After nearly a decade at a multinational company, Pascal Elias faced one of the toughest chapters of his career. A leadership change upended his trajectory, and despite leading a cost-saving initiative that saved the company over $300,000, his efforts went unrecognised. “I could deliver results, uphold integrity, and still be sidelined,” Pascal recalls. “That moment crystallised something for me—I realised I wanted to build something of my own, where culture, purpose, and performance were aligned.”

Rather than letting adversity define him, Pascal decided to let it refine him. Drawing on years of experience in corporate innovation and strategy, he took a bold step into entrepreneurship—launching L’Aigle Innovations, a company focused on helping organisations unlock scalable value through AI-driven, agile solutions.

“Large enterprises often struggle to innovate—not because of a lack of ideas, but because of rigid systems and outdated mindsets,” he explains. “At L’Aigle Innovations, we’re building a culture where agility is more than a buzzword—it’s a mindset.”

To bridge the gap between vision and execution, Pascal enrolled in the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP): NUS Startup Founder — Launch and Manage a Business Successfully at NUS Business School Executive Education.

 “The NUS SCTP gave me the structure and confidence to turn my ideas into a viable business,” he says. “Learning how to craft compelling pitch decks and communicate value propositions effectively was a game-changer. It equipped me with the tools and clarity I needed to engage investors and lead my startup’s early operations.”

Today, Pascal is building a lean, values-driven organisation—and giving back to the ecosystem by hiring NUS interns under the Student Work Scheme. Through this collaboration, L’Aigle Innovations offers hands-on opportunities in business development and embedded systems engineering, creating a win-win environment where students gain real-world experience while contributing to cutting-edge innovation.

Reflecting on his journey, Pascal offers this advice to other mid-career professionals:

“Don’t wait for the perfect moment—create it. Your experience and resilience are your greatest assets. Start small, take deliberate steps, and let your purpose guide you. The clarity and confidence will follow.”