My journey with Unicorn began through an introduction by my parents, who were close friends with Mr Patrick Tan, the Chairman of Unicorn. Initially, my life lacked direction; I aspired only to secure a stable job and live modestly. This perception shifted dramatically upon engaging with Unicorn, where I realised that even a “simple” life requires substantial family wealth planning.
Unlike most of my peers, my educational journey took an unconventional route. Despite scoring 9 points in secondary school for N-level, a B4 in English prevented me from entering Polytechnic or Junior College via the Polytechnic Foundation Programme route. Consequently, I attended ITE but, after only two months, transitioned to pursue a private diploma at PSB Academy, from which I graduated recently. Throughout this period, I grappled with the fear of falling behind, shaped by society’s traditional narrative: study hard, secure a stable job, earn a decent salary, and live comfortably. My unconventional educational path jeopardised these goals, reinforcing my insecurity about the future until I encountered Unicorn.
My mindset and life perspective underwent a profound change after attending Unicorn’s Job to Entreprofessional (JET) session and Season of Wealth (SOW) event, invited by Alicia, a Unicorn Family Wealth Consultant. A significant turning point was the impactful sharing session by Mr Seow Kek Wee, the Head of Investment Research. Mr Seow’s journey deeply resonated with me; he had previously graduated from NTU, secured a prestigious Audit Manager role at PWC, and earned a six-figure annual salary. Yet, he chose to walk away to pursue a deeper sense of purpose and personal fulfilment. His story sparked my awakening, making me realise that life is not solely about financial stability but about creating value and positively impacting the lives around me.
Within just one month as an intern at Unicorn, I felt integrated into a family rather than merely joining a workplace. My initial expectations of routine office tasks and investment lessons were quickly surpassed. The first lesson I encountered at Unicorn was “弟子规,” highlighting Unicorn’s deep emphasis on character building. While I gained invaluable insights into family wealth planning and investments, the most transformative lessons were those that shaped my character and values, generously imparted by my mentors.
A pivotal conversation with my mentor, Ms Chua Hui Xin, Unicorn’s newly appointed Chief People Officer, further reshaped my perspective. Hui Xin challenged my fixation on formal education, asserting that academic achievements only matter significantly if one genuinely loves studying or aspires to specialised government roles. Reflecting on my motivations, I realised I neither enjoyed nor genuinely valued formal studies, having always believed practical experience to be more relevant.
Hui Xin’s profound insights prompted me to reconsider the deeply ingrained employee mindset fostered by society and my upbringing. She highlighted that many pursue degrees merely as credentials to secure employment, rather than genuinely absorbing and applying knowledge. Emphasising continuous, practical learning (学习), Hui Xin illustrated the critical difference between accumulating theoretical knowledge (学) and effectively applying and reflecting upon it (习). This practical wisdom resonated deeply, encapsulated by the meaningful phrase from 弟子规: “古人云：不力行，但学文，长浮华，成何人？但力行，不学文，任己见，昧理真。” (If one learns without practicing, the knowledge becomes superficial; if one acts without learning, one acts blindly without understanding.)
This realisation illuminated the value of character over academic qualifications. Hui Xin posed an impactful scenario: would an employer prefer a highly educated yet unhelpful employee or one less formally educated but proactively supportive and eager to learn? The answer was clear, underscoring the primacy of character and proactive learning.
Today, I profoundly cherish my transformative journey with Unicorn. It was here that I found genuine mentorship, invaluable life lessons, meaningful purpose, and unwavering self-belief. I have come to embrace my unconventional path, not as a setback but as a distinctive strength. Unicorn has gifted me not just financial knowledge but a clearer, deeper understanding of life’s true essence. My gratitude for Unicorn runs deep, and my commitment to this journey is unwavering; it is a lifelong promise I am honoured to fulfil.
