Wei Jian Teoh

WHAT I'LL TELL MY YOUNGER SELF... 🎓

Q: If you were 10 years younger, what would you tell your younger self?
A: Study less! Spend more time on fun activities and CCAs! Enjoy what you love doing! 🌟

(Well, luckily I didn't really say that during the SIT-TUM X IChemE Singapore Classroom to Career sharing session last Thursday, otherwise the organizers might have thrown me out!) 🤣

Or... perhaps I did? 😉

On a more serious note, it's funny how reminiscing can flood you with memories and new questions at the same time.
We ran a round-robin session with 10-12 students per table, raw questions and unfiltered. Here are the questions that came up, and my thoughts:

🗂️ Internship stacking?

You just need one great internship! This is typical Singaporean kiasu-ness at work. 🤣 Most recruiters will see through CV padding. Pick one that you're really passionate about and make a difference.

🤖 Using AI for resumes?

By all means, go ahead! AI fluency is table stakes now. It's how well you wield it, and how well you explain what you wrote in the interview (hope you still remember what you wrote!) 🤣

🚪 When to change jobs?

IMO the "job-hopping" stigma is overblown. Ask yourselves if you are still earning "The Three Salaries": compensation, learning & happiness. If not, it's time to consider a move - whether up, out or lateral.

🎓 Should I consider further studies or certification after graduation?

Think of your journey as of a "T-shaped talent": Start deep as a specialist, then broaden commercially as you climb; or start broad as a eneralist, then niche down into something like process safety or energy management.

When to take Masters or further certification - "T-shaped talent": There are two approaches, start as a specialist ibn your niches but life long learning to broaden your commercial knowledge as you step up to upper management. Or you use your general chem eng knowledge and focus deep into e.g. process safety or energy management

Either works. What doesn't work: doing a Masters to buy time while you figure yourself out. If you graduate just as confused as when you enrolled, you've paid a lot for nothing. I recommend you to work 2–3 years first: find your niche, then invest in sharpening it. 🎯

🔌 Why join IChemE?

Joining IChemE as a student member (it's free!) allows you to know what are the career options out there and the future landscape, helping you to make your best decision in your career!

Appreciate the perspectives from my fellow panelists: Elaine Yong, Raghavendran Ravichandran, Dah Ching Goh and Chloe Sam for the candid, energising conversations we had 🙌 And to Yeo Qi Jia and the organising team, and Prof. Chuanzhao, thank you for having me back - it's always a privilege. 💙

P.S What's a piece of career advice you would tell your younger self? Drop it below 👇

Curious about what’s next in chemical engineering? This is your chance to get ahead.

Join us this 28 March 2026 (Saturday) for an insightful PIChE Bicol Webinar featuring two timely and impactful topics:

🔹 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴
Explore recent advances and real-world applications shaping modern industries

🔹 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁-𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻
Dive into emerging energy systems, technologies, and opportunities driving a sustainable future

Whether you’re a student, professional, or simply eager to learn, this session is designed to expand your perspective and keep you future-ready.

✅ 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗔𝗗𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡
🔗 Register here: bit.ly/PBW26Q1

Don’t miss it. The future of chemical engineering is already unfolding. Be part of the conversation.

𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 - 𝐁𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝗿 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗥𝗦

🌍 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

“The glass ceiling is real.”

Four years ago, my team and I at IChemE National Early Careers Committee (NECC) Malaysia hosted a career sharing session with an inspiring panel: Natalie Fernandez, Madelyn Lim, and Viv Ng Zhi Min , moderated by Ahmad Irfan, supported by Sing Ying Lee and the team at Curtin IChemE Student Chapter. (Distinctly recall this sharing session as due to a technical hiccup... we spent the first 10 mins rather lost 😅)

We spoke about something many engineers quietly recognise but rarely discuss openly: Engineering remains a male-dominated field. ⚙️

Interestingly, none of the panelists reported overt discrimination in their careers. But we all aligned on one principle:
👉 If something feels wrong, say it.
👉 If speaking up doesn’t work, escalate it.

