Meet our Mentor, a Charter Member, a Past Club President, a Contest Champion, an entrepreneur, a renowned speaker, a Consultant and a friend who has been contributing greatly to the advancement of the Club since MMTMC was first founded in 2002: Mike Ng, DTM.

1. Tell us a little more about yourself and what do you do?  

I’m currently the Vice President, Food Business Development with Koufu Group since 1 Nov 2019. I assist the Chief Strategy Officer to develop the food business segments and its online food ordering and delivery services. I also explore JVs, strategic alliances, acquisitions and investment opportunities in complementary food businesses. Furthermore, I help in the development and management of the 7-storey integrated facility which consists of the Corporate HQ, food manufacturing operations, central kitchens and workers dormitory.

Before this, I was a Group Director with International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, the government agency spearheading the overseas growth of Singapore-based enterprises and promoting international trade. Over the 17 years with IE, I was based in New Delhi (2006-2011) and London (2015-2016) to help Singapore-based enterprises penetrate India and Europe markets, navigate regulatory frameworks and establish strategic overseas contacts. My geographical area was subsequently expanded to cover the Latin America & the Caribbean. I also developed and administered IE’s capability development programs and financial assistance schemes to build firm-level capabilities and help them gain market access overseas.

Before joining IE, I had experience in the private sector as a Senior Auditor with Arthur Andersen and the Finance & Admin Manager with Oasis Holdings. Interestingly, I also dabbled as an entrepreneur and started Nagai, a Japanese restaurant in Singapore in the past.

Feel free to talk to me about international business development, organizational leadership and government assistance in venturing overseas.

2. What has been your most memorable experience in MMTMC so far?

At the personal level, I remember I was seated and unashamedly tearing like an open tap when fellow club members bid farewell at my last chapter meeting at Toa Payoh SAFRA before I went for my first overseas posting to New Delhi in 2006. Having been together at MMTMC for more than 3 years by then, their warm words of appreciation, camaraderie and well wishes made me so emotional and unwilling to even temporarily leave this family of friends (sob sob). At the contest level, it was winning the Division D Table Topics Contest in 2005 with a contest topic “The Eagle Does Not Eat Flies” (I vaguely remember I talked about leadership and team work); and the opportunity to compete at the District level in Jakarta with fellow international contestants! At the leadership level, I enjoyed my “tour of duty” as Club President (2004-2005) achieving the President’s Distinguished Club award, Area D2 Governor (2014-2015) achieving the Select Distinguished Area award and as the Organizing Chair of MMTMC’s 15^th Anniversary Celebrations in 2017.

All in all, it’s the people at MMTMC that’s always providing me with memorable experiences. To see their personal breakthroughs, to hear their moving stories and to feel their fun & craziness within the creatively themed chapter meetings!!

3.      How has being a toastmaster changed your life?

Being a Charter Member with MMTMC since 2002 had built my personal confidence and abilities as a public speaker, presenter, panel moderator, communicator and coach. It prepared me well to express my thoughts and content sharply within time. It raised my attention towards my audience’s needs and refined my engagement with them throughout the speech. Through toastmasters, I learned the art of giving positive feedback, persuasion and inspiration. It helped me at work when I strived to motivate and improve the performance of my colleagues. Speaking off the cuff became comfortable through the numerous impromptu table topics that I had practised over the years. In 2017, I steadily handled a “live” business interview by a Mexican Bloomberg-linked TV station without knowing the questions beforehand (https://youtu.be/kIT2QapwQxc). I’m always grateful to Toastmasters for developing me into a proficient communicator in all situations.

4. What motivates you to take up a role as a mentor?

Simply, it’s for me to pass on what I’ve gained as a toastmaster so that members can fast track their learning journey and discover their speaking persona quickly. Over the past 15 years, I’ve walked a path of learning, made a family of friends and gained a chest of experience with MMTMC. Having benefited tremendously and becoming the first Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) in MMTMC, it’s my desire to be a role model, lead and show members how to optimize their efforts in this Toastmasters path of personal growth. To remain effective as a mentor, I’m continuing my personal growth under the new Pathways Education Program, so that I’m familiar with every new toastmaster’s curriculum and learning journey. I walk first, so others can follow with confidence.

5. What is your top de-stressing activity?

A swim in a pool, preferably with a cocktail bar! I also enjoy my DJ mix at home in the evenings, accompanied with moving lights and smothering smoke; or a weekend round of golf at a beautiful oceanic course.

6. If you can invite anyone for a dinner, who will you invite and why?

As an avid Arsenal fan for more than 2 decades, definitely Arsene Wenger, the longest serving manager in the English Premier League’s history. I’m eager to learn from him on how he can calmly manage Arsenal under all the public pressure and media limelight over his decision-makings on reputable recruitment (or the lack of it), player selections, and tactics during the games. His leadership and management abilities to withstand the harsh scrutiny, work within the limitations imposed onto him (often financial and due to player injuries), groom young talents instead of buying from the transfer market and continue to do what he thinks is right for the club and the fans is admirable. His in-depth views will be applicable in the business world for aspiring entrepreneurs like me to remain calm, professional and focused to do what we are made to do. Will you want to join me in this private dinner with Arsene Wenger?