HomepageEducation ProgrammesNUS Overseas CollegesN-House Our Story Alumni Stories Marcus Tan [NOC Beijing] "Working in a Scandinavian tech start-up based in Beijing was really an eye-opener. Besides being exposed to Western start-up culture in an Asian environment, I was also able to get first-hand experience in launching social marketing marketing initiatives and crowdfunding campaigns for my company, on top of managing day-to-day operations. It was great learning to run a start-up during my NOC internship, which was arguably the best decision that I made during my time in university. I fell in love with the whole experience, which would not have been possible if I had not embarked on the programme." Marcus TanNOC Beijing alumnusFaculty of Arts and Social Sciences Marcus Tan [NOC Beijing] John Lim En Dian [NOC Israel] "The NOC programme allows you to pick up life skills which are not taught in the classroom.  I had to learn quickly on the job and often think outside the box when interning with a tech start-up in Israel. Working closely with my boss further honed my management skills which you would usually not get in a big company. This has made me more confident in taking on new challenges, whether it is starting my own business or working in my first job after graduation." John Lim En DianNOC Israel alumnusSchool of Computing John Lim En Dian [NOC Israel] Liu Mengyi [NOC Israel] "My NOC experience in Israel really pushed me to maximise my potential of what I could achieve. Despite being an intern in an IT start-up, my CEO actually valued my inputs and made me feel that my work is important to the company. I got to see first-hand how a start-up works and be inspired by the passion and creativity of those who run a business. After returning, I’m more confident about my capabilities and clearer about my career path ahead. The NOC programme was a truly life-changing experience for me, a once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity which I will always cherish." Liu MengyiNOC Israel alumnusFaculty of Engineering Liu Mengyi [NOC Israel] Marilyn Chew [NOC New York] "One of my many significant moments was when I saw an advertisement that I helped to design  on the New York subway! The people I met at during my NOC internship helped to shape me as a person in terms of my skills and my character. Nothing beats experiencing it first hand and deciding for myself what working in a start-up is like." Marilyn ChewNOC New York alumnusSchool of Design & Environment Marilyn Chew [NOC New York] Ng Zhi An [NOC New York] "I expected to learn a lot, and very quickly. I expected a challenge that I would enjoy. I expected a lot of fun, and all my expectations were met! It forced me to mature a lot, to become more independent, be more flexible, be more open minded, be more willing to take risks. To accomplish anything substantial, you won't be able to do it alone, you need a team. You need a team that has their goals aligned, you need a team that is relentlessly chasing the same thing. You'll never be fully prepared for the NOC programme, or actually any thing important in life, but that doesn't mean preparation is useless. Get yourself in the right state of mind (and body), know what you want out of the one year, and make sure you have achieve it." Ng Zhi AnNOC New York alumnusSchool of Computing Ng Zhi An [NOC New York] Alina Mak [NOC Shanghai] "This whole experience in China opened my eyes and really showed me that China is a place that is advancing way faster than us. Working in a start-up exposes you to many life lessons. There are limited resources, tight deadlines and some nasty people out there. Going through all these and learning to adapt are life-skills that will help you become a better person, be it when you’re back in school or working in your first job. It is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you can experiment your ideas and make mistakes. Of course, work hard, play hard. Put your footsteps on places of the world you have never been before." Alina MakNOC Shanghai alumnusFaculty of Arts & Social Sciences Alina Mak [NOC Shanghai] Xander Khoo Yong Liang [NOC Shanghai] "Before going on the NOC programme in Shanghai, I already had a keen interest in doing business and my internship experience further opened my mind to the world of entrepreneurship. Working in an actual F&B start-up environment was a great learning process, as I took on different roles that allowed me to fulfill various responsibilities which impacted the company. It was all about tuning myself to innovate day in, day out, to solve real-world problems with start-up solutions. This helped me to develop both hard and soft skills which are truly invaluable for a holistic university education." Xander Khoo Yong LiangNOC Shanghai alumnusSchool of Design & Environment Xander Khoo Yong Liang [NOC Shanghai] Sylvia Look [NOC Silicon Valley] "As the startup scene in Singapore was gaining increasing attention, I was curious to find out more about entrepreneurship. I figured there was no better time for me to visit Silicon Valley, a place often crowned as the heart of entrepreneurship, the birthplace of start-ups. I wanted to find out what Silicon Valley is all about, and if there is anything Singaporeans can learn from. In this one year, I observed that the valley goes beyond just a physical location - it is a state of mind, where people there are extremely open to failures, they are not afraid of trying new ideas and they are constantly on the lookout for solutions that can address human’s needs. My one year internship experience opened my eyes to the vibrant entrepreneurial culture in the valley. I woke up every morning feeling excited to start my day - I get to work with and learn from start-up founders, build up my business skills sets, take part in entrepreneurial events and mingle with the local startup community. It is the best one year of my university life!" Sylvia LookNOC Silicon Valley alumnusNUS Business School Sylvia Look [NOC Silicon Valley] Ly Vu Thinh [NOC Silicon Valley] "My NOC internship in Silicon Valley didn’t exactly turn out like how I imagined. No, I didn’t get to meet the superstars of the start-up scene there. And I didn’t learn to speak American English properly at Stanford University like in the movies. Instead, my NOC experience was a major turning point in my life. Working in a start-up taught me invaluable business skills and life lessons that complemented my academic education. I treasured every moment of my time there, which has inspired me to follow my passion of doing my very own start-up. To those who are thinking of embarking on NOC programme, I say – just do it!" Ly Vu ThinhNOC Silicon Valley alumnusFaculty of Arts & Social Sciences Ly Vu Thinh [NOC Silicon Valley] Kyle Tan [NOC Singapore] "I was blown away by how the team at my start-up entrusted me with the company's resources and responsibilities. NOC multiplies these functions for every one of its students by placing them in some of the world's most successful start-ups. And when you're on the job, do new things that are beyond your comfort zone; do things that give you that jolt of adrenaline that your corporate friends don't get to feel." Kyle TanNOC Singapore alumnusNUS Business School Kyle Tan [NOC Singapore] Johnathan Cheng De Jian [NOC Stockholm] "My job was to bring a finished prototype into the market and that involves constant upgrades and coming out with a detailed production process. I got the chance to call the shots in the company when I talk to suppliers and clients and make some decisions by myself. It was a pretty tense week I have learned to be more versatile to situations. I started to embrace problems and view them as opportunities. Working in a start-up trained us to lead and make important decisions which might make or break a company." Johnathan Cheng De JianNOC Stockholm alumnusFaculty of Engineering Johnathan Cheng De Jian [NOC Stockholm] Ho Ren Sen [NOC Silicon Valley] "I've always believed in the unlimited opportunities and challenges in entrepreneurship, but I knew I needed more business knowledge to realize my imagination. Thanks to NOC, the experience in Silicon Valley was incredibly life-changing and rewarding. I learned practical frameworks from the best professors of Stanford and NUS, and levelled up my skills at a start-up internship. I met interesting people and attended interesting events, matured through my travels and made new friends. While the whole experience was unbelievably busy, I know that it can never be replicated. There's really nothing like the NOC experience, and I counted my blessings every morning that I'm in California. It was only a year, but it's for the benefit of a lifetime. The experience built me to be a better person with stronger beliefs. Today, I'm putting my knowledge and skills into building a start-up. I highly recommend NOC to those who wants to take a step forward and see that life is not all about obligations but opportunities." Ho Ren SenNOC Silicon Valley alumnusSchool of Computing Ho Ren Sen [NOC Silicon Valley]
