James Chen, CEO of Athena Best Financial Singapore.
Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
This month, our Editor-in-Chief of Curtin Commons Carmelle Wilkinson had the pleasure of interviewing the President of the Singapore Alumni Chapter James Chen.PBM – in Singapore!
James is a proud finance and marketing alumnus with a fascinating career journey – which includes time as an air operation specialist in the Republic of the Singapore Airforce.
He is currently the CEO of finance advisory firm – Athena Best Financial and the co-founder of Every Little Helps charity, which helps underprivileged Singaporean families.
In 2019, James was awarded a prestigious Public Service Medal by the Singapore Government, for his commitment to community.
Hi James! What an exciting career journey you’ve enjoyed so far. Can you please share with us when your interest in finance began?
It would have been when I was in my late teens.
I enjoyed flicking through the finance section of the local newspaper and became fascinated with how the stock market worked.
That curiosity eventually led me to study commerce at Curtin.
Was it always your dream to obtain a tertiary education?
Definitely. My parents didn’t have money to send me to university, so I had to fund it myself.
I did this by working for the Republic of the Singapore Airforce as an air operation speacilist for six years and studying part -time.
After I left the air force, I joined the local bank as a personal banker.
Within a couple of years, I had progressed to the branch business manager.
Over the years I also gained experience working in as the head of business development and training before leaving the corporate world to set-up my own financial advisory agency six years ago.
Amazing. And now you’re the CEO of Athena Best Financial Singapore!
Haha yes. Last year, I received a call from a finance advisory firm in Hong Kong (Athena Best Financial Group) asking if I’d set up their new operations in Singapore.
Just earlier this year, we obtained our financial advisory license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore and I was appointed as the CEO/Country Head of Singapore operations.
That’s incredibly brave to leave a firm you had established and merge with a new company?
Looking back now, I guess it was.
Actually, when I look back at my career, whether it was joining the defence force or starting my own start-up, I was never afraid to take a risk.
Over my life I’ve had some wonderful opportunities and that all happened because I said yes.
I don’t just have good luck. Because if I’m honest sometimes it doesn’t always work out. Haha.
But I know that if I work hard and say yes, then there is always an opportunity to gain experience and knowledge.
Can you tell me a bit more about your charity Every Little Helps?
Curtin Alumnus James Chen co-founded the charity, Every Little Helps to help alleviate poverty.
I co-founded the charity in 2018, to uphold the philosophy of giving back to society.
Singapore is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and living expenses are incredibly high.
The core objective of the foundation is to uplift and help underprivileged families break the vicious cycle of poverty.
Together with our incredible donors and volunteers, we help alleviate poverty in three ways, by reducing food deprivation, ensuring equity in opportunities, and securing access to education for all.
When we first launched, I was offering free tutoring at a local hawker for about five kids.
Those numbers have since grown, and we’ve had to move to a local community office, where we have a group of volunteer student tutors running the sessions.
We also distribute care packages and food items to families in need.
Coming from a very humble background myself, I can empathise with families doing it tough, as I know how hard it can be.
Growing up, I lived in a small one-bedroom apartment which my parents obtained through Singapore’s Housing and Development Board, and the four of us all shared the unit.
My parents now own a food stall and are doing quite well for themselves, but it took a lot of hard work.
Throughout their life, they’ve worked very hard, and I like to think I inherited their strong work ethic.
As Singapore Alumni Chapter President, what do you most love about the role?
I started as a member a few years ago, before taking over as President.
I’m very grateful to Curtin for my degree, and I knew I wanted to give back.
Being President of the Chapter has allowed me to connect, engage and socialise with a number of amazing alumni living and working in Singapore.
I’ve made some wonderful friends.
As a husband and father of teenage children I felt now was the time in my life where I do have a bit more free time and I was happy to commit myself.
While I do enjoy the social aspect of it, there is so much more to it.
Everyone brings different ideas and concepts to the table and networking with alumni can be very enriching.
Many people in my friendship circle went to Curtin and they come from all different industries and backgrounds.
I encourage all Curtin alumni in Singapore to get in touch and join us at our next event, we would love to meet you.
Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
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