Celebrating success beyond academic pedigrees

CELEBRATING success is an essential part of any society. However, the kudos and feting may tend to focus on the individual’s background and qualifications. We should honour success in Singapore by focusing not so much on pedigree and mainstream achievements, but embracing a culture where individuals can embark on different pathways to success.

Celebrating success or people from all backgrounds

Educational pedigree, prestige and branding tend to dazzle the public. When TikTok chief executive officer Chew Shou Zi, a Singaporean, was grilled in a hostile congressional hearing, his background featured heavily in media reports: Hwa Chong alumnus, army officer, University College London graduate and Harvard MBA holder. Former Goldman Sachs banker.

Chew had a very difficult job defending his company against charges about its consumer privacy and data security practices, and impact on kids. Anyone in his shoes fielding the barrage of questions would have felt the intensity of the moment. But he held his own, and was praised by netizens for keeping his composure throughout the combative hearing that lasted over five hours.