PUVAN RAJ MOHAN, CLASS OF ‘12
University attended: Software Engineering, General Assembly & BA (Hons.) Economics, Yale-NUS College
Current profession: Software Engineer at Thoughtworks
Meet Puvan Raj Mohan, a member of Class of 2012 who is currently a Software Engineer at Thoughtworks. He graduated from Yale-NUS College in Economics, a subject he had excelled in during his earlier studies. However, the liberal arts curriculum allowed him to explore diverse disciplines, including Computer Science.
After graduating, he worked in finance for two years, where his curiosity about technology grew. Teaching himself Python, he built small applications in his spare time and later enrolled in a part-time software development course to formalize his skills. His tech career quickly accelerated. He later joined a US-based startup, thriving in a fast-paced environment before being impacted by a tech downturn.
Undeterred, he upskilled and secured a Consultant role at Thoughtworks, where he develops client solutions and embraces growth opportunities. Now an established software engineer, he mentors aspiring career-switchers, offering the guidance he wished he had during his own journey.
Take us through your journey from your Yale-NUS College days pursuing Economics to becoming a software engineer today, and what are some challenges that you faced along the way?
When I first entered Yale-NUS College, I was firmly focused on pursuing Economics, a discipline in which I had consistently excelled while at GIS. However, due to the multidisciplinary nature of the liberal arts education that I received at Yale-NUS I was able to explore a diverse array of subjects, including History, Art, Literature, Psychology, and notably, Computer Science. Although Economics was my major, I discovered a significant interest in the problem-solving aspects of Computer Science during the course of my studies.
Upon graduation, I embarked on a career in finance, where I worked for two years. During this period, my interest in technology continued to grow. I began teaching myself Python, using my spare time at work to build small applications. This hands-on experience further fueled my enthusiasm for tech and ultimately led me to pursue a career transition into the tech industry. To formalise my skills, I enrolled in a part-time software development course, which I attended daily after work.
Making a career switch is inherently challenging, and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic further complicated the process. The job market was particularly tight, and I lacked direct work experience in the tech sector. Nevertheless, my self-initiated projects and persistent effort to build a portfolio demonstrated my commitment and capability to prospective employers and I eventually landed my first tech role at an independent app development firm and I haven’t looked back since.
Since transitioning into the tech industry, my career has been quite dynamic, spanning various roles and companies. Barely a year after starting out in tech, I was headhunted to join Singapore Power as a Senior Engineer. This was a significant move, as it marked my first experience leading a team of engineers. In addition to coding, I was responsible for managing and mentoring my team. The learning curve was steep, but the journey was incredibly rewarding.
Following my tenure at Singapore Power, I joined a US-based startup as one of the early engineers on the Singapore team. The work was both exciting and fast-paced (We were shipping new features almost weekly!), and I thoroughly enjoyed the challenges and the collaborative environment. However, the tech downturn last year led to downsizing, and I was laid off.
Despite the challenging job market, my commitment to upskilling allowed me to secure my current role at Thoughtworks as a Consultant. This position introduced me to new aspects of software development, as I was now creating solutions for clients. This required adapting to new ways of working and managing client expectations in addition to coding. Being a part of such a big company has also meant that I’ve been able to take advantage of several training and growth opportunities such as going for courses and attending conferences (I just got back from a product conference in London, which was really cool!).
Having established myself as a software engineer, I now dedicate some of my time to mentoring other career-switchers who are looking to break into tech. I strive to be the support system that was missing for me when I first made this transition.
What role did extracurricular activities or special programmes play in your overall experience at the school?
In GIS I was actively involved in football. Looking back, I probably spent more time on the football field than I did off it. Be it lunchtime football which was just complete carnage most of the time, or competing as part of the football team, some of my best times at GIS were on the football pitch. It was always nice to take a break from academics and sweat it out.
In 6th Form we were also involved in CSLA (Community Sports Leader Award) as part of the GIS Diploma at the time. This was my first foray into coaching and I remember just how nervous I was when I had to lead an entire PE class for a lesson (Mr Friendship’s primary class, and it was a basketball lesson). Little did I know that this experience would be the first of many for me as I ended up coaching the varsity football team when I was in college. In fact, I actually recently qualified as a personal trainer so I now actually coach people in addition to my full time job because I enjoy it so much, and who doesn’t love a little extra cash on the side?
Share your time at GIS, any fond memories? Feel free to mention friends and teachers names!
One thing that I’ll probably never forget is my first experience with inter-house football when I was in Year 9. This was a few weeks after I had first joined GIS after moving to Malaysia so I was new to everything. I was playing in goal for Queen against Sultan and the match had ended in a draw and it was down to penalties. We had scored ours and if I saved this one we’d come out top. I remember just deciding to dive to my right and hope for the best, and thankfully that’s exactly where the ball went so I managed to make the save. What a feeling!
How did GIS shape you to become who you are today?
GIS played a significant role in shaping who I am today. It emphasised the importance of a holistic education, balancing academics with extracurricular activities. GIS always gave me the sense that grades don’t define me and that gave me confidence to pursue my extracurriculars and non-academic passions.
Being part of a multinational cohort exposed me to various cultures and perspectives. This experience not only broadened my worldview but also taught me how to adapt and collaborate with people from different backgrounds. These lessons have been invaluable in both my personal and professional life, fostering adaptability, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills.
However I think the biggest thing is that I’ve made amazing friends during my time at GIS whom I’m still close to even today
What would be your best advice to current students who will be graduating soon?
Try Everything: Don’t be afraid to fail or make mistakes. In fact, embrace failure and make as many mistakes as you can, because that’s the best way to learn and grow. Every setback is an opportunity to gain new insights and develop resilience.
Pursue Your Passions: Remember that your degree doesn’t define you. It’s important to pursue your passions and explore different interests. Your career path may take unexpected turns, and that’s perfectly okay. Follow what excites and motivates you.
Internships Matter: Internships are crucial, so try to have at least a couple under your belt before you graduate. They provide valuable hands-on experience and can help you build a professional network while helping you figure out what you want to do post-graduation. However, don’t forget to enjoy your summer breaks. It’s all about balance. Work isn’t everything, taking time to relax and recharge is just as important as gaining work experience.
TLDR; be open to new experiences, pursue what you love, and find a balance between work and relaxation.
A huge ‘Thank You’ to Puvan, who generously shared their time and experiences with our students, despite their busy daily schedules.
If you are interested in sharing your journey post-GIS, then please get in touch with us at alumni@gardenschool.edu.my – We are always updating our page with news from the Alumni community across the continents and would love to hear from you and share your stories. Please get in touch via Facebook, or LinkedIn. We can’t wait to hear from you!