The Student CEO Experience | British Chamber Of Commerce Singapore

Launched in 2025, The Student CEO Experience provides a curated programme of corporate site visits and workshops, tailored to an audience of 17-21 year old students. Born from an idea to bring together our outstanding network of senior leaders, who each have their own career story to tell, with students from across our network of international schools in Singapore and local counterparts/polytechnics, the programme was an immediate success from it's inaugural cohort in October 2025.

Each cohort period contains 4-5 days of onsite visits, presentations and Q&A time with business leaders, often with several employees of each company generously volunteering to spend time with the students. This provides valuable insights and corporate exposure to the next generation of leaders, while providing companies with an opportunity to showcase their corporate culture and give back to the community.

"I would definitely recommend this experience to any student"

"This program has truly strengthened my interest in global business and leadership, and I’m excited to keep building on everything I’ve learned!”

Scroll down for more information, testimonials and participating companies. This is a paid opportunity for student participation.

Eligibility

The Student CEO Experience is open to students from all educational establishments. The following guidelines apply:

Students must be aged between 17-21 years during the cohort period
Students must be able to communicate in and comprehend English, as the programme is not delivered in any alternates
Students must be available 9am-5pm for the entire cohort period and able to commute to our CBD office location. In each cohort period, we will endeavour to include attendance for the group at one of our flagship events, indicated in the timeline below.

Next Cohort(s)

April 6th-10th 2026 - includes optional attendance at the Annual Economic Briefing event, from 8.30-11.00am on April 9th
October 12th-16th 2026 - includes optional attendance at the Annual Business Awards gala ceremony, from 6.00-10.00pm on October 15th (no alcohol will be served to the group)

Contact studentceo@britcham.org.sg to express interest in participating or to receive an information pack.

Watch interviews with the October 2025 cohort

Read testimonials from the October 2025 cohort

Jarellyn Tay, 17, Student at Raffles Institution

Objectives… “I would like to know how businesses operate and how to make the best decisions for the company. I hope to learn more about myself, as a leader and as a team member. I think that this allows me to grow and also have a more informed decision as to which areas in business I might be more suited for.”

What she took away from the experience… “Thank you for organising this amazing experience, it really helped open my eyes to business and industry. I learned about leadership, people management and even how to be a good public speaker. I realised through this experience that I need to broaden my mindset and expose myself to more things. I would definitely recommend this experience to any student, whether you have had job experiences or not. One thing I’ve learned is instead of waiting for opportunities to come to you, you should create opportunities for yourself. I also realised that being a leader doesn’t mean just being assertive. It’s about being compassionate, bringing people along with you and being empathetic, and this is something I have not had the chance to experience in school.”

Daniel Toh, 23, Student at Singapore Polytechnic

Objectives… “I’m hoping to learn how CEOs actually operate like setting the right priorities, keeping cashflow healthy, leading teams, and handling stress so I can apply it all to my future business.”

What he took away from the experience… “For me, the program's blend of speaker sessions and corporate visits was its most beneficial component. Every speaker had a different story, and I found myself taking notes on topics other than business, like maintaining a positive outlook and staying grounded when guiding others through difficulty. We visited inspiring organisations, met incredible CEOs and senior leaders, and got a front-row view of how real business decisions are made. Overcoming my initial shyness when dealing with CEOs was the most difficult aspect for me, but by the second day, I had learned to ask questions out of curiosity rather than fear. My expectations were not only fulfilled but surpassed because the program made me realise that flexibility, passion for one's work, networking, and an attitude of constant learning are the foundations of effective leadership.”

Sam Yi Kan, 20, Student at NUS Business School

Objectives… “Deeper insights on industry leaders, how companies are run, how to make startups sustainable and grow in the long run.”

What she took away from the experience… “I learned so much from everyone and had a really great time learning together! Thank you for this amazing opportunity, you put in so much work for the programme and it truly was so eventful and enriching. I learned that true leadership begins with saying yes to new experiences, challenges, and ideas. Growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone, stay curious, and keep learning from the world around you in both your personal and professional life. I was also reminded that every experience brings you closer to who you want to become. No job or opportunity is ever wasted if you learn from it. Thank you to the organisations who so kindly welcomed us and took the time to curate such insightful and engaging site visits. Through this experience, I’ve learned how to grow as a leader and had the opportunity to put those lessons into practice during our final case study presentation and networking independently at the 26th Annual Business Awards.”

Brandon Quek, 19, Student at Singapore Polytechnic

Objectives… “I hope to gain more in-depth insights to redefining business and many connections and seniors that I can learn from.”

What he took away from the experience… “The programme was more than a tour; it was a concentrated lesson in how leadership is practiced under time pressure, stakeholder scrutiny, and constant change. As a budding entrepreneur, I arrived curious about tactics. I left convinced that culture, people, and long-range thinking are a leader’s true instruments. Through this experience, not only was I able to have the opportunity to network with various professionals across different industries within the UK-SG bubble, but also to understand the strengths and especially the weaknesses I have that I can work on. The experience widened my field of view. Leadership is not a title; it is a relationship with reality and with people. It asks for a disciplined strategy and a flexible posture. It demands courage to say no when the easy yes would erode trust. Most of all, it insists that we never forget the people who make the mission possible. When my turn comes to lead, I hope to bring that combination, clarity of purpose, adaptability in approach, and deep respect for the team, to every room I enter.”

Celeste Heng, 19, Student at Singapore Polytechnic

Objectives… “I hope to gain some knowledge and understanding of the industry that I could apply when facing clients and future projects.”

What she took away from the experience… “We met inspiring CEOs from all kinds of industries. Throughout the 4 days, we've asked questions, networked, and learned so much from the leaders. I learned that leadership is caring and investing in your team, and leading with humility. Speaking with business leaders at the Annual Business Awards reminded me: never underestimate yourself. Imposter syndrome is real, but it’s important to focus on what you’re good at, and sometimes, you just have to take the leap without overthinking and go for opportunities that will help you grow. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to learn, connect and grow. It was such a rare and valuable experience that gave me a glimpse into what true leadership looks like.”

Poppy Godfrey, 23, recent graduate from The University of Edinburgh and current Intern at the British Chamber of Commerce Singapore

Objectives… “I hope to establish meaningful connections within the sectors I am most interested in, while learning from industry leaders and gaining insights and guidance that will help position me to achieve my long-term career aspirations of building a successful career in Singapore.”

What she took away from the experience… “I had the remarkable opportunity to participate in the Student CEO Experience, an inspiring program that brought together CEOs, industry leaders and global experts. It was a truly hands-on experience, offering invaluable insights into leadership and personal journeys behind professional success. A key takeaway for me was the importance of resilience and adaptability. Every leader we met, despite their impressive careers, had faced moments of change and challenge, and each emphasised the importance of staying flexible.”

Munem Ahsan, 18, Student at Westbourne College (Singapore)

Objectives… “Work experience, connecting with people who run companies and learning from them.”

What he took away from the experience… “It was truly inspiring to meet and learn from so many accomplished leaders. Each of them shared invaluable insights on leadership, communication, and global business, from public speaking advice and interview tips to lessons about working across cultures and exploring new career paths I hadn’t considered before. This program has truly strengthened my interest in global business and leadership, and I’m excited to keep building on everything I’ve learned!”

Alumni Students From:

Alumni Participating Corporate Hosts & Workshop Trainers: