ESSEC Alumni in Singapore: “We have a very low unemployment rate of less than 2%”

Singapore is home not only to ESSEC APAC’s campus, but also to around 1,000 alumni. Arnaud Rubeck (EXEC MBA 20), President of ESSEC Alumni’s Singapore Chapter, tells us more about the local community – and the services he offers to them. If you are either a graduate or a student in the area, join their online group!

ESSEC Alumni: How strong is the ESSEC brand awareness in Singapore?

Arnaud Rubeck: The opening of the ESSEC APAC’s campus at Nepal Hill in 2015 has been a game-changer. Additionally, the regular presence of our professors in the media to provide expert opinions on the news has really been helping to raise the ESSEC flag! We are working closely with the faculty, staff and the Dean to go even further. 

EA: How many alumni are there in Singapore?

A. Rubeck: Our Chapter ranks #4 in number of members among the international chapters of the ESSEC Alumni association. As of today, we have almost 800 members registered in our group on LinkedIn. Actually, I estimate that our local community is around 1,000 alumni. Most of them are expats from all over the world (it is worth mentioning Singapore has a successful melting pot of cultures with 4 official languages here – English, Mandarin, Tamil and Malay) but we see more and more local Singaporean who have studied at ESSEC APAC.

EA: What are their profiles? 

A. Rubeck: There are entrepreneurs who started their own businesses two or three decades ago, and typical expatriates with regional management positions in MNCs or medium-size companies. Unsurprisingly, most are working in sectors such as Luxury, Hospitality, Healthcare and Financial Services. Additionally, thanks to a very favorable ecosystem, we are also witnessing an increase in alumni working in digital positions or launching tech startups.

EA: What opportunities are there in Singapore for our alumni?

A. Rubeck: Singapore is truly a regional hub in Asia with a proximity to growing economies, which opens many opportunities – all the more since our historic competitor Hong Kong has become less attractive. The startup scene is the busiest in Asia, and key strategic industries are Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace & Logistics, Applied Health Sciences, Design, Financial Services & Technologies, Digital Innovation, Media & Digital Content, Travel and Urban Solutions, and now Green Economy. Also, Singapore is very stable politically, which contributes to make it very attractive for foreign investments. Thus the economy is still growing well and the job market is extremely dynamic with a very low unemployment rate of less than 2%. 

EA: What advice do you have for alumni interested in Singapore?

A. Rubeck: The downside of having a thriving economy is that the cost of living is high (Singapore has the unwanted crown of most expensive city in the world) and the competition gets fierce on the labor market with only the best being offered the precious “Employment Pass” needed to work here. Admittedly, expats tend to have a harder time to find the right match and the right package nowadays. Locals have been upskilling tremendously and the need for “foreign talent” is reducing. It is quite difficult for entry-level professionals to secure a job as the requirements (Salary and Quota) are made to discourage companies to hire them. The strategy of the government to reduce dependency on international manpower has indeed been very successful. This is why I strongly encourage our alumni to first and foremost get in touch with our team. We are lucky to have a board of four office-bearers with a diverse set of experiences who can support you with actionable advice and networking opportunities, and leverage the community. If you are looking for a job in Singapore while living overseas especially, we will help you to build a strong case about the added value that you can bring to the table! Due to the new rules on VISA (including nationality quotas), it is encouraged to target local companies, not only the same companies that you know at home. Of course the exception would be internal transfers between entities. And you will have to come in person to meet potential employers face to face.  

EA: What other services does ESSEC Alumni's Singapore Chapter offer? 

A. Rubeck: In a nutshell, our chapter offers a quick access to the local community and regular get-together events. Otherwise, we are focusing on four key priorities: Mentoring, Clubs & Topic related panels, Guest Speakers and Networking. Also, ESSEC Alumni's executive coach Patrick Kay provides local career support. Another initiative worth mentioning is a global blood bank initiative where we worked with the authorities to create a special code for students and alumni to use when donating blood. We aim to have different schools competing for good. Speaking of which, we also have been strengthening our relationships with other business schools’ alumni communities: our next event will be a network night with French Grandes Ecoles Singapore on May 9^th. We are also building our relationships with non French schools: LBS, Harvard, Oxford, Bocconi…

EA: What events do you organize? 

A. Rubeck: We are aiming to launch about 3 events per month. In the recent months, we organized a great Christmas party then a Chinese New Year Hot Pot Gathering, but also a wine tasting, an art show outing, a meet-up with students from ESSEC’s Shaping the Future of Finance Chair, a Women in Business conference, a workshop on AI in the financial services industry, and a talk with Olivier Burlot (E94), CEO of Heart Media Group. Our next projects this year include a major expert panel at ESSEC APAC campus with more than 20 participating schools, and a flagship premium charity gala dinner. 

EA: Who are the members of your team? 

A. Rubeck: Our board includes Vice President Mimi Giraud (BBA 96), Treasurer & Event Coordinator Della Chen (E17), and Communication & Marketing Manager Morris Kuo (MBA 19). Other volunteers are Nikhil Manchharam (IMHI 00), Meryl Zucco (BBA 15), and Jack Huang (EXEC MBA 22). We are all involved as chairs in special-interest groups (CSR, Finance, Luxury & Culture, Sports, Tech & Entrepreneurs, Wine Hospitality) we created under the umbrella of the Singapore Chapter. Also, we always welcome more volunteers: if you want to get involved, feel free to reach out!

Join our Singapore Chapter and our 125 clubs and chapters!

Interview by Louis Armengaud Wurmser (E10), Content Manager at ESSEC Alumni 

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