From Singapore boardrooms to Stanford alumni events, Paul Bernard has spent over 25 years building bridges across Asia’s business landscape while maintaining deep ties to Stanford. He currently serves on the advisory board of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, which promotes evidence-based knowledge about economic issues. As an active GSB alumnus, Paul fosters connections by contributing content for alumni events in Singapore and speaking at them himself, while also mentoring fellow alumni. Paul’s involvement has inspired his former classmates both professionally and personally. “I deeply admire Paul’s unflagging dedication and commitment to the things that matter most to him, whether it’s in his professional or his personal spheres of influence,” says Joanna Ng, ’98, MBA ’04.
Paul has lived and worked in different parts of Asia for over a quarter century, ultimately moving to Singapore in 2011. He spent 19 years with Goldman Sachs, where he led the Asia Energy and Chemicals Research Team and served as co-director of Asia Pacific Investment Research. He was a member of Goldman’s Asia Management Committee and its first chairman of diversity for Asia. Since retiring as partner, Paul has become an early-stage private investor and advisor or board member for numerous companies and institutions, such as the Leadership Board of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT.
Whether guiding major institutions or supporting smaller organizations, Paul demonstrates that true leadership extends far beyond the boardroom. At Hong Kong Academy, he was a board member and founding chair of their finance committee. He also served on the board and chaired several investment and finance committees at Singapore American School. He and his wife, Shirley Fung, are passionate supporters of research for Autism Spectrum Disorder and related neurodevelopmental disorders. “Paul embodies the values and the mission of the GSB to pursue excellence while having a long-lasting positive impact on the individuals, the communities, and the organizations with which he has been/is involved,” Joanna says. For Paul, success has always been measured not just in financial returns, but in the lasting relationships and positive change he helps create.
