Start-Up@Singapore 2008 CEO Unplugged

“Whatever you are now does not matter, it is where you are in the future.” – Mr. Adam Khoo Co-organised by three independent pillars of the National University of Singapore (NUS), namely the NUS Entrepreneurship Centre, the NUS Business School Alumni Association and the NUS Entrepreneurship Society (NES), CEO Unplugged promised yet another enterprising event for all budding entrepreneurs. This year, it took place at the NUS Business School’s Hon Sui Sen Auditorium, from 6.30p.m. to 8.30p.m.

The event commenced with an opening address by Associate Professor Quek Ser Aik, Vice Dean of NUS Business School, followed by a presentation by student lead of Start-Up@Singapore (S@S), Mr. Veerappan Swaminathan. CEO Unplugged started shortly after. The moderator for the evening was Associate Professor Tan Hwee Hoon from SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business and the two inspiring speakers were Mr. Adam Khoo and Mr. Ivan Lee. It was coincidental as well, that all three of them were NUS Alumnus, from the Faculty of Business and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Secrets to success and challenges they met along the way when starting up their businesses were shared. It was a pity however that the third speaker, Mr. Ron Sim, CEO of OSIM International Pte Ltd was unable to attend due to an urgent business trip.

The first speaker was Mr. Adam Khoo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group. Having graduated with an honours degree in Business Administration from NUS, he is a self-made millionaire by the age of 26, owns and runs three businesses with combined annual sales of $20 million. To key of being a good entrepreneur, he disclosed, is to be resourceful and open to any ideas that come along the way so as to know where to start. He also commented that there was no need for brains, only the will to succeed and daring to dream. Mr. Adam Khoo also stressed that an entrepreneur should not “focus on money, but how to create value to people around [him].” Emphasizing on his belief that one should do what he loves to do, he added that by doing so, one will be “100% committed to [it]”. He also mentioned plans of a book on entrepreneurship sometime next year.

The second speaker was Mr. Ivan Lee, CEO of Thai Express and Onyx Creations. Graduated with a double major in Philosophy and Economics, Mr. Ivan Lee also owns a chain of 50 restaurants regionally, from Thai Express, New York New York and Xin Wang Hong Kong Café to Pin Le. He strongly feels that an entrepreneur should never be egoistical and contented of his success as that will eventually lead to his downfall. Having lived with pragmatism from young, and he remarked that “a large part about business is about being a leader”. He insisted that a successful entrepreneur is one who emphasizes on strong human capital in the company. Hence, he believes in empowering a brand manager for each of his various brands and giving them the authority to run them. Reiterating Mr. Adam Khoo’s point, Mr. Ivan Lee also pointed out that entrepreneurship can never be learnt through books, and that perseverance and dreams are more important. He even advised all present in the auditorium to “throw away [your] textbooks as it does not apply in the real world”.

It was definitely an enjoyable and inspiring evening for all present, future entrepreneurs and participants of S@S’ 2008. Being over-subscribed, the NUS Business School’s Hon Sui Sen Auditorium was packed to the brim and those who wanted a clearer view had to stand up throughout the event while some had to be relocated to LT17 for a live broadcast of the event. Despite so, the resounding claps and laughter affirmed the success of the event. Citing a member of the audience, “They made me want to start a business too, by making it sound so easy.”

The next event by S@S, the Youth Bootcamp, will be held on the 14th and 15th of December 2007. It is an intensive 2-day non-stay over program for students from Junior Colleges, Polytechnics & ITEs which enable participants to take an approach to ideas that leads to the formation of a viable business model. The curriculum includes useful tools for Idea Generation and key concepts in defining value propositions, designing a marketing strategy, making financial projections, managing technology & intellectual property and understanding the legal framework for a business in Singapore. Furthermore, participants will also learn pitching and presentation styles that are effective in garnering the attention of investors and business angels.

Editor’s Note: Pictures will be uploaded soon.

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