“Not everything made sense to me when I first came to China, but since I am in the country, why not make the best of everything? However, I have also come torealizethat nothing will be served toyou on a plate. You have to put yourself out there to make a name for yourself. Even if it means getting a lot of rejections, you have to do it so that opportunities will come to your way. If you work very hard, persevere and fight very hard for all opportunities, you’ll eventually be endlessly rewarded”.

Relishing Challenges

By Ong Hui Kuan (Undergraduate student from Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management)

Melvin Tay BSc, ACA, MBA, AIPAS

Tsinghua-MIT MBA Program Class of 2012

Director, Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX)

 

Breaking Out of the Comfort Zone

Upon graduating from University of Birmingham, Melvin Tay joined Price water house Coopers’ London Office where he provided advisory and restructuring services to large corporations in financial distress. A few demanding years later, and a little bit wiser, Melvin decided it was time to see more of this wonderful world and experience a different business environment. To facilitate the transition, Melvin realized he needed a different kind of education, one that is challenging and able to project him beyond his comfort zone. When evaluating MBA programs offered by top Business Schools in the Westagainst Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management, the decision was obvious.

“When I attended alumni sharing events organized by top tier Western Business Schools and Tsinghua, I noticed a distinct difference between the attitudes of MBA candidates.”Melvin recalled. “Even though MBA candidates in the western schools boast impressive experiences, they were generally satisfied with the status quo.Many of them were consultants or bankers who were already successful and are seekinga ‘brand name’ to add to their resume. Many of them then went back to consulting or banking again after their MBAs. In comparison, Tsinghua MBA candidates were mostly seeking a complete career change and were willing to explore different opportunities rather than staying in their comfort zone. I always believe that life is about progress and taking up challenges. Once you get to a comfortable position, you have to start thinking about the next challenge.”

Navigating Through Challenges

Even though Melvin’s command of Chinese wasbasic when he first moved to China, heactively attended every event organized by the school regardless of its relevance. In his defense Melvin said “It was the only way to make any sense of who’s who and what’s what!”Rising to be Vice-President of the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Association in the school, he was also involved with the tech and start-up industry in China, where he learnt how to incubate a business and met with the renowned industry leaders and financiers. Through the school’s MIT-Tsinghua China Lab Program, Melvin learnt about a company that had the license to trade state-owned assets in China and soon found himselfworking there.

“I thought it was an industry that was worth understanding and exploring because I had just come from the financial services sector in London and there wasn’t any value added to me doing the exact same thing in Beijing. That was why I decided to do something radical and joined the company on an internship program”. Within a short period of time, Melvin was promoted to the position of junior partner, and thereafter, tasked to establish acorporate finance practice that advised state-owned enterprises on strategic acquisitions overseas, afterMelvin had demonstratedthe ability toclose deals for the company on his own.

Relishing Risks and Changes

A year ago, Melvin returned to Singaporeto be reunited with his beloved.He broke fresh ground by pursuing a career in a field newto him:the capital markets. As Director of Listings at the Singapore (Stock) Exchange, he continues to work with central and provincial government officials and companies from China,in which he advises them on their IPO and capital raisingconsiderations.

In November last year, he was also part of the team that championed the signing of an arrangement between Singapore Exchange and the Chinese Securities Regulator which allows Chinese companies to list directly in Singapore,instead of using an offshore entity to effect this. Singapore is the first and only country to date with such an agreement with the CSRC.

 

Even after his return to Singapore, Melvin had been receiving job offers from reputable companies around the world, to which he credits Tsinghua for. “Tsinghua changed my life. It was one of the most exciting and challenging periods. Students around me had influenced me a lot, particularly in the way I think. Interactions with members of Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management’s Advisory Board had also left deep impressions on me,” he recalls. “Any foreign student who comes to Tsinghua should try and learn from the Chinese in terms of pro-activeness and their drive to succeed. Many of my Chinese classmates have no reservations about getting in front of people and start talking to them, and in the process, find out if there are any business opportunities. Even if it means getting a lot of rejections, you have to do it because nothing will be served to you on a silver platter”.