Our Alumni

I left Vietnam for Singapore in 1998 on the ASEAN scholarship program offered by the Singapore Ministry of Education for secondary school students. Because of this program, I was very fortunate to be an alumnus in the best schools in Singapore: ACS(I) for 'O' Levels and ACJC for 'A' Levels. My time in Singapore was formative for my personal development; I am grateful for my teachers who have given me so much knowledge and moral guidance. Their teachings and support have kindled my lifelong love for the Sciences, which inspired my university coursework and my subsequent career in technology.

In ACJC, I studied double mathematics, physics, and computer science. I had the opportunity to participate in many activities related to my interests such as research projects, academic competitions, and science fairs. Those opportunities were possible because of the ample resources offered by ACJC, and the support of College's senior management and my teachers' dedication, especially Mrs Fabiola Soong's, my class teacher and mentor, and physics teacher extraordinaire. I also learned a lot from many fellow ACJC students who were also very actively engaged in scientific research and activities. I still admire their academic achievements, dedication to scientific research, and their willingness to share with others their inspiration and knowledge, which greatly enriched my own personal development.

After receiving my 'A' Levels results, I gained admission to Harvard University, which was supported by need-based scholarships to cover tuition fees and accommodation costs for the whole four years of undergraduate studies. My interest in sciences, which had thrived in the nurturing environment at ACJC, blossomed further in University, as I took advantage of the vast range of courses offered and the opportunity to explore the most cutting edge research in many scientific disciplines.

I chose to major in Pure Mathematics because in my earlier academic endeavors, I was inspired by the mathematicians who had proven elegant theorems, formulated ingenious mathematical model, and striven to understand our world with their discovery. I also hoped that, through my studies of Mathematics as a foundation, I would prepare myself with the knowledge and analytical mind for a lifetime of learning and appreciation of the Sciences.

We live in a time when science is advancing at a rapid pace. These advances are helping to create new technologies and inventions that have transformed our world for the better in the last decades. After graduating from Harvard, even though I did not choose to pursue an academic career, my professional choice was still inspired by my optimism about the power of science and technologies to improve our world.

In university, I was fascinated by the range of products and services that information technology can help automate and enhance. I also saw the transformative impact technologies can have on existing industries and businesses.

I started my career in Venture Capital, where I provided high potential technology startups with capital and business strategies to grow and bring their software technology products to the customers. In this role, I learned a lot about how fundamental research results can lead to new technologies that empower a whole new product line, and how a team of dedicated engineers can build a successful product based on a single elegant idea to solve a need in the world.

In recent years, I have moved to a management role at a San Francisco-based technology company, User Testing. As Chief Financial Officer, I still focus on leading the financial strategy team to provide the right investment and operational support for my Company to expand our software products, develop new features, and bring our services to more products and customers all around the world.

My studies of the Sciences throughout my school years have taught me many valuable lessons that I still relate to in my professional career and daily life. Doing science requires hard work and perseverance because significant discoveries do not come by quickly to the unprepared. For startups, introducing new products and services is challenging and risky, so the methodical and systematic problem-solving approach is required, and a long-term dedication to one's vision is also essential for success.

The scientific method trains a student to examine different hypotheses, to conduct unbiased experiments to come to fact-based conclusions, and always to seek and accept new ideas and perspectives to enhance their knowledge. Likewise, in the fast-changing business world, new business challenges and circumstances arise all the time, business leaders need to keep an open and curious mind to accept new perspectives and incorporate new ideas to improve their products, services, and operations. Those leaders and organizations who maintain a sense of wonder about the world around them, and who have the humility to learn from differing perspectives, are those who build and lead the best organisations and long-lasting businesses.