Small beginnings, big impact: Huey Ying’s path to the Tay Eng Soon Gold Meda
Teng Huey Ying, proud recipient of the Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal, believes that purpose is what keeps people going and gives meaning to every step forward.
Her journey started early. She began by selling slime toys to her schoolmates, then quickly scaled it into a small business on Carousell and Instagram during her time at Hillgrove Secondary School. That curiosity drove her to pursue a Nitec in Business Administration at ITE College West, and later, a Diploma in Business at RP, where she deepened her understanding of how businesses work.
Her hard work paid off when she received the inaugural Call-Lade Scholarship in 2025 for academic excellence. Today, she graduates as Valedictorian of her batch with a perfect GPA.
Beyond the classroom, she is just as driven to lift others up. As Vice-President of the Youth Entrepreneurship Co-Operative (YEC), she led initiatives that connected students with local entrepreneurs, organising business talks and events to spark interest in entrepreneurship.
Her passion for people shines through in her community work too. Through the Youth Corps Leaders Programme by Youth Corps Singapore, she planned and led engagement sessions for underprivileged children from Care Community Services Society. “Seeing their smiles and the impact we made reminds me why it matters,” she shares.
Her commitment to service extends beyond Singapore. During a study trip to Bangalore, India in 2025, she volunteered with children at Arya Sevashrama Trust. Despite the language barrier, she used hand signs to guide them in building music boxes — a powerful reminder that making an impact knows no borders.
During her internship with CapitaLand's People Experience team, Huey Ying supported the Staff Appreciation Night while developing skills in stakeholder communication and data management, which sparked her interest in employee wellbeing. She carried this people-first mindset into her Final Year Project with Heartware Network, where she helped develop Gen Z-focused volunteer engagement strategies that brought together business insight, empathy, and community impact.
Learn more about RP’s extraordinary award winners at www.rp.edu.sg/graduation
Huey Ying’s journey exemplifies how starting small can lead to significant achievements. Her initial venture selling slime toys on social media platforms like Carousell and Instagram laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial mindset. This practical experience early on gave her valuable insights into customer engagement and business operations, which she expanded upon during her studies in Business Administration and Business at RP. One of the most striking parts of her story is her holistic approach to success—not only does she excel academically, as demonstrated by her perfect GPA and the Call-Lade Scholarship, but she also actively contributes to her community. As Vice-President of the Youth Entrepreneurship Co-Operative, she connected students with local entrepreneurs, organizing events that inspire others to embrace business opportunities. Her dedication to helping underserved children through the Youth Corps Leaders Programme and volunteering abroad in Bangalore shows her commitment to making a broader impact beyond her immediate environment. These experiences also helped her develop interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, reinforcing her belief that meaningful impact transcends language and borders. During her internship with CapitaLand’s People Experience team, Huey Ying gained hands-on experience in organizing large-scale events and managing stakeholder communications, which deepened her interest in employee wellbeing—a crucial aspect of sustainable business. Finally, her Final Year Project in partnership with Heartware Network focused on engaging Gen Z volunteers, combining business acumen with empathy to drive social good. This project highlights her people-first philosophy, integrating community service with business knowledge. Huey Ying’s story encourages embracing opportunities early, staying curious, and balancing personal success with giving back, proving that purpose truly guides meaningful growth.
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