Building Grit to Reach New Frontiers
In 2021, Mr Ng Aik-Phong (AP), former longtime executive at Fave Southeast Asia and current Managing Director of ShopBack, established a term bursary named GRIT-AP Ng Bursary. GRIT stands for Growth Mindset, Resourcefulness, Integrity and Tenacity. One bursary per academic year will be awarded, over four years to full-time SMU undergraduates at SMU with demonstrated financial needs.
A seasoned business leader in the e-commerce start-up and fintech space, AP’s experience spans from building his own F&B business to rising up the ranks heading business development teams across regions in Groupon and subsequently Fave, a local discovery app that brings savings to customers on every digital transaction. His journey has been one with ups and downs, and it is through sheer grit and determination that enabled him to bounce back stronger in difficult times.
AP firmly believes that education empowers students, and thus hopes the Bursary will motivate student recipients to build grit and character to have positivity to overcome setbacks.
The award allows me to make most of my university studies as I can focus on my coursework to excel academically and, participate in school-based programmes that would develop my hard & soft skills. All of which, builds my capabilities as an SMU graduate. The financial award is of great support both short term and long term. In the short term, I can better manage my living expenses and have the capacity for personal development as an SMU student. In the long term, it would help substantially in paying off my school fees. This award does not only help me but also my family, especially my single mother. Alleviating our financial constraints, this award allows us to focus more on improving our overall situation and helps us in navigating through the hurdles of a low-income household. An award like this does not only help us financially but also empowers us to achieve to the best we can."
- Student Recipient of the GRIT-AP Ng Bursary
The bursary is my contribution to empower promising students in need of financial assistance with opportunities to quality education. Grit is a value I resonate strongly with – I believe that even if we encounter the toughest experiences which may break us down, they could be there to build us up stronger than before, so don’t give up!
GRIT is about having Growth-mindset, being Resourceful, having Integrity and being Tenacious. It is the ability to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and move forward each time that enables us to reach earned success."
- Mr Ng Aik-Phong, Managing Director, ShopBack and ex-MD, Fave Group
