Telecoms engineer, music producer share how they forged their careers at ST Podcast Live event
Telecoms engineer, music producer share how they forged their careers at ST Podcast Live event
SINGAPORE – Most people expect professional networking to happen at conferences or on LinkedIn, but for Mr Noel Png, 31, it was a part-time bartending job at a bar that unexpectedly opened doors to a career in the satellite industry.
It all began in 2016, when Mr Png - then a mechanical engineering student in NUS - struck up a conversation with a group of Western visitors who were in town for a business convention. That chance encounter led to a local internship with Thales Alenia Space, a France-headquartered company that provides satellite-based systems for telecommunications, navigation and other purposes.
In 2020, he left Singapore for the UK to pursue a Master's degree in engineering before going on to work on satellite and defence projects across Europe.
Mr Png, who returned to Singapore in 2024 and is now a telecommunications system engineer at ST Engineering, shared his story during a live recording of Headstart on Record on June 3. He was joined by senior career coach Parameswari Seenivasan from Workforce Singapore (WSG), and the session was moderated by The Straits Times' manpower correspondent Tay Hong Yi.
The event, which drew nearly 80 attendees to Rasa at Republic Plaza, marked the third edition of ST Podcasts Live, a series kicked off as part of ST's 180th anniversary celebrations.
During the recording, Mr Png emphasised how networking has opened up more pathways for him. An extrovert by nature, he found it easy to speak to people from different fields and backgrounds - some of them would go on to become mentor figures in his professional life.
His advice for introverted individuals is to make good use of virtual platforms like LinkedIn, where algorithms can help connect them with others in related industries.
This episode of Headstart on Record was organised in partnership with WSG in support of Career Health, a SkillsFuture initiative.
Ms Seenivasan from WSG encouraged the audience to seek guidance from career coaches throughout their professional journey.
'You don't have to wait till if something's gonna happen, you can always check in with a career coach,' she said. 'A career coach can always help you find out your values, interests and skills, work with you with a career plan, and look at the goals that you want to accomplish.'
The full recording of this episode will be made available on ST Podcasts' YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify on June 16.
The event on June 3 also featured the recording of a Music Lab episode with award-winning Singaporean music director and producer Evan Low, one of the creators behind The Road Ahead, a well-loved National Day Parade theme song.
Close to 80 people attended the ST Podcasts Live event, held at Rasa at Republic Plaza on June 3.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
Helmed by ST music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi, the session focused on how Mr Low found his calling in music and built a career rooted in his passion.
Growing up, expressing himself did not come naturally to him, Mr Low said. That was because in his family, love was quietly served on a plate of cut fruits, but never spoken aloud.
But this changed when he discovered the piano.
The 36-year-old recalled a moment when he suddenly cried while playing the piano , and realised he could express his emotions through music.
He took a leap of faith and went on to study music at Singapore Polytechnic and subsequently the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
Catch the full episode of Music Lab on ST's podcasts platforms on June 25.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Bavaria's fairy-tale palaces granted world heritage status
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Bavaria's fairy-tale royal castles, including Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof, have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, officials said on Saturday. The decision, made by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee during its 47th session in Paris, is recognising the architectural and cultural significance of King Ludwig II's 19th-century palaces. Construction began at Neuschwanstein in 1869, but the project was never completed, and building work halted when the Bavarian king died in 1886. The castle is now one of the most popular tourist sites in Germany, receiving roughly 1.4 million visitors per year. It inspired the Disney castle logo after Walt Disney visited in the 1950s. Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder described the designation as a "worldwide accolade," calling Neuschwanstein "Bavaria's landmark par excellence." "For our fairy-tale castles, a fairy tale comes true," he said in a statement. Neuschwanstein combined great art and culture and also a bit of "kitsch and cliché," he said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Air India crash report shows pilot confusion over engine switch movement Singapore Pulling back the curtain: A backstage look at the 2025 NDP show segment Singapore $3 cashback for hawker centre meals and shopping at heartland stores with DBS PayLah initiative Singapore Body of 62-year-old man recovered from waters off East Coast Park Asia Aerobridge hits Qantas plane at Sydney Airport, damaging engine, delaying flight Business NTT DC Reit's Singapore public offer 9.8 times oversubscribed Multimedia Which floor is this? Chongqing's maze-like environment powers its rise as a megacity Singapore Over 20 motorists caught offering illegal ride-hailing services at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay "When seeing the castle, some people worldwide may think of Disney - but no: Neuschwanstein is and remains the original from Bavaria." REUTERS
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Peeling back the curtain: A backstage look at the SG60 NDP show segment
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Ms Jade Koo Ah Mui (right), 70, rehearsing for the NDP jubilee show segment with other contingent members from Soka Gakkai, a local religious organisation. SINGAPORE – Clad in a pale blue balletic dress, Ms Jade Koo Ah Mui exuberantly waved her light stick, which periodically glowed purple and blue in tandem with the music. At 70, the septuagenarian is performing in Singapore's National Day Parade (NDP) for the tenth time, as part of the contingent from Soka Gakkai, a local religious organisation. This year, she is joined by her neighbour, brother-in-law and two daughters. Ms Koo said: 'I feel very happy to be here. As a Singaporean, I'm thankful that I'm healthy and can celebrate Singapore's 60th birthday – that's something to be joyous and grateful about.' She is just one of around 3,000 performers from 19 groups, who are taking part in the NDP jubilee show segment. With the theme 'Majulah Singapura', the show comprises four different acts inspired by the national anthem . Addressing the media on July 12, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Ng Eng Ping, chairman of the NDP show support committee, said: 'The National Day Parade has always been the premier platform for our local artists and creatives to showcase what they have to offer. 