1516T2g1 South Korea/Participant Information/Dina HENG Li Gwek
Contents
About Dina
SMU email: dina.heng.2013@sis.smu.edu.sg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dina.heng.98
Academic Year: 3
Degree: Information Systems
2nd Major: OBHR (Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources)
Interests: Walking around cities, meeting new people and learning about the world!
Why TSM South Korea?
What motivates you to join TSM?
I have always loved Korea and what a better time than this to explore the startup scene in Korea. I truly believe that this trip will serve as a springboard for me to start my ambition as a social entrepreneur. I hope to start a company in the future when I have garnered enough experience.
Why pick South Korea?
I have been to South Korea before and honestly, I was fascinated by their advanced technology. I never imagined that they would so creative and innovative in their use of technology. From the RFID reader in restaurants to the online grocery shopping and Wi-Fi availability in the metro subway, they truly got me astounded. With this in mind, I hope to make full use of this trip by interacting with their people. I want to know their secret ingredient to their creativity and innovation.
Starting a business
What types of business interest you?
MNCs, Retail companies, Tourism companies
What plan do you have in starting a business?
I think networking is one of the most important ingredients in starting up a business. If you managed to get like-minded people to start working and investing in your idea, you are on your way to success. However, a lot of hard work has to be put in.
Past Experiences
Describe your past experience (entrepreneurship, or works in start ups etc)
Internship at a Fashion Startup
After my first year in SMU, I managed to find an internship online with the job scope that sparked my curiosity – Web Developer Intern. My biggest takeaway from this 3-month stint is that starting up is no easy feat. The process prior to starting up, starting up and delivering the goods to the customers’ hands requires A LOT of effort. I learnt that one has to be very hardworking and dares to take risk in order to build a successful career out of the startup.
Shopping Portal
This portal started out as a passion project in 2009. Just a couple of 18 year old girls with a desire to share our love for passion and earn a little extra pocket money. However, the support we got from our customers was so overwhelming that we could not continue the business as we had different goals in life. The portal was active till the start of university. Although we closed the business for good, the experience that we gained was invaluable. We met a lot of good people along the way and it was definitely an enriching experience.
What keeps you ticking?
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage”
- Lao Tzu
