The business of sustainability

Growing up, Nuryanee Anisah’s family had always instilled in her the desire and duty to uplift those in need. That spurred the then Singapore Polytechnic Business Administration diploma student to co-found Commenhers — a social enterprise that focuses on reducing fabric waste in Singapore via upcycling and creating jobs for the socially disadvantaged.

Nuryanee (back row, second from right), with her team of seamstresses in their upcycled denim aprons, aspires to create social change.

To further specialise her skills as a young business owner, after completing her polytechnic diploma, Nuryanee decided to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree at NUS Business School while enrolling in NUS College (NUSC) to enjoy the diversity offered by a curated broad-based interdisciplinary curriculum at NUSC, NUS’ honours college.

These NUSC programmes struck a chord with the social entrepreneur – who has a passion for sustainability, especially the IEx courses, which will allow her to create impactful solutions for real-world community challenges.

A home away from home

Nuryanee (first row, third from left) on a site visit to the National Gallery as part of NUSC’s NGN2001F: Global Narratives course.

Describing the NUSC culture as friendly and nurturing, Nuryanee finds the faculty and staff very supportive of the students’ projects and endeavours.

A rich experience at Cinnamon Wing in University Town also offered the NUSC student an unforgettable rite of passage: residential life. Counting frequent pizza parties and zumba workouts with her Business or fellow Cinnamon Wing mates among some of her happiest NUS memories, Nuryanee recalls with fondness the scrumptious dining hall food and time spent bonding at the common lounge. “We would hang out at the lounge to study and eat our meals together at the dining hall. The rice and daal are delish!” she enthuses.

Marching to a different beat

While Nuryanee enjoys the vibrant NUSC experience, life has not always been sunshine and rainbows. Diagnosed with dyslexia at Primary One, Nuryanee shared that she could not read until she was in Primary Three and often struggled academically because of this challenge. But the silver lining in this cloud was how it has propelled her to become a much stronger person with a can-do attitude in life. She philosophises: “Looking back, I feel it is not a flaw to feel sad about. Instead, I have a creative bent I can be proud of.”

On advice she would give to facilitate greater awareness and understanding of those with learning disabilities, she advocates: “Don’t be too quick to judge, be open-minded and patient. Not everyone is quick or open to ask for help.”

In addition to her dyslexia, adjusting to the fast-paced campus life in Year 1 was one of the toughest challenges for Nuryanee. She credits NUSC’s Residential Student Life Manager Bianca Tham for being a strong pillar of support and always lending a listening ear: “My first semester got off to a shaky start, but Bianca was there to support me through my journey and be a sounding board to help me explore viable options as I shared my challenges. It was really heartwarming.”

The buzz on business

One of the turning points in Nuryanee’s journey as a student-entrepreneur happened when she decided to join the NUSC Entrepreneurship Club in Year 1. She delved enthusiastically into its activities and a few months later, she even stepped up to serve on their Executive Committee.

Compelled by a firm belief in the importance of supporting fellow fledgling entrepreneurs in both idea generation and knowledge sharing, Nuryanee hopes to contribute her own connections to widen the Club’s network. “I hope to bring in one of my own business partners to give a talk on sustainability. Since we are so close-knit, it is also easier to form closer ties and create a supportive community,” she adds.

Nuryanee (first from right) and her peers at a panel discussion with Founder and CEO of Invigilo Technologies, Vishnu Saran, an alumnus from NUS Engineering and NUS Overseas Colleges Silicon Valley Programme who shared about how he uses AI to improve workplace safety in high-risk environments.