Excellence with a purpose

Raised in a family that prized integrity, intellectual curiosity, and doing the right thing above all else, Chan Yong Jie grew up with the freedom to explore and the discipline to stay grounded. "My parents taught me to think deeply, act with integrity, and pursue excellence for the right reasons. That emphasis on excellence with purpose taught me to define success on my own terms – and gave me the courage to carve my own path," he reflects.

That simple mantra became Yong Jie's compass in later life. It led him to first study Financial Informatics at Nanyang Polytechnic and now pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy (BBA(Acc.)) with a second specialisation in Business Analytics at NUS Business School – fields that merge his love for numbers, technology and strategy.

Dual lens for change

Opting to study Accountancy and Business Analytics was a natural choice for Yong Jie, as the synergy between the two fields excited him. Accountancy taught him to see how every figure can reveal how resources are managed and value is created, while Business Analytics equipped him with tools to interpret data, uncover patterns, and optimise processes through technology. "What excites me most is how together they empower me to turn data into actionable strategies that not only strengthen organisations, but also improve lives by making processes more effective and sustainable," he elaborates.

Many of his accountancy courses stood him in good stead when he began his internships, including his stint at PwC General Assurance. "ACC3701: Assurance and Attestation gave me the frameworks to navigate complex audit scenarios and apply the right procedures in practice," he shares. "It trained me to think critically about risks in financial reporting, assess internal controls and design effective substantive procedures – skills that became invaluable during my internships."

Yong Jie (right) with fellow interns during his internship at PwC.

Nonetheless, there were still courses he found gruelling, like ACC3704: Advanced Corporate Accounting and Reporting. Mastering it, however, gave Yong Jie confidence to tackle the most complex areas of financial accounting, such as group accounting for foreign operations and interpreting financial reporting standards. The course he wishes existed? "An even deeper dive into management accounting and financial systems like SAP, where strategy meets technology. The toughest courses teach the most!" he laughs.

That intersection of strategy, systems, and purpose is what Yong Jie hopes to dive into next, through a six-month NUS internship at Johnson & Johnson that will give him a first-hand look at how accounting insights and enterprise resource planning systems shape strategic decisions. "What draws me to finance in healthcare is how every decision ultimately impacts people's lives. It's not just about numbers – it's about ensuring resources are used wisely to create real outcomes for patients and communities," Yong Jie shares.

Bridging theory and practice

Describing NUS Business School as dynamic and collaborative, he muses that the curriculum is wonderfully flexible – hitting the sweet spot for both explorers and those with a clear career focus. The faculty staff, ranging from former JTC Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Adjunct Associate Professor Ho Tuck Chuen, to board members of various organisations, also bridge theory and practice with candid advice and career guidance. "These professors hold influential positions in some of the biggest companies in the region, and that may seem intimidating at first. But once you engage them, their warm, wise, and wonderfully supportive side as passionate teachers emerges!"

A broader view of things

While his interest in business initially drew Yong Jie to the NUS BBA, it was NUS' commitment to a broader, multi-disciplinary, holistic education that cemented his choice. To this end, he explored his curiosity about people and society through classes in community engagement, sociology and philosophy, firmly believing that "business is not just about profit – it's about people, systems and sustainable change too."

To deepen his understanding, Yong Jie branched out into philosophy and sociology courses offered by the NUS Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences (FASS) such as GEX1015: Life, the Universe, and Everything, which opened an insightful window into the human side of systems. He debated questions like "Is an action morally correct if it maximises the amount of good in the world?". Deliberating on utilitarianism challenged him to consider how trade-offs in business and policy impact and influence organisational decisions, especially in healthcare, where human lives are affected.

"Behind every data point in business or policy, there are human stories. This fusion of analytics and empathy has become the cornerstone of how I approach problems – strategically, but always with heart," he reflects.

Vistas of freedom, doors of possibilities

The NUS Merit Scholarship proved to be a catalyst for Yong Jie to fully embrace the breadth of an NUS education – by giving him the freedom to chart his own path. With his tuition fee covered and a living allowance, the polytechnic graduate had the flexibility to take courses outside of his home faculty's degree requirements, pursue overseas learning and do extended internships that sharpened his professional edge.

It also opened up the door for him to be part of the NUS Office of Admissions Student Ambassador Programme, honing his communication skills and forging friendships across faculties while guiding prospective students in their search for a suitable course. More importantly, these experiences also allowed him to contribute meaningfully to the NUS community in tangible ways. "The scholarship truly empowered me to live fully, learn deeply and make a real impact," he shares.

