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INSIGHTS
Generation Next: New Era of Excellence
by Anton D. Javier and Marc Almagro
09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023
Get to know these young individuals – from entertainment and education to medicine and tech – who are ushering a new era of excellence in Singapore.
- COREY KOH, RECORDING ARTISTE
- SUKKI, DIRECTOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN OF VENUS
- DR SIN WEI XIANG, RESEARCH SCIENTIST, SINGAPORE-MIT ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (SMART)
- BENJAMIN HARRIS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WATCHTOWR
- LUCIANO LOPEZ, ASSOCIATE DEAN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AT EHL HOSPITALITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, EHL CAMPUS (SINGAPORE)
- CRYSTAL WONG, HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS, SLEEKFLOW TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
- NICK LIU, MANAGING DIRECTOR, FIFTYFIVE COFFEE BAR
- JAMES LIM, CEO APAC, HELPLING GROUP
Corey Koh, the fresh-faced 20-year-old crooner recently made his debut in Singapore’s entertainment scene with his first pop single, “Only Love”. “It’s a huge milestone for me,” reveals Koh. “I’ve always been in another world singing classical music, so venturing into pop is an adventure. I grew up on a diet of classical music from my dad and pop, particularly ballads, from my mom. This helped me realize early on that my love for music transcends genres.”
From a young age, Koh was lucky to have the support of his parents who gave him the freedom to figure out his path. “From the time I was about 13, I’d narrowed down my options to studying either music or history – my two favorite areas of study. I’ll be spending the next five years in the US, where I’ll be doing a double degree in history and music, furthering my musical training in classical singing, all while satisfying my academic passions. I want to become a better musician and use my classical training to bridge the gap between the classical and pop worlds.”
Koh also says that youth affords him the space to try things, to make mistakes, to explore, and to learn more efficiently. “I approach everything with a learning mindset. I’m here to learn how to improve my skillset. I’ve had the chance to work with so many wonderful people so far, even this early into my journey. I’ve learned so much about music, the business, and life in general.”
- COREY KOH, RECORDING ARTISTE
- SUKKI, DIRECTOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN OF VENUS
- DR SIN WEI XIANG, RESEARCH SCIENTIST, SINGAPORE-MIT ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (SMART)
- BENJAMIN HARRIS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WATCHTOWR
- LUCIANO LOPEZ, ASSOCIATE DEAN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AT EHL HOSPITALITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, EHL CAMPUS (SINGAPORE)
- CRYSTAL WONG, HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS, SLEEKFLOW TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
- NICK LIU, MANAGING DIRECTOR, FIFTYFIVE COFFEE BAR
- JAMES LIM, CEO APAC, HELPLING GROUP
Sukki, Director/Creative Director, Children of Venus
Photo by Rachel Sherlock
This may be Sukki’s freshman year as a stage director, but the 33-year-old has been treading the boards for some time as the world-renowned burlesque artist Sukki Singapora. Following the release of her Netflix series, ‘Singapore Social’, and the lockdowns of the pandemic, things took a turn.
“I realized I'd been gunning it non-stop on stage for almost 10 years and I’d finally hit the limit of what I could achieve creatively.” With a show on Netflix, a billboard in Times Square, costumes in a Vegas museum, and legions of fans, she decided to move on.
Just then SIFA offered her to direct a segment of Love Divine on its 2023 program. Called Children of Venus, the spectacle was “a rebellious love letter to Singapore comprising two nights of boundary-pushing theatrics, burlesque and vaudeville”. Sukki worked local artists, The Glamourettes, Becca D'Bus, and Lychee Bye – some of whom were on the same journey when she started out.
“So far it's been an incredible process,” Sukki says. “I passed the baton as I stepped into directing. I daydreamed exactly what I wanted to see on stage from these wildly brilliant, sometimes ‘hidden’ figures of Singapore.”
- COREY KOH, RECORDING ARTISTE
- SUKKI, DIRECTOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN OF VENUS
- DR SIN WEI XIANG, RESEARCH SCIENTIST, SINGAPORE-MIT ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (SMART)
- BENJAMIN HARRIS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WATCHTOWR
- LUCIANO LOPEZ, ASSOCIATE DEAN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AT EHL HOSPITALITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, EHL CAMPUS (SINGAPORE)
- CRYSTAL WONG, HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS, SLEEKFLOW TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
- NICK LIU, MANAGING DIRECTOR, FIFTYFIVE COFFEE BAR
- JAMES LIM, CEO APAC, HELPLING GROUP
Dr Sin Wei Xiang, Research Scientist, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Centre (SMART)
At 38, when most men are warming up for a life-defining professional journey, Dr Sin Wei Xiang is already driving the research to advance manufacturing technologies that produce better anti-cancer cell therapies.
Cell therapy is a novel class of cancer treatment where living cells are genetically modified in a laboratory to give them additional tumour-killing ‘superpowers’ before being administered to patients.