Silence only perpetuates the problem, not the people. No woman should have to quietly accept discrimination as “part of the job”.

4 years later - how has the landscape changed for women in the workplace?

Today, on International Women’s Day, it’s worth reflecting not only on how far we’ve come… but how far we still have to go. ✨

Happy International Women's Day!

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Now that CNY is over, it's time to be a "corporate slave" again... 🤣

Oh dear. I have 3 screens. 🖥️🖥️🖥️ 😱

How many screens do you have? 🖥️

Credits to Gabriel Ryan on LinkedIn for the post.

🌍 What if chemical engineers held the keys to saving our planet?

Spoiler: they do.

I've always been fascinated with the potential of what each of us can do to move sustainability beyond just a buzzword, and attending a course by Prof. Lawrence Loh - Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability, National University of Singapore Business School - just reinforced that thought.

The thought resurfaced when I was gliding through the hallways of "Another World is Possible" - the latest exhibit by ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands - sparking conversations about how Singapore (already a "garden city") can be a future-ready sustainable arcology.

We aren’t just behind the scenes 🤔 - we are front-line players in tackling the world’s toughest sustainability challenges. From powering the clean energy transition to driving climate action, we shape a future aligned with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

I'm happy to announce that I'm moderating a talk with Terence Tan, Director of Carbon Management at United Nations Global Compact Network Singapore. With 30+ years of experience in Shell Bukom and industry, Terence is a believer in “servant leadership”, leading by personal example based on his core values of kindness, fairness, and integrity towards all.

💡 Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from a global leader in carbon management and walk away inspired to act.

Register here 👉🏻 https://lnkd.in/g6YuDtAT

Webinar: Sustainability and Chemical Engineers
Date: 24 Sep 2025
Time: 7.00-8.00 PM SGT (UTC+8)

Join the IChemE Singapore LI group 👉🏻 https://lnkd.in/gA7pBK8u

Disclaimer: This post is not AI-generated. 🤣

FREAKY THINKING IN THE SHOWER? 🚿

What is this puzzle saying? (credits: TheEzzShow)

....................
Ever had a “Eureka!” moment in the shower? Or while walking the dog? Or having a cold morning shower? 🚿

You’re not alone - and it’s not random. 💡

A study by UC Santa Barbara found that we get our best ideas, in both quantity and quality, when we intersperse our thinking with undemanding tasks. Why does this happen? 🤔

In interviews with employees of Lloyds Banking Group, Chris Thomason, author of "Freaky Thinking" found that many of them get their most creative ideas lying in bed late at night, early morning, or when taking a shower.

We do our best thinking during less-demanding tasks. These moments create mental space for mind-wandering, and that’s when the magic happens. ✨

🪄 Franz Kafka, night owl extraordinaire, would write after midnight (from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am).
📚 J.K. Rowling got her idea for Harry Potter while stuck on a delayed train.

Psychologists call it the Zeigarnik Effect. Lithuanian-Soviet psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik had a curious observation - waiters tend to remember names of customers when they haven't paid the bill. Once the bill is settled - mind wipe! 😶‍🌫️

Our minds hate unfinished business. The Zeigarnik effect postulates that we remember unfinished or incomplete things better. The brain loves “idle” time - and uses it to make unexpected connections.

Leave a question hanging, a task incomplete, or a thought mid-sentence… and your subconscious will keep chewing on it behind the scenes. 🧠

Jonathan Ives and Steve Jobs were famous for their long, ideation walks. This was also cited as a reason for the design of the "Apple Infinite Loop" - to encourage budding ideas while you walk in circles. 🚶🚶‍➡️

So.. the next time you’re stuck on something? Don’t power through.
🛁 Take a shower.
🚶‍♀️ Go for a walk.
😴 Sleep on it - literally.

What’s the last brilliant idea you had while doing something totally unrelated? ⭐

Answer to the puzzle: SLEEP ON IT

FROM CLASSROOM TO CAREER... IN PUNGGOL? 🎓

“Hey, you're kinda famous on LinkedIn right? Want to come talk to some SIT students in Punggol?”
“Uhh… Punggol’s pretty far… 😅”
“We have free food.”
“...What time should I be there?” 😋

And that’s how I ended up gatecrashing SIT x IChemE Classroom to Career 2025 at the beautiful Singapore Institute of Technology Punggol campus, organized by the IChemE (Institution of Chemical Engineers) Singapore Board.

What started as a light-hearted invitation turned into a truly meaningful session exploring the future of chemical engineering, centered on two powerful macrotrends:
🔹 The rise of artificial intelligence
🔹 The urgency of sustainability

The key question hanging on everyone's minds is: Will AI take our jobs? 😱 A big NO... if we learn to utilize AI, not to be utilized by AI. The key? Upskilling, adaptability, and curiosity to stay ahead of the curve. 💫

It was great to hear from a diverse and passionate lineup of speakers:
✨ Eric (Wee Tat) Tan, our very own “fragrance & flavour magician”
💥 Er. Dah Ching Goh, on his heartfelt personal journey in process safety
💧 Chloe, reminding us that water truly is what powers Singapore
🔁 Helen, who showed us that pivoting your career is possible

One would wonder why I bother to show up at such events. Sure, the food was great!😋 I strongly believe in giving back - do unto others how you want others to do unto you - and occassionally it's worth reflecting on your own journey (learnt this from Patricia Ong 🌟)

Big thanks to Sunan Liu, Victor Tamoria, Sashi (who realized his LI profile got disabled 😂) and team (Kalyani, Carmen, Naomi, Mei Xuan) for the invite and warm hospitality. Thank you to Prof. Chuanzhao Li for sharing your frank reflections about the future of chemical engineering and how SIT is proactively adapting to the next-gen AI revolution.

Looking forward to more campus conversations and caffeine-fueled reflections! ☕✨ (yes, I do drink 3 cups of coffee a day, which seemed to take Prof. Li by surprise!)

FROM CHEAT DAYS TO CHECKLISTS: STAYING ON TRACK AFTER A LONG WEEKEND 🧠🗓️

Happy Labour Day to everyone and happy Election Day to all Singaporeans! 🇸🇬

Hope you're soaking in the long weekend, wherever you are! 😎☕

"Ah, a long holiday, it's time for a cheat day!"

Do you ever take a “cheat day” from your usual routine over a holiday and then find it ridiculously hard to get back on track? Same here.🙋‍♂️The struggle is real, especially when your “quick break” has mutated into “wait, where did the rest of the week go?” 😅

Here are a few tricks to gently wrestle yourselves into rhythm after a long weekend (or a productivity slump):

🔹Wake up at the same time every day.

Yes, no sleeping in! Your brain loves predictability. In fact, research in Harvard Health shows that consistent wake-up times improve cognitive performance and mood. 🧠💫

🔹As soon as you're up, do a quick focus session. 🌅

Write down your Top 3 Priorities for the day - jog a kilometer, do 30 push-ups, read your latest book - the key here is really to "write it down"! ✏️ Writing something down works magic in ensuring you follow through on it! 🌟

🔹Journal obsessively and be a list addict.

In the book Best Practices: Time Management by John Hoover (a book that I once read in University of Malaya's library 📖), externalizing your mental load into lists = less brain clutter. Free up your mental RAM for bigger decisions! 🚅

🔹The “Just 5 More” Rule

Jack Canfield calls it the “Five a Day Rule.” Famous leadership guru John C. Maxwell calls it the “Law of Five.” Carrie Wilkinson in her book, Be Your Own Boss advocates just five things a day - five tasks on your list today. 📝 There's no need to aim for too much (avoid burnout), but not too few either (to keep up your momentum)!

🔹 Cross out items on your list.

