The Story Behind

I spent the majority of my career in the Public Sector and the Labour Movement primarily in the manpower development space. Despite being recognized and promoted, I wanted to further challenge myself to know more about the issues concerning employment and employability that are facing Singaporeans.

It was scary to leave a job that I was doing well and comfortable in. Many friends and colleagues tried to dissuade me, especially as I was over 50 years old, but left i did. I ventured into the Private Sector, seeking organizations that were in the continuing education sector. I thought I could contribute more to help those that were truly looking for upskilling to either secure a job, or to create more career pathways for themselves. However, I soon realized that my passion in helping the unemployed and those facing challenges in their careers is in conflict with the performance and profit-driven nature of the Private Sector.

I decided to take a career break and during this period, I went on a self-discovery journey, to really understand my vocation and service during my remaining time on Earth. During this time, I did volunteering, helping out at seniors' centres, gave pro-bono coaching to people I meet, worked on my health that was increasingly getting worse due to stress. I watched friends and colleagues struggle through career transitions. I met people who faced unemployment, others battled self-doubt, and many felt their dignity slipping away. I realized that traditional career coaching wasn’t enough.

I also had many conversations with former bosses, peers, job seekers, and people from all walks of lives and I realized that this is what I truly need to do - help fellow Singaporeans who need someone to talk to and accompany them navigate the difficulties and challenges in their careers. And The Career Athlete is born!