At age 21 when most of his peers were pursuing their tertiary education, Wayne Neo stepped into the working world.
Through his five years working as a financial advisor, he saw how powerful good data could be, but also how dangerous poor interpretation was.
Wayne elaborates, “I became increasingly interested in the data that explained behaviour, risk, and long-term outcomes.”
“That made me realise I needed proper training in analytics, statistics, and data tools if I wanted to work at a higher level.”
Seeking a programme that had a strong applied focus and flexibility to balance his other commitments led him to pursue a degree with SIM-University of Wollongong’s (UOW) Bachelor in Big Data.
“I chose SIM because it was practical and closely aligned with industry needs,” Wayne points out. “On top of that, the range of free career workshops was a real advantage.”
He continues, “Programmes like Project Protégé showed that SIM values mentorship and hands-on experience, not just exam results. That matched how I learnt best.”
OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF STARTING AGAIN
Returning to school after five years was not easy. First, there was the mental challenge of being older than his peers. Wayne also had to relearn how to be a student after several years in the workforce, while juggling his commitments outside of school.
But the biggest hurdle of all was that he had enrolled himself in a programme that he had no background in.
“I still remember in my first year when the class was asked about their programming background,” Wayne recounts. “I realised I was in the minority with no prior coding experience.”
Despite the moments of self-doubt, Wayne pushed on, treating them as part of the process rather than a signal to stop.
He deliberately treated studying like a job with clear routines and goals, planning his weeks carefully and focused on understanding concepts deeply. For topics he was weak at, he sought mentorship through Project Protégé.
“I’m especially grateful for my mentor, Shazni, who guided me in developing my analytical skillset and provided clear, actionable feedback that contributed significantly to my growth.”
Shazni Shoffie, who is also an alumnus of SIM-University of London, is currently an Analytics Engineer at Grasshopper, a quantitative trading technology provider based in Singapore.
Wayne's consistency eventually paid off and he made it to the Dean’s List for 2023 and 2024. He also received the IRAS Book Prize Award (Gold) for 2025. The award is presented to top-performing students in taxation, data science, and business analytics, recognising academic excellence.
These accomplishments were a nod to Wayne’s decision to return to school. “Coming from a non-technical background, it was proof that perseverance and the right habits can close skill gaps. More importantly, it gave me confidence that I could hold my own in a data-focused role.”
BUILDING EMPLOYABILITY BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Wayne also took the initiative to make himself employable by learning skills he noticed appeared frequently in data analyst job listings such as Power BI. Through resume building and career coaching workshops that SIM organises, he learnt how to better present himself and prepare for the professional world.
“My favourites were Lionel Lim’s personal branding and professional grooming classes,” Wayne says, adding that Lionel is a personal branding speaker and professional grooming expert. “I have personally benefited from his workshops, such as the ‘LinkedIn Mastery - Elevate Your Professional Presence (Advanced Level)’ and ‘Resume & Cover Letter - Beginner Level’.”
“Together, these experiences prepared me to transition confidently into real-world roles beyond the classroom.”
Upon graduating last December, Wayne took up the GRaduate Industry Traineeship (GRIT) at the State Courts of Singapore to gain practical experience.
These days, he is actively developing dashboards, interpreting real datasets, and collaborating with stakeholders. His goal is to eventually take on a full-time data analyst role where he can continue to apply and expand his analytical skills in a professional setting.
SHOWING UP FOR YOURSELF
For Wayne, returning to university was not about getting a piece of paper but a challenge to himself to step out of his comfort zone and build skills that would stay relevant long-term.
“My experiences at SIM helped me see the bigger picture of what a career in data could look like. I aspire to be someone who not only delivers insights but also helps shape how data is used to create real impact.”
For fellow learners who are starting from scratch, Wayne encourages them to be consistent and show up for themselves, especially on the days they don’t feel like it.
“The small, steady effort you put in every day will compound over time and make a bigger difference than you realise, no matter what you apply it to.”