Everything Adds Up When There Is Love

“NBS helped me achieve self-mastery as I learned time-management skills to become disciplined in every aspect of life. It also taught me people-mastery through the Students’ Union Leadership experience where I collaborated with schoolmates on projects, sometimes partnering with the Student Affairs Office. Further, it grounded me in professional-mastery, as I gained general broad-based knowledge from finance and non-finance topics, technical, as well as soft-skills proficiency,” said Daniel, who graduated from NBS with a First Class Honours Degree in Accountancy in 1996. 

Building a Robust Foundation with Accountancy

Daniel believes that in a fast-evolving world where digital transformation and machine learning are transforming many professions, accountancy has been evolving as well, especially over the past few years. Major disruptions like big data and machine learning have redefined the role of accountancy today even as the profession continues to play a pivotal role in every industry.

“A strong foundation in accountancy can help to develop a mindset that goes beyond core competencies. Today, you also need to be competent in visualizing, identifying, and applying digital tools to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of work,” said Daniel.

Back in his day, Daniel recalled that he could juggle his schoolwork while being active in other co-curricular activities. 

“Other than providing a strong base, NBS enabled me to balance studies with other interests in life. With 40 hours dedicated to lectures, tutorials, and homework every week, I was able to set aside sufficient time to undertake co-curricular activities, part time work (required to finance my study and support family needs), exercise, youth service, etc. This holistic programme rounded my personality and made me the person I am today,” he said.

E-Nynn, Daniel’s elder daughter who recently graduated from the same programme, feels that although the programme was rigorous, it taught her all the necessary skills to master the profession.

While he is thankful for his success today, Daniel remembers his humble beginnings where he relied on bursaries, contributions from his church, savings from army time, and part-time work during college for his education. “Because I came from a humble family and received help along the way, the best way to contribute is to pay it forward,” said Daniel. 

To that end, he has set up two bursaries – the Chew Yew Hock & Lim Sew Lan Scholarship in 2009, and the Daniel and Joanna Chew Scholarship in 2012, with a total donation of $200,000. These scholarships fund up to four bursary awards in each academic year for financially challenged students at NBS. “Setting up an endowment fund and donating to the University’s endowment bursary fund are some of the ways I honour my parents and spouse,” he revealed. 

Over the decades, Daniel has carefully maintained a fine balance between work, family, and thinking of ways to give back to society. Besides contributing to the University, he maintains a portfolio of philanthropic projects, dedicating his resources towards charitable organisations. He now has a legacy of 25 years in philanthropy.