5 THINGS I LEARNT AS A BUREAUCRAT: my time in the Singapore Tourism Board

Today marked the 2nd year since I left my first job of 8 years at the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). 

At my farewell chat with my then-CEO, he reminded me that 15 March was the Ides of March. The day Julius Caesar was murdered, but it also marked the end of a holy week in the Roman calendar. And how apt it was for me; leaving STB on the Ides of March was me closing an epic chapter of my life that has defined who I am. 

Although I was under the formal employ of STB for 8 years, I was an STBian for 11 years. I was an STBian the day they offered me a scholarship and gave me my chance to study abroad. This is a debt I will never be able to repay. As an undergraduate student, I loved my job before even starting it. I knew I was going to work at the Tourism Board after my graduation, but I embraced it even before. While studying in the UK, I wore a lapel pin on my coat that said “Uniquely Singapore”, the tourism slogan of Singapore then. A Singaporean in New York spotted me wearing the pin and scoffed “Wah, you so on ah” (that’s Singlish for “Wow, aren’t you a bit overly zealous”). And I replied, “You’re carrying a branded handbag with a big logo on it. I wear this because I’m proud of STB and I’m also showing it off.” That was when I knew that the vocation was right for me. 

STB had a mission that only it could execute. To promote Singapore as a destination that people wanted to come to. To define Singapore to the people of the world. And because of that mission, it made me feel that one had to be “called” to do a job that made that come true. It was a vocation, and it was mine for 8 years.

I left because I felt my growing had stagnated. And it was more because I am a dude who just can’t keep still (to the chagrin of many of my STB bosses). I thought the grass might be greener on the other side, since I worked in the same company for 8 years. (Funny, the grass was truly “greener” as I joined Grab, whose corporate colour is an iconic green). So I didn’t leave because STB was a bad place. And on my second anniversary of leaving it, I thought I would reflect on 5 things that I learnt there that has made me who I am today.

(1) It taught me how to tell compelling stories. We used to whine about having to do Powerpoint slides all the time; about having different boss after different boss adjusting pictures, font size, colours. "Slide warriors" was one of those self-deprecating terms. But upon reflection, I think doing those slides taught me how to tell stories, and those "pedantic" details was the process of honing the craftsmanship of story-telling. There were some great story-tellers at STB, whom I really learnt much from. STB taught me how to appreciate who my audience was, and to tell a story in the way that was compelling to them. 

(2) It gave me confidence to engage with top executives. Even as junior officers, being an STBian meant being a government official nonetheless. As early as my first year in, I engaged with CEO and local celebrities, an opportunity I otherwise would have to probably wait many years for. And beyond the opportunity to meet them, STB somehow, without formal training, taught us to engage in meaningful conversations with these top executives. I really don't recall going through formal training in this area, but somehow the "magic dust" in this area is sprinkled on most "graduates" from STB.

(3) It gave me so much breadth and business exposure. I did strategy, innovation, technology, F1, branding, market development, industry development, industry promotion, account management, event organisation, arts, entertainment, facilities management, place-making. All in my time at STB! Not to mention believing in me as a young officer and sending me to India to represent Singapore tourism. Some may be uncomfortable being a "generalist" as a Singapore bureaucrat, but I think I greatly benefited from the breadth of exposure in my first job. It has made me more flexible and confident in the face of ambiguity and areas beyond my immediate expertise.

(4) It allowed me to be part of big big stuff. I helped change the country-branding, helped organise an F1 race, brought the world's largest traveling show to Singapore, traveled Singapore's creative talents to 4 cities in the world...there was a greater vision, and being a bureaucrat allowed me to work on that. 

(5) It taught me that there can be such thing as a work family. Ask any alumni and they would probably agree with me that the people we met at STB are ones we will never forget (mostly for the right reasons). You can tell at weddings of alumni; when you still see tables of STBians at the dinner. 2 of my groomsmen were friends I met at STB. Whatever the reasons may be, STB is somehow a place you will likely find what a work family means. I still count a number of STB leaders today as people I respect and turn to for advice.

People say there is always benefit with hindsight. And in this case, it cannot be more true. 2 years after leaving STB, I have the opportunity of looking back and being grateful. Perhaps I was less so while it was all still happening. But now that things have fallen into place, I can look back and see how that chapter in my life prepared me for the next, and the ones to come.

I may have left STB. But I don’t think you can take the STBian out of me.

15 March 2018