Friday, 19th September 2025
Three weeks ago, I had blogged about a lady who spoke at our wedding banquet on 22 November 1992: Mrs Wendy Foo.
Today, I want to pay a tribute to her by dedicating this blog entry to her.
Class Mentor
Mrs Foo was the very teacher assigned to be our class mentor in 1988, and the one who first introduced us to the NTU Staff Club when she treated us to a buffet lunch as part of getting to know us as her mentees.
That meal left a very deep impression on my classmate (now wife) and I, such that when we officially became a couple at the start of our 2nd year, we would frequent the place for our "romantic" lunches and dinners on campus.
I believe very strongly also that Mrs Foo spoke up for me during the 1st year post-exam roundtable discussion. I had expected to fail both Econs1 and CMA1, but ended up with Ds in those subjects. It is during moments like these that having a distinct and memorable name like "Malcolm" helps, haha. Thanks to dad for naming me such.
CV Referee
As part of our curriculum, we had to do a 2-month internship at an audit firm during our 2nd year term break before starting our 3rd-year. One such firm then was Price Waterhouse ("PW"), which was considered to be the most prestigious of all audit firms (it still is, in my humble opinion haha). PW could pick and choose its candidates and inevitably, anyone from the "AccountsSoc" (a very prestigious organisation then) would end up working there.
Well, yours truly was from NTU Christian Fellowship, not exactly the organisation that stood out on a CV. But more importantly, yours truly also knew Mrs Foo personally because she "happened" to also attend Paya Lebar Methodist Church ("PLMC"). So while most fellow students submitted their CVs to the school, mine went directly to Mrs Foo one particular Sunday after church service. Why, you may ask? Well, her husband, Mr Ron Foo, was at that time, a partner in PW. And any CV that goes through the hands of Mrs Foo gets tremendous weight added to it. Needless to say, I interned in PW in 1990 and had a place reserved for me in the firm even before I graduated in 1991.
Mrs Foo also helped me obtain my MBA a year earlier than originally intended (in 1997 rather than 1998). I had joined a country club as its internal auditor in December 1994, and had initially wanted to do my MBA in August 1996, wanting to work at least a year into the job. But when the incoming Treasurer told me in late-February 1995 the role was a "dead-end" job, I panicked and Mrs Foo assisted me in submitting my MBA application even though it was past the deadline of 28 February 1995, and I was thus able to enrol in August that same year, thus eventually graduating with the MBA a year earlier.
I put Mrs Foo as my CV referee and that alone opened doors to multiple job interviews.
Sponsor
As for my wife, Mrs Foo was approached and agreed to be her "sponsor" as per the requirement of the Methodist Church in 1991. She was then a member of Bedok Lutheran and had her membership transferred to PLMC. Back then, the church had a requirement that those wanting to get married in the sanctuary had to both be members first.
My wife and I will be going to the wake today to pay our respects.
Thank you Mrs Foo for being such a wonderful mentor to so many of your students, and in particular, to me.
You have left a great legacy and will be fondly remembered.
Your son, Ian, in particular, is such a well-mannered gentleman, and an exemplary servant-leader. And the one who influenced me to buy a Tesla.
Say hi to my parents and tell them I am looking forward to being re-united with them.
