We first met Olivia Lee in the fall of 2008 when she was president of the McGill Accounting Society (MAS) at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management.
A year later, she was president of the McGill Consulting Association (MCA). After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in December 2009, she joined the Singapore Exchange as an associate in issuer regulation.
We caught up with her during a break in her busy schedule.
How did you get your job?
I got my job through a case competition that I participated in. I was part of the McGill team in the Asian Business Case Competition 2009 in Singapore.
What is your work like?
As an issuer regulator, our main task is to ensure that all listed companies comply with the listing rules of the exchange. We work with companies from their IPOs all the way to their listings and we see to it that the companies are transparent in their announcements and provide full disclosure. The work is very interesting as you get to analyze a variety of companies and develop a sharp sense of risk. The work itself involves a lot of reading but also direct interactions with top management and directors.
What is life like in Singapore?
It is the first time I’ve been away from home. I grew up in Montreal and went to school in Montreal. But so far, life in Singapore has been great! Singapore is filled with expats while remaining Asian. You get to experience the Asian side of business, while not being totally disoriented by the difference in language and culture. I think one of the biggest adjustment I’ve had to make so far, apart of adapting to the heat of Singapore, is the move from student to working professional, adapting to the more rigid schedule of working five days a week and not being able to make my own schedule of waking up late in the morning and working till the early morning during exam period.
How involved were you in extra-curricular activities and how important is it to participate in those types of activities?
I was highly involved in extra-curricular activities back when I was a student at McGill. I was president of the McGill Accounting Society in 2008-2009, president of the McGill Consulting Association in 2009-2010, VP finance of the McGill Business Conference on Sustainability in 2009, and part of the McGill International Case Competition team. I also sat on a board of directors of one of the Credit Unions of Desjardins. Undeniably, these extra-curriculars helped me academically, personally as well as professionally. I developed numerous skills such as leadership skills, teamworking skills and interpersonal skills by being involved in different positions with different kinds of students. The activities also expanded my network which ultimately helped me get my present job.
What advice would you give to students thinking about working abroad after graduation?
NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!!!!! There are many ways to network and the route I took was through academic involvement. For those who are shy, I used to be shy and still am actually. But, networking is a must in the business world. And, getting out of your comfort zone helps develop invaluable skills. So, it’s a win-win. Also, don’t set your mind to one job. I thought I would be working in Toronto! Leave the doors always open and let the opportunities come to you.
