New Energy at Young Professionals in Singapore

After-work drinks, mid-summer parties, and more! Young Professionals in Singapore is a great way for young expats of all nationalities to meet and interact.

The Young Professionals Group is a non-profit organization built on Swedish roots, culture, and traditions. It has been around for ages, but in 2005 it was officially established and set up under the Swedish Business Association of Singapore (SBAS) and the Swedish Embassy. Whereas SBAS is very business oriented, Young Professionals is a more social organization that provides a forum for mingling and expanding networks for people of all nationalities between the age of 18 and 35.

Recently, President of Young Professionals, Katarina Wahlstedt, has brought a lot of fresh energy to the organisation. The Group is now active on Facebook and the Swedish Business Association also makes an effort to put more focus on the organization and its members.
“We are all living abroad, and meeting other young people living abroad with similar interests and backgrounds through Young Professionals is very important,” Katarina Wahlstedt says.

Every month, Young Professionals host social events for its members, such as after work drinks, company visits, and because of the organization’s close ties with the Swedish Embassy and SBAS, annual mid summer and crayfish parties are also held.

The social events can be used for networking which might lead to a new job or new connections, and that is a great by-product of the events. Katarina Wahlstedt underlines that Young Professionals, is not a job agency. All it does is to provide the forum to make the interaction possible.

Even though the Young Professional Group is under the Swedish Business Association, all nationalities are welcome to join. Several of the members are Singaporeans who have studied in Sweden for a semester and who wish to maintain that Swedish connection. The Group is not for Swedes exclusively and Katarina Wahlstedt encourages everyone to join Young Professionals and attend the after work gatherings at IndoChine in Clarke Quay on the last Friday every month.

Approximately 30 people turn up at the event every time.
“It is a great opportunity to network and meet new people and everyone is welcome,” she says with a smile.

Being a member of Young Professionals costs 50 SGD per year but students who are in Singapore for six months only pay a fee of 25 SGD. Paying members receive news and updates from the Swedish Business Association, the Swedish Embassy, and of course from Young Professionals directly. Members of Young Professionals are also invited to all events hosted by the three organizations, and get a discount on entry tickets. They are also allowed to attend the SBAS after work drink events to further expand their social and professional network.


Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sbas.org.sg/yp


 

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