Alumni Profile #1:

Mr Elvin Wong, Finance Director at Reckitt Benckiser Manon

Why did you join AIESEC?

Attracted by the ideals of the similar-aged youth back in 1948, just after WWII in Europe. What they must have had experience and not want future generation to endure the same. And most important has the courage to say, Yes, I have the power to change things for the better and not sit by passively not doing anythingÓ. I felt at I need to do something as well.

What leadership roles did you take up? And consequently what departments did you work in?

1997/98: Exchange Coordinator for IT-based Conference;

1998/99: Marketing Manager in Bangladesh Paradiso Project

Helped newly established AIESEC country, Bangladesh, to build-up exchange activities;

1999/2000: MCVP (Corporate Development)

2000/01: MCP (Full-time)

What countries have you visited and what did you do there?

Malaysia : Support newly established LC (UTM), organized SingaporeÕs NLDS & attend MalaysiaÕs NLDS;

Manila, Philippines: Led Singapore delegation to Expro at APXLDS 2000;

HK: facilitated at APLCPM 2001;

Edinburgh: represented Singapore at International Congress 2000

Istanbul, Turkey: Represent Singapore at IPM 2000

Guatemala: Represent Singapore at IPM 2001

Tokyo, Japan: AIESEC 60th Anniversary, Alumni congress in 2008;

What are your two most memorable AIESEC experiences?

At the end of the Edinburgh's International Congress 2000 is also the end of the Edinburgh Art Festival. There was a big street carnival and the AIESECers from more than 100+ countries were dancing AIESEC dances on the street. Dancing with AIESECers that will be friends for a long time.

During the 2001/02 national team transition, we spent 2 nights with little sleep to complete the Strategic Planning for next 1 and 3 years. I was impressed by the dedication and the energy level of the whole team. Their enthusiasm and vast knowledge contributed the an energized work plan for the year ahead.

How did AIESEC shape you to the person you are today?

I learned to be an Active Global Citizenship: 'Active' meaning being pro-active to make wrong things right. Making little changes everyday is good enough. Helping to correct misconception about certain nationalities or races among my colleague and friends.'Global' meaning we can contribute to the society no matter where we could be leaving. Recently a group of friends in Shanghai started a simple project of raising funds to bring 100 migrant children in Shanghai to an aquarium trip at the end of their school term. We received overwhelming belief we could continue to contribute to the development of the society that we are living in wherever we are in the world. And through our projects we hope we can inspire our peers to join us to promote active global citizenship.

What are the three most useful skills you have gained out of your @ experience?

Strategic thinking: During the transformation years of 1999-2001, we were required to make difficult choices, decisions that could have impact to the decades of organization;

Leadership: You learned to lead people across faculties, universities and across countries at the Asia-Pacific level;

Communication: Need to learn to communicate across different medium (emails, face-to-face etc), different scope (one-to-many, one-to-one etc) and different type of people (Africa, Latin America etc);

Did AIESEC help in giving you an edge over your co-workers in your current job? If so, how?

Cultural adaptability: As AIESECers we are usually culturally more open and aware of local sensitiveness. Especially if you work for an MNC like me, company is more open to re-locating you to many places.

And as workplace is becoming more diverse in Singapore and elsewhere, being cultural-enriched by AIESEC experience, I feel that I can fit in very comfortably;

Corporate maturity: As we have the opportunities to be exposed to various strategic planning sessions and discussions with alumni and corporate from many countries during the conferences, we are exposed to many corporate issues that gave us an edge over the rest.