End your day by reviewing your list and crossing off what you’ve done. ❎

Enjoy the emotional gratification from physically crossing out items (it's oddly addictive!) and use that to fuel your next day!⛽

So enjoy the rest of the long weekend - refresh, recharge and relax! 🏊 But when it’s time to get back into gear, know that it takes only 5 simple steps!

What’s your best go-to post-holiday reset ritual? 🤔

Photo: how I spent my Labour's Day holiday! ⭐🪐

DO ENGINEERS NEED TO BE CREATIVE?

Q: Wei Jian, can you explain what you do in one sentence?
A: I dig out old problems and think of creative ways to solve them. (True conversation! 😂)

Q: Wei Jian, what happens if a process safety incident occurs?
A: You know, we put together a multidisciplinary team to investigate and come out with recommendations - HSSE, process safety, process engineering, mechanical, corrosion etc...
Q: So... just like the Avengers?⚡ (Kudos to Dylan from Monash for this one)
A: Yes, exactly! 🌟

Someone once told me that engineers need to be detail-oriented list addicts. 📝 "Creativity is for artists and musicians," they say. Is this true? 🎨

During Oil & Gas Malaya Industrial Week organized by SPE UM Student Chapter last week, one of the recurring questions was, "What soft skills do I need to excel as an engineer?"

My answer is simple: Creativity.💡

In the groundbreaking book, "The World is Flat", author Thomas R. Friedman talks about how the President of Georgia Institute of Technology, G. Wayne Glough, instituted a policy of admitting good engineering students who also played a musical instrument, sang in a chorus, or played in a team.

According to Glough, these students tend to be more creative, able to communicate, think horizontally, and tie things together from different fields 🤝🏻 - all required to solve today's "wicked" problems.

It's no coincidence that in the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2025, creative thinking ranks top 5 in the list of core skills, being cited as complementary to the rise of AI and Big Data. 🌟

So if you're an engineering student or young professional reading this:
🔹Keep sharpening your technical skills.
🔹Keep asking “what if?” and “why not?” (You can get away with it... mostly 😂)
🔹Don't be afraid to give "funny" or "dumb" suggestions! 🌟

As engineers, it’s not enough to just solve the puzzle - sometimes, you have to redraw the puzzle entirely. Creativity, in conjunction with leadership and teamwork, will help you to move far in your journey! 💫

What are your thoughts on the soft skills of the future? 💡

Photo: explaining the colours of hydrogen, my fav topic! 🌈

FROM RED TO BLUE: D-DAY

“Please don’t call me Pak. Just call me Erwin.” (I'm not that old)

This simple line said a lot - about humility, approachability, and the kind of leadership culture I'm seeing in my first week at Aster.

A (belated) Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all my Muslim friends and colleagues! 🌙🕌 Hari Raya is a time of forgiveness, reflection, and gratitude - and there was a lot to be grateful for this week.

Day 1 of our transition from Shell to Aster started strong with a site visit by the top leadership of Aster, Chandra Asri Group and Glencore. Our CEO, Erwin Ciputra himself, took the time to meet and greet with everybody including the frontline shift technicians and panelmen.

Day 2 started strong with a "nasi tumpeng" ceremony - an Indonesian cone-shaped rice dish with side dishes of vegetables and meat. The presentation of the tumpeng by our GM, Thomas Wong to representatives of the employees - from the wisest to the youngest - and even contractor partners felt like a "passing of the torch", Asian-style, signifying the trust placed in us by the leadership. 🔥

It was also an interesting cultural exchange session - like learning that "uduk" is a fragrant seasoned rice cooked with coconut milk and turmeric, originating from West Java. 🍚

But what stood out most? Seeing Janessa, the youngest member of Bukom, seated at the head table.

It was a simple gesture, but a powerful one. It showed that Aster values every employee, regardless of age or title. Everyone will need to be onboard to bring Aster to greater heights.

This week is a great start to Aster being a great place to work. If you're interested to know more, let's have a chat! ☕

Top quote: a slight faux pas when meeting the CEO at the control room...

Bottom photo: a stock photo of "nasi tumpeng", because the real one we had would dazzle you! ✨