His first PC took him months to save for, but offered lifelong lessons

Me&My Money

- Sue-Ann Tan

Buying his first personal computer ranks high among Mr Farooq Lone's fondest memories of his youth. He recalls saving up his allowance and taking summer jobs to make it happen.

But apart from satisfying the inner tech geek in him, that first big purchase in his life also taught him some valuable lessons.

Mr Lone, 41, says of the youthful endeavour: "It took months of discipline and careful budgeting, and finally making that purchase felt incredibly rewarding. That experience taught me the value of patience, planning and working towards a goal.

"It also planted the seed for how money, when managed wisely, can be a tool to unlock future possibilities — a mindset that later shaped my interest in investing."

This interest in finance and his passion for tech have served him well, taking him into the digital banking sphere and eventually landing him the role of chief executive of Grow with Singlife, a digital investment platform.

In school, he studied computer science — no surprises there which he says laid the foundation for his early career in technology and data analytics.

"My first official job was as a technology consultant, working on early-stage big data platforms, covering data analytics and digital campaign management. However, before that, I had smaller side gigs during my college years, mostly tutoring and helping with IT-related tasks," he says.

He then moved into the financial services sector, blending his technical expertise with business knowledge.

For instance, he led the launch and scaling of Digibank Indonesia at DBS Bank, which involved adapting Singapore's digital banking model to a new market while navigating cultural nuances and regulatory challenges.

All this might seem worlds away from his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut or scientist, exploring the "mysteries of the cosmos", in his words.