'This year, apart from the artists, we have the young students, the active seniors, and the beautiful, inspiring individuals with disabilities – and all of them form an important part of the fabric in Singapore.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Air India crash report shows pilot confusion over engine switch movement Singapore $3 cashback for hawker centre meals and shopping at heartland stores with DBS PayLah initiative Singapore Body of 62-year-old man recovered from waters off East Coast Park Singapore Wegovy, injectable drug used to treat obesity, now available via prescription in Singapore Business NTT DC Reit's Singapore public offer 9.8 times oversubscribed Multimedia Which floor is this? Chongqing's maze-like environment powers its rise as a megacity Singapore Over 20 motorists caught offering illegal ride-hailing services at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay LTC Ng added that this year's parade show segment has four key messages: celebrate diversity and Singapore's people, reflect on the nation's aspirations, reinvigorate spirits, and move forward with a stronger sense of us. A stage for all ages Rigorous training for the annual spectacle took place over months. On the days of the live rehearsals, the performing team gathers at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre to rehearse the choreography, get their make-up done, change into their outfits and collect their props, before heading to the Padang in the evening. Performers getting their make-up done at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI But performers like Ms Koo remain undeterred. She said: 'It's physically demanding since we stand for long hours, and the beat of the music can be quite fast. I've been trying to maintain a strong mentality, though, that I definitely need to partake in this.' Alongside senior performers, there are also around 400 youth in a performance that features students of four local schools: CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School, Fuhua Secondary School, Chung Cheng High School (Yishun) and Anderson-Serangoon JC. Alongside senior performers, there are also around 400 youth in a performance that features students of four local schools. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The students, outfitted in red and white vests and crimson bucket hats, perform a choreography routine to popular national day songs from the past, such as Home and The Road Ahead. Each student holds up a placard bearing personalised responses to the prompts 'I want to...' and 'I want us to...', reflecting their hopes and aspirations as individuals and for Singapore. Seventeen-year-old Srinivasan Shiv Siddarth, a first-year student from Anderson-Serangoon JC, decided to take part in this year's NDP performance after watching his older brother march in the commando contingent at the 2024 parade. Anderson-Serangoon JC student Srinivasan Shiv Siddarth decided to take part in this year's NDP after watching his older brother march at the 2024 parade. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI On balancing schoolwork and a hectic practice schedule, Srinivasan said it has been difficult but manageable. 'During rehearsals at the Padang, there's a lot of waiting time, which you can spend doing work. When you're studying with your friends, I think it's quite easy to get a lot done fast,' he said. 'If there's anything we didn't know (in our homework), we could ask our friends or even the NS men who were there.' Another student performer is Zori Rebecca Singer, who at 13, is one of the youngest dancers in her segment. Student performer Zori Rebecca Singer, 13, is one of the youngest performers from four local schools. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The Secondary 1 student at CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School said: 'Although it can get really tough and tiring, it's really rewarding at the same time. You learn how to go and do things even when you're really exhausted, and just never give up and persevere.' Her favourite part of the performance is the mellow, emotional second half, when they dance to the song Home. Zori said: 'I think a lot of Singaporeans think of Home as something meaningful, and really connect it to Singapore. 'Personally, it's my favourite National Day song because it's just so meaningful, and I think the performance would really bring tears to the eyes of the people in the audience – it's so good.'
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Qantas flight from Sydney Airport delayed almost a day after engine struck by aerobridge
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Images posted on social media show one of the plane's engines pierced by the aerobridge's support beam. A Qantas flight from Sydney to Johannesburg was delayed by 21 hours on July 12 after an aerobridge struck the aircraft during ground operations, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. The incident took place at Sydney Airport's international terminal, where Qantas flight QF63 was preparing to depart for South Africa's largest city at 9.30am local time (7.30am Singapore time). During the process, an aerobridge hit the Airbus A380 at its departure gate, according to reports. The aerobridge functions as a moveable walkway. It can extend, retract and pivot to align perfectly with different aircraft doors, allowing passengers to board and disembark efficiently. Images posted on social media show one of the Airbus A380's four Rolls-Royce engines pierced by the aerobridge's support beam. No injuries were reported. Passengers on board were safely disembarked from the lower deck of the d ouble-decker aircraft, Qantas said. According to a report by Australian broadcaster ABC News, the national carrier said it would provide overnight accommodation and transport in Sydney to passengers affected by the delay, if required. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Air India crash report shows pilot confusion over engine switch movement Singapore Peeling back the curtain: A backstage look at the SG60 NDP show segment Singapore $3 cashback for hawker centre meals and shopping at heartland stores with DBS PayLah initiative Singapore Body of 62-year-old man recovered from waters off East Coast Park Singapore Wegovy, injectable drug used to treat obesity, now available via prescription in Singapore Business NTT DC Reit's Singapore public offer 9.8 times oversubscribed Multimedia Which floor is this? Chongqing's maze-like environment powers its rise as a megacity Singapore Over 20 motorists caught offering illegal ride-hailing services at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay The flight, which typically takes abou t 15 hour s to reach South Africa's Johannesburg, was carrying a bout three-qua rters of its capacity of more than 480 passengers , ABC reported. It is now expected to depart at 6.30am, local time, on July 13 instead. Engineers are currently assessing the damage, and the aircraft will be repaired before it re-enters service with the airline's international fleet. Sydney Airport said it was working closely with Qantas to support the impacted travellers. 'Earlier today there was an incident involving a Qantas aircraft making contact with an aerobridge during ground operations,' the airport said in a statement.
