Soaring to new heights

Outdoor lover Justin Chan became a flight steward after graduating with a Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Management from Temasek Polytechnic in 2012.

After five years of working high up in the sky, he made a career switch to a different type of cloud — the cloud business in the technology industry.

Now a senior product executive in the cloud division at Ingram Micro Asia, Mr Chan, 31, shares the experience of his career transformation:

Why did you change your career path?

“I didn’t want to stay a cabin crew member forever, so I started to seek new challenges to grow and improve myself.

“One of my best buddies is in the cloud business, and he shared the potential and opportunities in this industry. I think the fast pace and agile nature of the cloud business drew me in.

“To equip myself with the skill sets for the corporate world, I decided to pursue a degree.”

Why did you choose this degree programme?

“In 2017, I took the Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Business and Marketing awarded by Coventry University, which is one of the top new universities in the United Kingdom.

“The programme’s core marketing modules — such as Digital Marketing, Innovation and Change, and Global Marketing — attracted me because they are important aspects of our current digital economy.

“The location was important too. I chose to study it locally at PSB Academy as I would be working full-time with Ingram and studying part-time.”

How did the programme benefit you?

“I had zero corporate experience, so the course equipped me with tools that enabled me to present holistic strategies and growth plans in my business unit.

“As I read more widely and gained more knowledge, my confidence grew, and this helped to ease me into the corporate world.

“The value of persistence and a hunger for knowledge that have been instilled in me will guide me in my future endeavours.”