The UNI.CORN and UNI.CORN+ internship programmes put students through 12 weeks of intense ideation and experimentation. In the three months, they are given real business challenges to solve and practical experience working with the DBS’ business and technology teams. After their projects were done and dusted — with some even going into real-world deployment — the UNI.CORNs left their home at DBS Asia X starry-eyed and ready for the challenges ahead.

But how are the graduated UNI.CORNs doing and what have they been up to? Let’s check in to find out!

Suzy Tsang, UNI.CORN+ Class of 2019

Hey Suzy! What have you been up to since you graduated from UNI.CORN+?

Hi there! I’m currently in Spain for a semester for an exchange programme.

That’s really cool! I bet the exchange has been fun and enriching. Has your experience with UNI.CORN+ helped you with what you’re doing now?

Yes, definitely! The business and tech mentorship during the internship were so relevant in giving us the reality of what goes on behind a digital bank. The process of understanding the market, creating and delivering new solutions to the target audience was a one-of-a-kind experience.

That’s great! It seems like you gained lots of professional experience. Did you have any other takeaways from the internship?

Having the chance to work with the other interns from different schools was a prime opportunity for me to learn! Complementing each other’s strengths and weaknesses was how my teammates and I progressed and grew. Peers who are ever-willing to help and drink teh-peng with — that’s definitely one of my many great takeaways!

Danial Leong, UNI.CORN Class of 2018

Hey Danial, it’s been awhile! How have you been doing?

I’m doing great! I’m fresh out of university and currently in the Commercial Associate Programme at S&P Global Platts.

Wow congrats! Sounds like exciting times ahead. As you start work, do you feel like the UNI.CORN experience has benefitted you?

Personally, I found the entire UNI.CORN journey a rather fulfilling one that surpassed my expectations. One of my key takeaways was the importance of balancing the expectations of different stakeholders. My team of four had to juggle between what we could accomplish and what was expected of us. It helped stress the importance of effective communication and improved my multi-tasking abilities immensely. I did not think much about this back then, but as I progress through my current programme, I have come to realise its importance.

That’s great to hear. What do you think sets the UNI.CORN experience apart from the other internships out there?

I think it’s the autonomy and freedom you have to try to find salient issues and dissect the problem. Rather than just getting coffee or binding documents, you get to speak to different people and get your voices heard. Things move fast and the bank sees you as an asset rather than just another gear in the machine.

Shaun Ng, UNI.CORN+ Class of 2019

Hello Shaun! What’s up?

Hey! I’m currently in my final year at the National University of Singapore (NUS), pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science. Thankfully, school’s been smooth sailing with a nice mix of projects and theory modules. In my spare time I head out to do some photography and just be one with nature!

You graduated from the UNI.CORN+ programme not too long ago. Can you share your biggest takeaways from your experience?

Through the UNI.CORN+ internship, I learnt how important code architecture is in every project as it serves as the blueprint for the whole system. Communication between key parties, such as developers, users and project owners, is also very important. I was able to port these skills back to school when I’m doing projects now, and true enough, it makes the decision-making process much easier!

Another key takeaway is the ability to present myself in front of important stakeholders. We had the opportunity to present our ideas and share weekly status updates to senior management who will in turn, provide invaluable feedback I would not have gotten out of school.

Very cool! What do you think makes the UNI.CORN+ programme stand out from other internships out there?

I think it’s definitely the positive work culture. The like-mindedness of the team drives productivity and performance, while the mentorship provided showed strong support system and care. The recreational activities at DBS Asia X also created a fun workplace. The environment enhanced job performance and employees’ welfare, and that made my UNI.CORN+ experience different from previous internships.

Sean Chin, UNI.CORN Class of 2017

Hey Sean! What’s the latest with you?

I’ve joined the DBS Management Associate programme and I’m with the Private Banking function for my third rotation.

Wow, I guessed you really enjoyed your UNI.CORN internship with DBS then!

Yeah! The UNI.CORN programme exposed me to the cutting-edge banking industry and I found that really refreshing. The widened perspective I gained helped me to look at what I do everyday through the lens of a competitor more effectively. After all, better to disrupt ourselves than to get disrupted by competitors right?

Most importantly, the programme gave my team an opportunity to grow an idea in an incubated environment free of traditional preconceptions of banking. That helped us as well as the bank to prove what was possible.

Would you do the UNI.CORN internship all over again?

This goes without saying! The experience was one of the best in my university life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

Curious about what a day in the life of a UNI.CORN looks like? Let’s take a peek into a UNI.CORN’s diary to find out: