career goals has been a significant challenge for Nicholas. However, Nicholas’s determination and strategic approach to his career have led him to opportunities that accommodate his athletic and professional pursuits.

Nicholas first learned about the spexBusiness program through an email invitation to a networking session designed to connect national athletes with potential employers. Curious, he attended the session alongside a teammate, and that decision changed the course of his career. Through spexBusiness, Nicholas has secured internships at some of Singapore’s leading companies, including KPMG and DBS. The programme played an instrumental role in connecting him with organisations that value the discipline, teamwork, and resilience that athletes bring to the workplace.

During his internship at KPMG as a Digital Trust Intern, Nicholas had the opportunity to significantly enhance his expertise in digital security and compliance. He was actively involved in transformative business projects and industry applications, gaining invaluable insights into real-world challenges. One of his achievements was leading a team of interns to victory in an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) case challenge. Under his leadership, the team crafted innovative strategies that focused on boosting sustainability, creating jobs and improving key performance metrics, showcasing the firm's commitment to nurturing talent and fostering impactful solutions. At DBS, Nicholas took on the role of a Risk Analytics Intern, where he developed climate scenario analyses for regulatory reporting and spearheaded research initiatives. His ability to juggle these demanding roles with his rigorous training schedule is a testament to his exceptional time management and commitment. 

Currently, Nicholas is interning at ByteDance as a Risk Insights Analyst, where he analyses trends in advertising content and provides data-driven insights to optimize content strategies. Each of these roles has pushed Nicholas’s abilities, setting him up for success in both his athletic and professional endeavours.

Both KPMG and DBS were incredibly supportive of Nicholas’s sporting commitments. They offered flexible work hours, and remote work options, and even supported his participation in overseas training trips and competitions. When Nicholas needed to be away for training or competitions, the KPMG team would offer flexible workhours and remote working options, ensuring seamless coverage during his absence. This level of understanding and accommodation allowed Nicholas to give his hundred percent to both his training and his work, without compromising on either front.

To fellow athletes navigating the job market, Nicholas advises being upfront about your sporting commitments. Seek out companies that recognize the unique skills you’ve developed through sports—discipline, teamwork, resilience, and time management. The spexBusiness programme can be invaluable in bridging the gap between athletic and professional careers.

“Balancing a demanding training schedule with a professional career is undeniably challenging, but it’s also what sets you apart,” Nicholas shares. “These qualities are what make you stand out. They’re not obstacles; they’re your strengths. Embrace them, let them shine in your job search, and trust that the right opportunities will come to those who remain committed, both on and off the field.”

Looking ahead, Nicholas continues to rely on the spexBusiness team for support as he prepares for life beyond sports. The Athlete365 Career+ Workshops and networking sessions have been particularly beneficial in helping him navigate the transition from athlete to professional.

As Nicholas continues to guard the net for Singapore, he also stands as a beacon of resilience and determination for athletes striving to balance their sporting and professional aspirations. His journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, both in the pool and the workplace.

Jaslyn Hooi, Team Singapore Athlete (Badminton) Final Year Student, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (Business Studies - Entrepreneurship Management) Investment Analyst Intern, Quest Ventures

Poised, determined and unfazed, Jaslyn Hooi, a TeamSG badminton player and spexScholar, stepped into her office at Ayer Rajah Crescent. As soon as Jaslyn sits down at her desk, it is non-stop working for her until she leaves for her training. Such was her usual routine during her internship stint at spexBusiness partner, Quest Ventures. As an Investment Analyst intern, she had to facilitate the investment process; be the first point of contact with the start-ups, do an initial evaluation of the feasibility and potential of the company to invest in. She is also in-charge of several market access programs that help companies in gaining access to overseas markets and amplifying their presence across the Southeast Asia region. This is certainly no mean feat for someone with no prior working experience at all.

Jaslyn_Hooi_Badminton

“In June 2020, the spexBusiness team was able to advise and help me secured my internship through the network despite the COVID-19 situation then. I am very thankful for the help that the team has given so far. They really helped me to find the perfect internship which I really enjoy because I don’t have to compromise on my training to reap the best out of my internship.”

To Jaslyn, her internship experience was like a roller-coaster ride; it was scary yet exhilarating. Most of the time, she was challenged out of her comfort zone, but nevertheless it had been a super rewarding journey. It is a fast-paced on-the-job training environment where she got to learn so much more. As Jaslyn quipped, “I want to start my own company in the future and this internship experience gave me a good head-start in doing so!"

With the moral support from her coach, management team in Singapore Badminton Association, close friends and family members, Jaslyn was able to fulfil her training and competition requirement, as well as complete her internship in 30 weeks. As Jaslyn added, “They try their best to understand what I am going through and support me when I am too torn between my sport performance and work responsibilities. I am also thankful to Quest Ventures for providing me with a flexible working schedule that allows me to have the luxury to plan my working schedule around my training and physio appointments. Besides that, my direct supervisor is very supportive of my competition schedule. For instance, during the week of the National Open Championship 2021 (30 Jan to 7 Feb), he allowed me to take the whole week off to focus on my competition."

"We are outcome-driven. So long as work is done and deadlines are met, it does not matter how much (or how little) time one puts in.” shared James Tan, Managing Partner at Quest Ventures. Quest Ventures recognises that athletes are high performers and are willing to support their sporting aspirations if they deliver their work. This is synonymous with their company culture, which is very start-up at heart.

It is with such unwavering support system in place, as well as her own perseverance and hard work that allowed Jaslyn to continue with her sporting pursuits as a spexScholar. In summary, Jaslyn received:

  • Proactive advice from the team to identify suitable internship experience that is aligned to her school’s requirements and her future career aspirations

  • Comprehensive support from spexBusiness partner, Quest Ventures, that allows Jaslyn to continue her trainings and competitions during her internship by providing:

    • Flexible work arrangements so that Jaslyn can plan her work schedule with her training schedules

    • Special work leave for Jaslyn to focus and compete in her competitions

- Jaslyn Hooi, Team Singapore Athlete (Badminton)

Chelsea Ann Sim, Team Singapore Athlete (Taekwondo) Graduate, SMU (Business Management) Intern, Deloitte (Clients and Markets Department)

A three-time SEA Games medallist, Team Singapore Taekwondo Exponent Chelsea Ann Sim stands as testimony to how the spexBusiness initiative benefits both student-athletes and athlete-employees. Having been on both ends of the coin, she is now on her second internship placement via the initiative, her first having been with the Corporate Business division in OSIM International. Currently, Chelsea is interning with the Clients and Markets Department in Deloitte, in view towards full-time conversion.

TaeKwonDo_David_Chew_

Fully cognisant of the greater flexibility experienced by student-athletes, Chelsea was slightly apprehensive about transitioning to an athlete-employee fearing that the hours and rigour of a regular office job would cut into her training time and competition opportunities.

Deloitte showed Chelsea that these worries were unfounded through the provision of:

  • Understanding partners that provided Chelsea the support she needed to balance work and her sport

  • Flexible working hours that allowed her to head to training straight after work

  • A competition-friendly leave scheme that catered different tiers of leave according to the level of the competition, including fully-paid special leave for major competitions

Chelsea had previously expressed fears of entering the workforce with the lack of work experience putting her at a disadvantage at hiring. However, both internships have since assured Chelsea of a pathway of continuity and transition post-sports. Without the stress and anxiety of having to search for a job that would accommodate her hectic schedule, Chelsea was thus able to turn her complete focus to her sport, proudly flying the Singapore flag and mounting the podium across two consecutive SEA Games claiming a Gold and a Bronze to her name.

“I got my internships through spexBusiness. I’m very appreciative of such an initiative, as it has supported me both in my sporting endeavours and career development. It has shown me that there are ways for athletes to plan a life after sport, and we have a future beyond our sporting careers. I’m very grateful to both spexBusiness and Deloitte for providing me with the opportunity to pursue excellence in my sport, and at the same time, pave the road for my future career.” Chelsea Ann Sim

Derek Wong (Team Singapore Athlete, Badminton) Research Specialist with Deloitte Singapore

Derek joined Deloitte in July 2014 as a Research Specialist in the Clients & Markets Department. He performs research on specific companies and industries in order to support the work teams serving clients from these specific industries. This involves benchmarking studies, conducting economic research or research on the strategic directions of the organization or development trends.

Derek_Wong_at_SEA_Games

Deloitte has supported Derek in allowing him to train and compete full-time through providing: 

  • A customised work schedule of approximate 15 hours a week that revolves around his training schedule

  • Flexi-work arrangements of working from home in the evenings and on weekends after his training

  • Special work leave to compete in Major Games and tournaments, including representing Singapore at the Commonwealth Games 2014, Asian Games 2014 & SEA Games 2015

Beyond this short-term work opportunity, Deloitte is also ready to offer a full-time job to Derek upon retirement from his competitive sports career.

“At Deloitte, we strongly believe in the strength of employee diversity and aim to deliver a unique Deloitte experience to all our employees. Having national athletes as employees adds to this diversity, allowing employees who are athletes and non-athletes alike to interact and share with each other different unique skills, mindsets and experiences that are mutually enriching.

The atmosphere in the firm gets a boost as well – to get a chance to work, and sometimes even train, alongside someone like Derek Wong, the current Singapore number 1 badminton player, is a great experience”.

-Ms Seah Gek Choo, Talent Partner, Deloitte Singapore.

 “I am thankful to Deloitte’s tremendous support in arranging a customised work schedule that allows me to work flexibly from home around my training schedule. This support will ensure that my sporting focus is not compromised in any way. I am also able to grow as a person, in gaining valuable life skills and insights into the corporate world. Full time athletes like me will be able to bring 100% to the sporting field when we know that companies are extending their arms out so that we will not need to worry over our future career plans.”

-Derek Wong, Team Singapore Athlete (Badminton)