From being a business manager in a hard disc company, he is now the boss of Royal Bussan Singapore Pte Ltd, a medical device company. He actively looks for medical projects and brings in medical equipment that will benefit the medical community in Singapore.
What made him switch industries? What brought about this leap in his career?
Before the Plunge
“Previously, as a business development manager, my main job was to prospect for business in the medical industry. Coming from a hard disc industry, I had to do a lot of background study of the medical industry,” Leslie explained.
“This made me very interested in the medical technology sector. I feel that this sector has the best potential for growth in Singapore. And I believe the medtech business will be around for the long term.”
As his previous company was a member of the MedTech group within the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, he had priority signing up for courses offered at the Institute. So he took the chance to enroll in the Precision Engineering WSQ Graduate Diploma in Medical Technology Manufacturing when the course was launched.
Building A Firm Foundation
“This diploma course proved to be the real turnaround in my career. The programme was exciting and the content stimulating. It showed me what the MedTech industry entails and it opened me to possibilities in the industry.
“Though I have not been engaged in any serious studying for many years, I could follow the lessons easily and I really enjoyed the one-over year I devoted to the Diploma,” Leslie shared.
Leslie credited the lecturers for injecting life into an otherwise technical course. He remembered he particularly enjoyed the hands-on practical modules and the discussion sessions.
Taking the Plunge
Shortly, after graduating from the Diploma, he decided to take the plunge and switched to the MedTech industry. Believing that this industry was the one for him, he chose to jump in boots and all.
Instead of looking for a job with a company, he bought shares in Royal Bussan and became its major shareholder, steering its direction and growing its business.
“Many people thought I was taking a risk. But right from the start, I believed this was a risk worth taking, and I’ve never regretted even one moment over my decision to become my own boss,” he said.
The Road Ahead
“Since my switch less than a year ago, I’m now in my first project, bringing a new type of hearing aid wire into Singapore. It’s not a big project, but it is a very important milestone for me.”
Why, we asked and Leslie explained.
“Because, first, the company needs the ISO13485 certification to get a foot into the industry and it takes almost 9 months to complete the certification process. At the same time, the company needs an actual product and actual product data to secure the ISO certification.
“And it’s only when the certification and product are secured, then the company can go about the actual business of selling and fulfilling orders. This is what makes the MedTech business so challenging.
“Despite the uncertain road ahead, what I really like about my current position is the ability to make my own decisions and work on it. To succeed in this business, it is important to set the right mindset on how to get the work done, follow the quality standard and improve on it.
“I believe if everyone in the MedTech adopts this mindset, the industry will grow as a whole, and become a major engine of growth in Singapore.”
“ I am glad that the WSQ MedTech programme has equipped me with the skills to make inroads into the MedTech industry and carve a niche for myself”
The Skills Training for Excellence Programme (STEP) is designed for Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) to their update skills, knowledge and expertise so that they can remain competitive and employable in today’s fast changing workplace.
Please click here for more information on the Medical Technology WSQ Programme.
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