Redefining the bar of success

A notable highlight for Yong Jie was how the NUS Merit Scholarship opened the option for him to reside at the College of Alice & Peter Tan (CAPT) in Year 1, where he took UTC1403: Jr Sem: Hidden Communities, which deepened his understanding of social issues and broadened his perspective. He wrote essays on topics like the impact of institutionalised care on a child's development in comparison to foster care and engaged in fieldwork that brought theory to life.

Yong Jie (first row, second from left) and Assoc Prof Tan (first row, first from left), along with classmates from the UTC1403: Jr Sem: Hidden Communities course in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, for a field trip.

Both the course and the lecturer, Associate Professor Tan Lai Yong, proved transformative for Yong Jie. "Assoc Prof Tan immersed us in real-world experiences and facilitated deep conversations that challenged our perspectives. His authenticity and commitment to the vulnerable taught me that true strength lies in using our skills to uplift others. His life example has redefined my understanding of success as meaningful impact," he reflects.

For Yong Jie, one memorable experience UTC1403 yielded was a field trip to an orphanage for the intellectually challenged in Johor Bahru. There, he gained first-hand insight into the lives of these children and the larger support systems around them. "Seeing how different societies approach care made me reflect on the broader forces that shape opportunity and dignity," he shares. The encounter not only strengthened his compassion, but also helped him gain a more nuanced understanding of social realities – one that continues to shape how he sees policy, inclusion, and responsibility today.

Rooted in service

Deeply impacted by that experience, Yong Jie wishes to honour Assoc Prof Tan's values by pursuing outreach work and programmes that are not just successful, but significant and service-oriented. Joining the NUS Community Service Club (NUS CSC) and Project Kindle+ was a milestone that shaped his leadership and empathy. "Volunteering in various capacities as Group Leader, Finance Head, and Volunteer Teacher in such projects helped me translate my skills into tangible social impact, and anchored my growth at NUS to a sense of responsibility," he explains.

Yong Jie (first from right), alongside fellow volunteers of the NUS CSC Yishun Reading Odyssey, as they prepared to celebrate Halloween with children from SHINE Children and Youth Services (Yishun).

Yong Jie's passion for supporting vulnerable children stems from his time in National Service, where he was posted to the detention barracks as a Provost Officer and witnessed how children often bear the unseen burdens of an incarcerated parent. That experience sparked a lasting empathy for those caught in intergenerational cycles of disadvantage – a commitment he continues to live out through his volunteer work at NUS.

At NUS, he is focused on tackling child neglect, abuse and literacy gaps through volunteer work in such community impact projects, believing that real change begins in childhood. "My goal is to be a positive influence during their formative years, instilling resilience, self-worth, and hope for brighter futures. Ultimately, I want to play a part in breaking cycles of disadvantage so that they can grow up to freely become who they aspire to be," he shares.

Beyond borders, expanding boundaries

Urban backpacking is his lifelong passion, sparked by family trips into rural Southeast Asia where they met locals, ate everyday food and saw life beyond the tourist lens. The serial traveller has since explored over 50 destinations with a single goal: to understand how people live and how cultures intertwine. One unforgettable journey took him and his sister across northern China, from Inner Mongolia's sweeping grasslands to the border towns of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture and the subarctic villages of Mohe.

Yong Jie was able to satisfy his desire to venture afield at NUS, when he attended the NUS Summer Programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). "Their rigorous courses in Machine Learning and Finance stretched me, while living in London exposed me to classmates across the globe. My worldview was expanded by witnessing how global perspectives shape finance, economics, and even everyday conversations," he opines. Yong Jie will next be attending the NUS Winter Programme at Chiang Mai University, taking a course on sustainable tourism which blends his interests in culture, community and development.

Yong Jie (right) with his travel buddies Amily (NUS Business School) and Jerome (NUS Arts and Social Sciences) at the LSE Passfield Hall, their home during their stay in London.

Serving with head and heart

Yong Jie hopes to take on a finance leadership role within an organisation that balances commercial success with positive social impact, where the bottom line isn't just about profits but about improving lives. He also aspires to contribute to the governance of non-profits, particularly those serving vulnerable children. "Ultimately, whether through professional work or volunteer leadership, I want to serve communities that often go unheard, especially children who deserve both opportunity and love," he shares.