Rector’s Tea Series: A conversation on resilience in finance and life

This semester marks the last of the long-running Rector’s Tea series that has brought many inspiring individuals to engage with Yale-NUS students on diverse topics. Those featured in this semester’s line-up of speakers are: entrepreneur Audrey Tan, visiting faculty Professor Charles Bailyn and Senior Lecturer Dr Rebecca Tannenbaum, alumna playwright and filmmaker Anna Evtushenko (Class of 2017), and an upcoming session by Dean of Yale College Professor Pericles Lewis.

On 19 February 2025, this semester’s Rector’s Tea series kicked off with a talk by entrepreneur Audrey Tan who spoke about the importance of equipping young people with the financial skills and emotional resilience necessary to navigate through uncertainties, especially as our students prepare for life beyond College. Tan, a social entrepreneur and advocate for financial literacy, shared insights on her journey as the co-founder of PlayMoolah, a financial education platform that seeks to reshape the way young people engage with money.

Tan’s talk focused on the intersection of financial literacy and emotional resilience, highlighting how financial stress is deeply connected to mental well-being. She traced the origins of PlayMoolah to her own experiences as a student at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where she became aware of her spending habits and how financial behaviour is influenced by generational, societal, and educational factors. This awareness deepened when she had the opportunity to study at Stanford through the NUS Overseas College (NOC) programme, where she observed stark cultural differences in financial management between Singapore and the United States. She and her team realised that financial literacy was a universal challenge, rarely addressed in formal education, yet essential for navigating adulthood.

In discussing the evolution of PlayMoolah, Tan detailed how the company, though initially focused on educating children, recognised that parents played a critical role in shaping financial behaviours. Over time, their programmes expanded to serve a broader audience, incorporating interactive modules and personalised financial profiling tools. Tan also addressed the emotional dimensions of financial anxiety, acknowledging how uncertainty about career prospects and financial stability can weigh heavily on young adults.

One of the most striking moments in her talk was her reflection on her time in Indonesia, where she witnessed extreme poverty first-hand. This experience reinforced her belief in the importance of financial education, particularly for marginalised communities. She emphasised the need for entrepreneurs to remain grounded in their mission despite challenges, highlighting the importance of resilience, teamwork, and staying true to one’s values.

During the Q&A session, attendees engaged in a lively discussion about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and the challenges of sustaining a social enterprise.

One of the attendees, Rachel Handoko (Class of 2025) expressed appreciation for Tan’s insights, particularly in light of the uncertainty many final-year students face as they prepare to enter the workforce. “The market and financial situation are very uncertain, and for all of us approaching graduation, that uncertainty is doubled,” she said. “Audrey’s talk provided a framework for thinking about financial stability but also reassured us that learning and making mistakes are part of the process.”

Rachel also reflected on her own experience interning in impact investing for women, linking it to Tan’s emphasis on financial literacy as a tool for empowerment. She noted that financial education is often gendered, especially in developing countries. With women historically excluded from financial decision-making, initiatives like PlayMoolah are especially significant regionally. “Without the right financial literacy tools, many women are left unable to take full control of their financial futures,” she observed.

Reflecting on the journey of hosting these sessions over the years, Rector Khoo Hoon Eng shared how the sessions have been a labour of love. She wanted to bring in people who had passion and vision, people who weren’t afraid of challenges but instead worked through them with resilience. “It was never just one person’s effort — it was always a group effort, working together with people who shared the same passion.” She added, “I hope that these talks have left an impact on students as they step into the world. I wish I had learnt about topics such as financial emotional resilience when I was younger.”