Young entrepreneurs talk about going beyond grades and pay at ST Podcast Live event
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(From left) In Your Opinion host Lynda Hong with guest speakers Adella Yeo Rae-Nyse and Nabill Shukry Johari, as they take a wefie with the 100-strong audience at the Projector at Golden Mile Tower on April 15.
PHOTO: JASPER YU
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SINGAPORE – As a young boy, Mr Nabill Shukry Johari always saw entrepreneurship as a way out of poverty – and he has proven himself right.
Now in his final semester as a part-time marketing student at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, the 27-year-old runs two businesses: Cheekies, a meal prep company supplying five food and beverage outlets, and Cheeky Media, a creative agency that helps brands thrive on TikTok Shop.
He said: “Through this entrepreneurship route, I’m able to save a lot of money and pay for my mother’s medical expenses. And when we go out for dinner, we don’t have to think about the bill. I can just treat my parents to a good dinner.”
In the second edition of ST Podcasts Live, Mr Nabill was joined by Ms Adella Yeo Rae-Nyse, a fellow entrepreneur and co-founder of career-matching platform MatcHub.
Explaining why she turned her back on a nine-to-five job, Ms Yeo, 27, said: “Back then, our parents’ definition of success was a good stable job, a good income and a basic standard of living... But what I really look for is happiness and self-accomplishment.”
The conversation, part of The Straits Times’ In Your Opinion podcast, was hosted by ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong. The full recording will be posted on ST Podcasts’ YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify on April 23.
About 100 people attended the live broadcast at indie cinema The Projector at Golden Mile Tower.
PHOTO: JASPER YU
About 100 people attended two recordings at indie cinema The Projector at Golden Mile Tower.
At the event, Mr Nabill and Ms Yeo responded to questions about how young people should handle setbacks when they choose to go into business for themselves.
Ms Yeo, who now works remotely as an account manager at a software firm, recalled how an internship once left her overwhelmed and demotivated when her manager reprimanded her for not completing a design task well.
Her former school teachers and mentors advised her not to be bogged down by her weaknesses but to find ways to shine using her strengths. So, she asked her manger to switch her to a client-facing role and she started to excel.
Ms Yeo said: “Seek advice from others, try to change or get out of the (bad) situation and see opportunities.”
Since starting Cheekies in 2021, Mr Nabill was tempted to throw in the towel many times after setbacks – including when Malaysia stopped supplying chicken to Singapore and local stock was limited.
“(But) that gave me the opportunity to explore other products. After that, I released chicken chop and lamb chop, and they opened me to new markets and more customers,” he said.
During Ramadan, when orders dipped as customers did not want to cook, he introduced single portions of ready-to-eat meals.
Mr Nabill said: “Setbacks sometimes can be crushing... you have to communicate with people, seek advice and look at things from a bigger perspective.”
The special In Your Opinion podcast live recording was organised in partnership with the National Youth Council (NYC), in support of the SG Youth Plan – an action blueprint created by youths, for youths and the world that they will lead.
The second edition of ST Podcasts Live was held at the Projector at Golden Mile Tower on April 15.
PHOTO: JASPER YU
The event, hosted by Money FM 89.3 producer-presenter Dan Koh, is part of a series of six ST Podcasts Live events in 2025 celebrating The Straits Times’ 180th anniversary.
It also included the recording of the Health Check Podcast, helmed by ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo, who discussed how young adults can better care for their mental health.
The Health Check podcast covered the topic of how young adults can better care for their mental health while juggling work and relationships.
PHOTO: JASPER YU
Joining her were Mr Delane Lim, executive director of youth development charity Character and Leadership Academy and Ms Lee Yi Ping, a principal case manager and the programme lead for the Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health.
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Correction note: This story has been edited for clarity.
Elisha Tushara is a correspondent at The Straits Times specialising in Singapore’s education landscape.
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