Conversations with Chen Jiejing

By Charu Nivethitha Manivannan

Chen Jiejing is a seasoned professional whose career journey has been marked by versatility and adaptability. He has navigated through various roles and ventured into the food & beverage and technology sector before pursuing the role of a portfolio manager. Jiejing’s insights into the evolution of the industry, especially in the realm of trade technology and data exchange, showcase his expertise and forward-thinking approach.

With the working experience you have had so far, do you prefer working under people or leading others under you?

To me, leadership is defined as being the person who is involved in leading the process of conceptualising new ideas and making sure that they are being executed properly. It’s not someone who is the reason why the final thing happens, but rather someone who leads the group in executing the plan. Personally, it is one of my strengths, hence I actively take up leadership positions. However, this might not always be true, especially in areas that I am not familiar with. In such cases, I take a step back and let others lead. Overall, taking up leadership roles is based on the situation but if asked to pick one, I would prefer working under people.

Over the past few years, have you seen any evolution in the industry and in which direction do you see it expanding in the future?

Primarily, our company focuses on trade technology that encompasses data exchange between governments about cross border trades, imports and exports. The exchange between governments deals with a lot of confidential documents.

In the past, around 10-15 years ago, the system worked such that the company had a big team in charge of data entry who would be keying in the buckets of information. They would then create data links that can be shared with governments so as to make the data exchange process seamless.

Currently, it’s much more advanced and secure as we collaborate on channels with different governments sponsoring certain trade routes and running a blockchain. This ensures that the data cannot be altered by third parties and is only accessible by governments. This allows for the data to become immutable, whereby any changes made would leave a trace drawing resemblance to our bank records. In turn, this prevents anyone from tampering with the confidential data, promoting a secure data exchange process. This feature is helpful in countries such as China, where exports and imports of goods are crucial as it is being taxed by a significant percentage, which sums up to quite a hefty portion of money to pay the government.

Moving forward, we need to look at how to ensure the data is not fraudulent, using various forms of technology like blockchain and other secure channels, to build trust.

Could you describe your career journey and how you reached your current position?

As a Science student, I received a scholarship from Keppel, an engineering based company back in the 2000s. I took up engineering as there was much prospect to it and due to my keen interest in the sciences. My focus back then was today’s artificial intelligence (AI), previously known as nonlinear programming or machine learning, in an easier way based on the support that was available then. Despite my background in engineering, my initial role upon joining the firm was as an Internal Management Consultant, which had no direct connection to engineering. In this capacity, my responsibilities encompassed drafting business-oriented papers for approval. Although the role required the application of my mathematical skills, engineering was not the primary focus.

Subsequently, upon relocating to the United States, I transitioned to the position of Business Integration Manager. I returned to Singapore due to personal reasons and ventured out to start my own company that focused on Food & Beverage (F&B) technology, but unfortunately failed. Following that, I joined DeClout, a private firm, as a portfolio manager, where I managed various portfolios.

Taking on diverse roles enriched my experiences and enhanced my versatility, providing perspectives on what to expect. From an entrepreneur to working under people, I am grateful to have been given these opportunities.

Personally, at each stage, there have been things that I wish I had known earlier which could have pushed me onto the path of success. Nonetheless, retrospectively, it cannot be helped as we would only learn such things upon walking down the path.

What would you say has been the biggest personal challenge at work or throughout your working life?

It’s a lot about realising the fact that people’s perspectives will change along the way, and we have to get used to that. Communication is crucial to better understand others’ perspectives.

To overcome this challenge, adopting a more genuine personality, coupled with kindness – as cliche it may sound – would encourage others to share their perspectives and sometimes, even go the extra mile to explain the reasoning behind it.

How has Covid-19 affected your industry and what precautions are you considering in the future?

Covid-19 propelled my industry as things can now be done remotely. Everyone started working from home and the use of digital technologies ascended tremendously. This supported our industry as our solutions are all remote. None of the problems we have faced or will face is predictable, so all we can do is to ensure that our operating mode is robust.

While many requirements are fundamental and could be acquired through experience, what truly distinguishes your business is the unique value proposition. This distinctive value that you offer will potentially propel your business towards success. Identifying and leveraging this would be the unique selling point that serves as a primary catalyst in driving the growth of your business and attracting a broader consumer base.

Would you say relevant work experience is more important than academic qualifications in terms of obtaining a job?

While education holds significant importance, it is practical experience that distinguishes individuals, serving as the decisive factor for success in securing employment. Although my educational qualifications played a pivotal role in securing my initial job, it was my subsequent practical experience that truly set me apart and contributed to my professional growth.