Next Steps Future-Ready Summit Prepares Learners for Life Beyond Nexus

As part of our Careers and University Guidance programme, all Year 10 learners at Nexus International School (Singapore) take part in our 3-day Next Steps Future-Readiness Summit. But what is it and how does it help prepare our learners for higher education and, ultimately, life in the workplace? Duncan Shiel, Deputy Head of Secondary, and Shoaib Raza, Director of Digital Learning and Entrepreneurship, share their thoughts on this year’s Next Steps event. 

Developing Skills That Aren’t Usually Taught

Next Steps takes place over three days and encompasses a range of workplace experiences. This year, as in previous years, we welcomed Young Founders School (YFS) who ran a tailored bootcamp event, offering learners an immersive experience where they worked with mentors to design, validate and pitch a commercially viable start-up. Duncan Shiel, who helps co-ordinate the Next Steps event, shares “the YFS is an incredible organisation with an inspiring vision and mission. Every year, we are overwhelmed by the quality of instruction and mentorship they offer our learners.”

Shoaib Raza, who also helps co-ordinate Next Steps, adds: “The annual YFS bootcamp creates a rare bridge between theory and reality, where learners move from discussing ideas to testing them in authentic contexts with real stakes.” 

Each of our Year 10 learners were assigned to a team and tasked with creating a product or service that addressed a real-world problem, in just a few hours, before they pitched and presented it to business experts and investors. One of the mentors, who works as a Finance Director, shared how valuable it was to watch “young teens collaborate, challenge each other, and grow in real time before stepping up to present ideas with a conviction that genuinely impressed…These learners did not just present, they reasoned, they listened, and they backed each other. Every single idea on the stage had real merit.” 

Designing an App in a Day

The winners of the Young Founders Bootcamp were Omni Home, made up of Year 10 learners Leonardo, Brian, Jacob, Josh and Mathias. Their app, designed to seamlessly integrate multiple smart home systems, wowed the judges. Priding themselves on simplicity, they designed both software and a physical product, showcasing their innovation and entrepreneurial mindset. The learners shared how they really appreciated their two mentors who “really helped guide them through the process.” The bootcamp, in their opinion, helped them “gain the knowledge and ability to find ideas and solutions” while introducing them to “the world of business, teaching us about work ethic and how to handle situations under pressure.”

Mr Raza emphasised how the intensity of the bootcamp environment is a “defining feature, with learners working under meaningful pressure, thinking on their feet and staying solutions focused, all while being guided by mentors who lead major organisations and bring incredible real world experience.” He adds: “The programme develops an objective-led mindset, where learners begin to think in terms of value creation rather than task completion.” For him, this approach to entrepreneurship “empowers young people to rise to challenges.”

One of the YFS mentors noted how the whole experience “actively created space for learners to think differently and develop skills that aren’t usually taught. They are preparing our future leaders in the most practical way. It’s not just about grades.”

Gaining Invaluable Interview Experience

The momentum built during the Young Founders Bootcamp continued into the final two days of the Next Steps Future-Readiness Summit, where the focus shifted to invaluable interview and industry exposure. We were joined by over 40 industry professionals—many of whom are Nexus parents—to host expert panels, conduct mock interviews, and facilitate career conversations. Year 10 learners secured real-world insights from diverse fields, including healthcare, law, business, and technology, amongst others. Mr Raza explains “the calibre of our interviewers is exceptional; many lead large teams that span regions and continents. This brings a level of authenticity and challenge for our learners.”

Following weeks of CV preparation and advice on public speaking, learners stepped into mock job interviews to put their newly acquired skills to the test. Each learner then received personalised feedback and actionable advice on presenting themselves with confidence and clarity in a professional setting. Reflecting on the long-term value, Mr Shiel noted: “For many of our learners, this was their first experience with a formal interview; however, this will be the last time it is their first time. When they move on to high-stakes interviews for university or employment, they will be so much stronger for the experience and feedback they received from our volunteers.”

From Deloitte to DHL: A Day in Industry

To cap off the week, our Year 10 learners immersed themselves in a full day of hands-on industry experience. They explored diverse sectors, including Professional Services & Logistics, Education & the Arts, Automotive & Tech, and Culinary & Hospitality. Some groups toured major companies like Hyundai and DHL to observe the real-world impact of advanced technologies such as robotics and electric cars on their industries. At the same time, other learners visited industry leaders like the Capitol Kempinski and Deloitte, gaining perspective on the complexities of running a business at scale. Mr Shiel shares how it was “particularly interesting this year to hear how the entrepreneurial skills taught by YFS are transferable to almost all sectors our learners may wish to explore in the future. DHL, in particular, shared how their approach to innovation matches so closely the spirit of the startups YFS showcased to us.”

What really stood out this year was the sheer range of experiences on offer. Mr Raza notes a particularly powerful takeaway for learners being the realisation that many professionals were not certain of their path when they were in Year 10. He shares, “I could see that this helped reframe potential uncertainty as part of the journey, rather than something to fear.” 

Bridging the Gap Between School and Work

The Next Steps Future-Readiness Summit is explicitly designed to bridge the gap between academic study and the practical, shifting demands of the modern workplace. By providing dynamic environments where learners can practice entrepreneurial thinking, refine professional communication skills, and gain tangible industry awareness, we ensure they are well-equipped not just for higher education applications, but for successful, impactful careers beyond Nexus. The dedication and enthusiasm shown by the Year 10 cohort throughout the three days affirmed their readiness to engage confidently with their future plans, wherever that may be.

A final, huge thank you is owed to the Young Founders School, our committed mentors, expert panellists, partner companies, and all volunteers. Their support was instrumental in inspiring our learners and providing an invaluable, real-world experience that they will undoubtedly carry forward into their futures. Both Mr Shiel and Mr Raza highlighted the vital role of our school community. “The involvement of parent volunteers adds a layer of authenticity that cannot be replicated, giving learners direct access to lived experience across a wide range of industries.” 

The feedback from mentors about our learners has also been exceptionally positive. Noelia Novella, a Nexus parent who is also a YFS mentor alongside her role as CEO at DOINN, shared “there’s no way we would have been able to do this at 15. Seeing my son among the learners made me especially proud of the decision we took to move to Asia four years ago.” Mr Raza added that one of the most common reflections from the YFS mentors was that “I wish my school had offered this.”

Want to learn more about how we prepare learners for life after Nexus? Read more about our Careers and University Programme here.