Brandon Lew

Brandon Lew did not begin his career with a corporate ambition or a carefully mapped plan. He studied English Literature at university, enjoyed the outdoors, and was drawn to a simple, rugged way of life. While many of his peers pursued structured graduate roles, Brandon knew early on that he wanted to be an instructor at Outward Bound Singapore (OBS). The appeal was not status or pay, but meaning, camaraderie, and the opportunity to develop people through experience rather than theory.

After graduation, Brandon waited patiently for OBS’s demanding selection process, taking on temporary work in the meantime. The selection was intentionally brutal. Candidates were tested physically and mentally through survival exercises and prolonged sleep deprivation. Brandon went close to 48 hours without sleep. The real test was not endurance alone, but the ability to function, lead, and perform under pressure. He passed the selection and began what he would later describe as the best job of his life.

As an OBS instructor, the outdoors became his office. Long days, physical exhaustion, and unpredictable conditions were routine. Yet Brandon looked forward to work every day and recorded zero absenteeism over more than three years. The work was tough but meaningful. He valued the camaraderie, strong supervision, and sense of purpose. Those years grounded him deeply. He learned that confidence is built through repeated exposure to difficulty, and that early career grounding matters more than early titles or rapid promotions.

After several years, Brandon sensed it was time to move on. Not because he disliked OBS, but because he wanted more—even if he could not yet define what “more” meant. Management roles within OBS did not appeal to him, and opportunities to expand further were limited. Rather than wait, he chose to create his next chapter.

His transition to Raffles Junior College (RJC) came naturally. What began as part-time work evolved into a full-time role when the school decided to develop experiential learning programmes that brought students beyond the classroom. Brandon’s OBS background translated well. This phase reinforced an important lesson that would repeat throughout his career: Part-time roles often provide a low-risk pathway into meaningful full-time opportunities.

Determined to broaden his exposure further, Brandon decided to enter the corporate world. The transition was not smooth. He faced multiple rejections and blunt feedback that he was “not suitable.” Still, he persisted. Eventually, he joined HP Enterprise Services in a Learning and Development role. At the offer stage, he was selected over a more experienced candidate—not because he demanded more, but because he was enthusiastic, sincere, and realistic about his value at that stage. HP marked the beginning of his formal HR career and his move into a structured corporate environment.

After HP, Brandon made a misstep by joining a small consulting firm. It turned out to be a poor fit. The business lacked clarity, structure, and strong leadership, and relied heavily on a single anchor client. Within a short period, Brandon experienced being hired, fired, and rehired as a part-timer. The episode was painful but instructive. It taught him not to rush decisions, to understand the business model and cash flow, and to pay close attention to leadership quality—especially in small organisations.

What followed was a period of deliberate resilience. Brandon approached jobhunting with discipline. He went for many interviews, embraced rejection, and networked unapologetically. He exercised intensely, kept learning, and refused to project desperation. Interviews became practice rather than judgment. Over time, clarity returned.

Brandon then moved into broader HR leadership roles, including senior positions at T-Systems Singapore. There, he took on responsibilities across HR operations, people strategy, and organisational development. His scope expanded across functions and geographies, sharpening his ability to operate in complex environments and to influence beyond the HR function. These years marked a shift from specialist work to enterprise-level leadership.

Today, Brandon is in his latest HR leadership role at Ocean Network Express (ONE), a global shipping company. Working in a highly operational, cross-cultural organisation, he applies the lessons accumulated over his career—from grounding and grinding in his early years to leading at scale. The environments have changed, but the principles have not.

Brandon’s career is not defined by rapid leaps, but by steady progression anchored in self-awareness and integrity. One piece of advice from a former CHRO has stayed with him: “Always say the same thing in two rooms.” For Brandon, consistency and integrity are non-negotiable, especially under pressure.

Looking back, he believes his early years as an outdoor instructor remain his greatest advantage. In a world obsessed with speed and early success, Brandon’s story reminds us that careers, like endurance journeys, are built through stamina, repetition, and the courage to stay grounded before reaching higher ground.