1. When Curiosity Ignited Passion

From a young age, I was deeply fascinated by how things work. Growing up, information was not as readily available as it is today, but that did not stop my curiosity. I was always eager to go the extra mile to read up on topics I was not familiar with. I believe that this early interest in understanding various systems naturally led me to the sciences and, eventually, engineering.

As I pursued my studies in engineering, I discovered that the structured and analytical approach to problem-solving resonated deeply with me. It was an affirmation that I had chosen a path that not only aligned with my interests, but also continuously challenges and engages my thought processes.

2. Powering Up With a Scholarship

When I was studying electrical engineering at NUS, I started thinking about the kind of career I wanted to build. That reflection led me to explore companies related to my field — and SP quickly stood out.

I’d always known SP as a household name, but it wasn’t until I learned more about its role in maintaining Singapore’s power grid that I realised how vital SP’s work truly is. When I discovered the SP Group Mid-Term Scholarship on BrightSparks, I decided to apply because it felt like a good way to set myself up with a clear path after graduation.

Receiving the scholarship gave me peace of mind to pursue academic excellence and enrich my university life through co-curricular activities. I also had the chance to connect with like-minded individuals who sharpened my technical acumen and supported my personal growth. An internship opportunity with SP gave me clearer insights on the company’s operations.

Upon graduation, joining SP’s Engineering Development for Graduates (EDGE) Programme helped me build both technical and soft skills. Within my first 1.5 years, I earned my certification in high-voltage switching — a milestone that allowed me to contribute directly to grid operations.

3. The Final Year Project That Broke My Laptop (But Built My Resilience)

My Final Year Project was one of the most memorable parts of university. Not only was it the culmination of my four years of electrical engineering education, but it was also an opportunity for me to put theory into practice.

My team and I worked on a data model of a battery to simulate its longevity and financial viability. The project gave me many opportunities to solve problems at every stage. It definitely wasn’t smooth sailing from the get-go! I remember breaking my laptop’s Graphics Processing Unit because I performed too many demanding simulations.

Despite the many challenges, the project taught me resilience, adaptability, conflict management, and problem-solving skills. The deeper appreciation for the collaborative and iterative nature of innovation cemented my passion for engineering.

Ryan Wei-En Ravichandran

4. Leading My First Major Power Restoration

One of the defining moments in my career was leading my first power restoration effort that was caused by a cable fault. I was the shift commander at the Distribution Control Centre (DCC), which oversees more than 12,000 distribution substations that make up part of Singapore’s electricity grid network. A network outage had occurred, affecting many customers — and I had to lead the team performing the restoration.

While we are all trained to handle various scenarios, I felt intense pressure as we raced against time to minimise the supply disruption to our customers. It was initially challenging for us to pinpoint the actual fault location, and we had to work together through multiple steps to progressively isolate and restore the system.

Thanks to the collective effort of the team, we were able to restore supply quickly and safely. That experience taught me an important lesson: in operations, no man is an island. Teamwork and open communication are vital when dealing with critical services.

Knowing that the work we do helps ensure the smooth running of essential services for Singapore has given me an immense sense of purpose.

5. Seeing the Bigger Picture

As I moved from working with my own team to engaging with senior stakeholders and business units with non-technical backgrounds, there was a progressive shift in my mindset. I realised that being an engineer isn’t just about technical expertise, but also about communicating effectively with different stakeholders to deliver against the company’s goals.

In October this year, I was nominated to be part of the organising team for the Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry (CEPSI), a premier energy event that brings together key leaders in the power industry. I was working behind the scenes with a diverse group of people to organise technical paper presentations from industry experts and researchers for over 200 shortlisted submissions. This project gave me the opportunity to work with people I otherwise would not have contact with, which expanded my skillsets with learnings from colleagues across different teams.

I’ve always believed in learning from the strengths of others. My journey in SP Group has given me the chance to meet a diverse range of experienced individuals — each of whom has taught me something valuable which I am truly grateful for.

Ryan Wei-En Ravichandran

SP Mid-Term Scholar

Senior Engineer

MSc in Power Engineering, NTU

BEng in Electrical Engineering, NUS