1314T2g1 South Korea/Participant Information/Quah Shu Ting, Rachel
About Rachel
Full Name: Quah Shu Ting, Rachel
Academic Year: 3
Degree: Information Systems Management
2nd Major: Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources
Past School Involvements: innovateIT'12 Team Host, APEX Business-IT Global Case Challenge 2012 Team Host, Project Koh Kor (OCSP) Fund Raising Head, Project iConserve 2012 (CSP) Human Resources Director, innovateIT'13 Human Resources Director
Interests: Business Technology, Children, Food, Languages, Cultures, Travel, People
Email: rachel.quah.2011@sis.smu.edu.sg
Facebook: Facebook Page
Why TSM South Korea?
What motivates you to join TSM?
I have always believed that the best form of learning is from experiences beyond textbooks or classroom lectures. Hence, TSM is an excellent chance for me to gain a multitude of experiences that I would not have been able to obtain in a classroom setting. Also, during my internship, I had the opportunity to intern at a local start-up company where my interactions with the founder has inspired me to learn more about entrepreneurship, of which TSM would allow me to interact and learn so much more about the processes and challenges from different entrepreneurs during the company visits. Further, I have heard so much from my seniors about what an experience TSM provides and how it can help provide greater insights into the technopreneurship world, affirming my belief that this is one TSM that should not be missed!
Why pick South Korea?
In less than a decade, South Korea has become well known internationally in the electronics and technology industry with Samsung and LG being in the Top 10 electronics brands globally. It would definitely be interesting and informative to learn about how these chaebols, or multinational conglomerate companies have grown to become a powerful influence and driving force behind South Korea’s economy.
Further, South Korea, most specifically, Daejeon, has also been dubbed the "Asia's Silicon Valley" with its booming number of start-ups in the recent years where the number of local start-ups doubled in just 4 years. I am extremely intrigued and interested to learn how Korean start-ups have managed to break through in a country that has previously been dominated by chaebols for decades.
Also, as you see in my list of interests stated above, I love learning about different cultures and South Korea is one country that has an extremely rich culture and tradition deeply rooted in the values and attitudes of their people. And it would be my first time to South Korea and I can just imagine all the food, culture and history that would come along with it! :D
Internship Opportunities
What types of internship opportunities interest you?
Although I have interned at both a large global and a small start-up company, I do not have as vast of a working experience as some others, therefore, I am very open to various internship opportunities should the door for it opens for me. Also, I believe that any internship can provide me with a great deal of learning experience and exposure and perhaps, even teach or help me realize things about myself that I may not even know about.
Any ideal firms (based in South Korea) that you wishes to join?
While my dream firms would include the giants LG and Samsung, my more ideal firm that I would wish to be a part of would basically be one that would allow me to learn and grow in a working environment that is different from what is found in Singapore, and hopefully, be able to give back to the business in a positive way.
Starting a Business
What types of business interest you?
I'm open to different businesses as my underlying interest is actually on business process and talent management (HR) which is a critical need for any business.
What plan do you have in starting a business? (list existing business)
While I do not have any existing business at the moment, ever since my internship, I have occasionally thought about starting up one, specifically in delivering a SaaS application to improve HR processes and provide HR solutions for all companies, including start-ups. However, I feel that I am currently lacking in much experience and knowledge, and thus, would like to gain some work experiences first before moving into the entrepreneurship world. Hence, being able to go for TSM would allow me explore these opportunities.
Past Experiences
Describe your past experience (entrepreneurship, or works in start ups etc)
Back in my polytechnic days, I participated in the FedEx Express/Junior Achievement Company Program which was a 12-week program that taught students about entrepreneurship and allowed us to put our lessons into practice by developing our own money-making business from the basic idea generation to the sales and execution. This was my first ever exposure to the world of entrepreneurship.
Then, in the summer of my second year at SMU, I did my internship in a local start-up company, where I learnt some of the ropes and saw experienced first-hand the workings of a small start-up compared to a large corporation.
And for my Final Year Project which my team and I currently are working on, we are building a Learning Management Portal for a local start-up social enterprise which would be used to provide training for secondary and junior college students in Singapore about social entrepreneurship.
