We are always happy to welcome young talents who are interested to find out more about the maritime industry. Our scholar, Kenix Ho, who joined us for not one but two internships, is a case in point. Her time at BW enabled her to gain hands-on experience in two different finance roles and further piqued her interest in shipping operations.
At BW, we consider career development to be as much about building experience and capability as it is about promotion and advancement. We strive to provide opportunities to grow, and we encourage you to learn new skills. If you love bringing unique perspectives to the table and are unabashed to share them, we’d love to have you on our team!
The below interview was conducted by the Singapore Maritime Foundation.
Is it possible to work in an industry that you had no prior experience in, let alone thrive in it?
Kenix Ho, a MaritimeONE scholar pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, shares her experience on not one, but two of her internships with BW Group. These opportunities enabled her to gain hands-on experience in two different finance roles and further piqued her interest in shipping operations.
Q. What was your role in BW Group and what projects did you handle?
K (Kenix): In my first internship, I provided tax consulting and advisory for different BW functions and highlighted the tax implications behind business decisions. I also assisted in declarations to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
This past winter, I have just completed a corporate finance internship. As a corporate finance intern, I handle vessel financing where I prepare and submit information on future project funding to banks.
Q. It is interesting that you have interned in two different roles. Why did you choose to go for a different role this time?
K: Dabbling in different roles within maritime has allowed me to see what I am suited for and sieve out my interests. Modules that I enjoyed in school can often be quite different in practice. Before my internships, I did not have much prior knowledge on tax and corporate finance as I had yet to take the relevant modules in school. The internship gave me a clearer idea of shipping finance as I was able to experience first-hand what goes on behind the scenes of a company’s operations.
Q. How has the internship broadened your perspective of the maritime industry?
K: Without the internship, I would not have been able to come so far in the industry. Back when I was a freshman, it never crossed my mind to enter maritime but after my internship experiences, I have been exposed to the wide spectrum of maritime. Through the internships, I developed a passion in commodity trading and a keen interest in shipping operations. The internship helped me to better understand things that are close to us such as the transportation of goods that play a vital role in our supply chains.
Q. You mentioned that you did not take modules related to your internship role prior. How did you cope with that?
K: I only took tax related modules after my tax internship. Without the relevant background knowledge, I experienced a steep learning curve. However, I was able to keep up with the fast pace in school when I eventually took the module in the following semester. My internship experience provided me with sufficient knowledge which allowed me to excel in the course.
After my first internship experience, I decided to read up on corporate finance before assuming this role so that I am well prepared.
Q. What was the biggest takeaway from your internship?
K: I am beyond grateful for the relationships forged and my internship experience has exposed me to like-minded people. People in the maritime industry are so passionate and it’s always a joy to hear their stories.
At BW, we strive to provide opportunities to grow, and we encourage you to learn new skills. We are always happy to welcome young talents who are interested to find out more about the maritime industry.
We consider career development to be as much about building experience and capability as it is about promotion and advancement. If you love bringing unique perspectives to the table and are unabashed to share them, we’d love to have you on our team!
Read more here https://www.smf.com.sg/internships-how-they-uncover-new-career-interests/