“We actively seek solutions to existing problems in the manufacturing of cell therapies that limit patient accessibility, including high costs, inconsistent qualities, and long wait times”, the A*STAR scholar explains.
“In addition, I coordinate a multi-disciplinary team in the innovation of analytical technologies and toolkits that can measure the efficacy and safety of anti-cancer cell therapy products more efficiently.”
- COREY KOH, RECORDING ARTISTE
- SUKKI, DIRECTOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN OF VENUS
- DR SIN WEI XIANG, RESEARCH SCIENTIST, SINGAPORE-MIT ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (SMART)
- BENJAMIN HARRIS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WATCHTOWR
- LUCIANO LOPEZ, ASSOCIATE DEAN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AT EHL HOSPITALITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, EHL CAMPUS (SINGAPORE)
- CRYSTAL WONG, HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS, SLEEKFLOW TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
- NICK LIU, MANAGING DIRECTOR, FIFTYFIVE COFFEE BAR
- JAMES LIM, CEO APAC, HELPLING GROUP
Benjamin Harris, Chief Executive Officer, watchTowr
Is youth ever wasted on the young? No in the case of Benjamin Harris, 30, whose longstanding fascination with computers began when he was a boy reading about a computer hacking story in The Times. That got him tinkering with school computers and delving into the world of cybersecurity.
Fast forward to watchTowr, the cybersecurity startup he founded and grew, securing US$10.25 million in investments within less than a year from launch. The magic sauce? Innovative solutions that are laser-focused on solving real-world cybersecurity challenges.
“The signs of feeling in control were my passion for understanding the ‘how’ behind computers, and my unwavering focus on learning more about this field, with the ultimate reality that computers are by design controllable – their actions and outputs aren’t emotional, aren’t unpredictable, they are binary – true or false.”
Being a young entrepreneur in the cybersecurity industry has provided Benjamin with a fresh perspective and contributed to gaining recognition, e.g., Forbes 30 Under 30, under the enterprise technology category. “However,” he says, “youth alone is not the sole factor in my achievements. The success of watchTowr is also a result of the practical skills, expertise, and real-world experience that our team possesses.”
- COREY KOH, RECORDING ARTISTE
- SUKKI, DIRECTOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN OF VENUS
- DR SIN WEI XIANG, RESEARCH SCIENTIST, SINGAPORE-MIT ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (SMART)
- BENJAMIN HARRIS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WATCHTOWR
- LUCIANO LOPEZ, ASSOCIATE DEAN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AT EHL HOSPITALITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, EHL CAMPUS (SINGAPORE)
- CRYSTAL WONG, HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS, SLEEKFLOW TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
- NICK LIU, MANAGING DIRECTOR, FIFTYFIVE COFFEE BAR
- JAMES LIM, CEO APAC, HELPLING GROUP
Luciano Lopez, Associate Dean Undergraduate School at EHL Hospitality Business School, EHL Campus (Singapore)
It’s all about personality for Luciano Lopez, who, at a young age of 34, has accomplished quite a feat by being the Associate Dean Undergraduate School at the EHL Campus (Singapore). Two years prior, he was appointed Dean of EHL Hospitality Business School – the youngest person to have taken on the title within the institution’s 129-year history.
“I am grateful to accomplish everything I have at 34, but to me, age does not play a role,” he admits. “What matters more is my personality. If people, after having met me, remember me because of my achievements and not because they have enjoyed meeting me, it is a failure to me… My personality is such that if I don’t like something, I don’t do it. Life is too short. So, when I invest my efforts into something, I do it fully and I am very committed to the few activities I have decided on.”
Beyond an enviable career in academia, Lopez earlier enjoyed a career in sports. “Since 2008, I have created or helped create three different charity projects and had a decent career as a soccer referee overseeing very enjoyable games including international friendly matches with teams from the Premier League, LaLiga, Primeira Liga, Süper Lig, and of course, the Swiss Super League.”
Looking back, Lopez admits that his failures are just as important as his successes. “I am not afraid to fail and this is what allowed me to succeed quickly on some aspects. I did not do a good job refereeing some important games before having the privilege to referee a big game. I doubted by ability to achieve my PhD before being appointed Dean. It is only when you realize points for improvement that you allow yourself to succeed.”
- COREY KOH, RECORDING ARTISTE
- SUKKI, DIRECTOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN OF VENUS
- DR SIN WEI XIANG, RESEARCH SCIENTIST, SINGAPORE-MIT ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (SMART)
- BENJAMIN HARRIS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WATCHTOWR
- LUCIANO LOPEZ, ASSOCIATE DEAN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AT EHL HOSPITALITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, EHL CAMPUS (SINGAPORE)
- CRYSTAL WONG, HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS, SLEEKFLOW TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
- NICK LIU, MANAGING DIRECTOR, FIFTYFIVE COFFEE BAR
- JAMES LIM, CEO APAC, HELPLING GROUP
Crystal Wong, Head of Partnerships, SleekFlow Technologies Limited
“I started my own startup right after graduating from university and I learned many lessons from it that were very applicable to my job at SleekFlow,” shares Crystal Wong, 28, Head of Partnerships at SleekFlow Technologies Limited. “When I joined in early 2020, it was still a small startup finding its space in the scene.”
Who knew that in just three years, Wong, who was the first female hire and the first non-developer hire, would witness the company grow from a four-person office to 70 people in Hong Kong, all while securing an $8 million Series A fund round and launching in Singapore, Malaysia, the UK, Brazil, and Indonesia.
“At the start, my role at SleekFlow changed almost every six months as the business was growing and the team steadily increased in size. I started focusing on the marketing aspect and moved on to paid advertising before eventually kickstarting Partnerships in 2022,” says Wong.
“I think from a young age, I’ve always felt very in control of my life and the choices that I chose to make. It might be because my parents have always been very trusting and empowering since I was young, which molded me into the independent person I am today.”
- COREY KOH, RECORDING ARTISTE
- SUKKI, DIRECTOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN OF VENUS
- DR SIN WEI XIANG, RESEARCH SCIENTIST, SINGAPORE-MIT ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (SMART)
- BENJAMIN HARRIS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WATCHTOWR
- LUCIANO LOPEZ, ASSOCIATE DEAN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AT EHL HOSPITALITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, EHL CAMPUS (SINGAPORE)
- CRYSTAL WONG, HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS, SLEEKFLOW TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
- NICK LIU, MANAGING DIRECTOR, FIFTYFIVE COFFEE BAR
- JAMES LIM, CEO APAC, HELPLING GROUP
Nick Liu, Managing Director, FiftyFive Coffee Bar
In the case of Nick Liu, the 25-year-old Managing Director of FiftyFive Coffee Bar, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – he’s the great grandson of Liu Kang, Singapore’s renowned pioneer of Nanyang-style oil painting, after all.
But instead of harnessing his art skills, he takes on somewhat of a curatorial role, bringing together artists and bakers into a space that he has carefully created. “To me, FiftyFive Coffee Bar is not just a café, bar, or art gallery, but an amalgamation of all three. This is reflective of my perception of art as I have always perceived it as something that can be found in multiple aspects of life, not limited to just a painting on a wall.
“I’ve had the pleasure of introducing many talented local artists into the space, such as DECK and Daryl KJ, talented bakers like Arc En Ciel and Lookie Cookie, as well as the very talented chef-owner Ben of Ooohmahmee.” What’s more, Liu is currently working with curators from the Singapore Art Museum to promote the space as an incubator for up-and-coming artists, while also exploring multi-sensorial experiences with lesser-known collectives, such as The Other Potters.
Liu concludes, “It is common knowledge that a high percentage of F&B businesses in Singapore fail every year, but that did not deter me from starting up FiftyFive Coffee Bar. I’m grateful that my youth gave me the privilege of time to pursue my passions and watch it come to fruition.”
- COREY KOH, RECORDING ARTISTE
- SUKKI, DIRECTOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN OF VENUS
- DR SIN WEI XIANG, RESEARCH SCIENTIST, SINGAPORE-MIT ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (SMART)
- BENJAMIN HARRIS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WATCHTOWR
- LUCIANO LOPEZ, ASSOCIATE DEAN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AT EHL HOSPITALITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, EHL CAMPUS (SINGAPORE)
- CRYSTAL WONG, HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS, SLEEKFLOW TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
- NICK LIU, MANAGING DIRECTOR, FIFTYFIVE COFFEE BAR
- JAMES LIM, CEO APAC, HELPLING GROUP
James Lim, CEO APAC, Helpling Group
Thirty-year-old James Lim, CEO APAC, Helpling Group, takes great joy in problem solving. “After completing NS, when I was going on 21 years old, I found out that I really enjoyed the process of problem solving. To me, it’s all about analyzing and understanding the problem at hand, and having the strategic wit and flexibility to implement solutions.
This love for problem solving allowed him to take Helpling’s business in Singapore from being a new startup to having a sales projection of close to S$40 million for this fiscal year. The secret? “My first move was to shift the company’s business model from a freelancer system to a 100% B2B2C model, working with SMEs in the facility services sector. I was also able to use my experience in a previous customer experience startup and was able to push for more customer experience and feedback measure. What’s more, my experience with digitalization and scaling allowed for Helpling to develop stronger app functionalities and expand into new verticals like handyman and elder care services.”
Lim adds, “We look forward to expanding our app to become the only app needed for household needs. We are expanding into babysitting and cooking. We are also expanding and franchising our business model into other countries like Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.”
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