1718T2 Silicon Valley/Participant Information/XavierSee
Contents
About Xavier
SMU email: xavier.see.2015@socsc.smu.edu.sg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xaviersjh
Academic Year: Year 3
Declared Majors: Psychology & Strategic Management
One random fact: I enjoy watching Suits, Big Bang Theory & Friends :)
Applying for Subsidy: Yes
Positions: Currently Vice President Internal Affairs of Uni-Y SMU and previously Honorary Finance Secretary of Social Sciences Society.
Why TSM Silicon Valley?
- What motivates you to join TSM?
I have always wanted to visit USA, after watching so many American shows and being influenced by the Western culture. But more than that, I want to learn more about entrepreneurship from large reputable startups in the States and experience first hand what made them so successful.
Being a Strategic Management major, I am curious and interested about entrepreneurship and growth of companies. After pitching my business idea during one of my entrepreneurship module, I was excited to see how my idea could potentially be a reality given the right growth mechanisms. My professor was supportive of my idea and said he could link up with other Venture Capitalists for funding if I was keen. I believe this Study Mission will provide me with valuable insights and lessons that would come into handy.
- Why pick Silicon Valley?
Silicon Valley is famous worldwide for the number of popular startups booming from there. It is one of the most happening place and there is so much lessons one can take away from there. Founders of startups like Carousell were inspired after spending time at Silicon Valley, partly resulting in their innovative ideas and products today. I hope I too will be inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit in Silicon Valley
- Ideal role in the trip:
Photographer/Videographer :)
Starting a business
- What types of business interest you?
I am interested in App Development and Web Platforms, especially in utilizing them to connect people and make life easier for others.
- What plan do you have in starting a business?
I plan to develop a social networking application that brings strangers from around Singapore together over activities that everyone mutually enjoys. Users can either post events like movie outings that they are interested in, or they can join such events. The interface of the app would be modeled after Facebook, which would be more user friendly and familiar to most users, also differentiating itself from other apps with similar functions in the market.
Past Experiences
In 2016, I joined Social Sciences Society EXCO as the Honorary Finance Secretary. During my term, funds grew to almost 150% of the original amount the year prior. This is through obtaining good sponsors, strategic allocation of the budget and fighting for the funding through pitching during the bi-annual budget endorsement meetings. Apart from that, I have trained and recruited finance associates, presented monthly financial statements during internal meetings and provided counsel to the EXCO on financial spending. Currently, I am the Vice-President Internal Affairs of Uni-Y, in which I oversee the Finance department, together with Marketing & Publicity department, Recruitment department and Volunteers department. I continue to speak to sponsors to source for good opportunities for collaboration. In addition, I am responsible for organizing annual University-YMCA events. I collaborate with the various stakeholders of Uni-Y. Together with the other 2 Vice Presidents and President, we run the enterprise in hope of spreading social awareness of community service. i am also currently a Research Assistant at SMU SOSS since March 2017, in which my duties includes quantitative data handling and data collection.
I most recently did an internship at QuintilesIMS, a Fortune 500 American multi-national corporation and the world’s largest contract research organization by revenue. Although I did not handle data myself, I saw how big data could be utilized to provide health information insights for clients (pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer). It was inspiring and I learnt more about data analysis through that internship. Previously, I also did an MOE internship as an intern teacher at Coral Secondary School. Apart from classroom teaching, I volunteered to conduct a session on editing during an Infocomm Computer Club weekly meeting. Through the session, I have gained more skills on editing after receiving feedback from the students and I believe I am more equipped to take on the role of a photographer/videographer for this trip as editing is one of the skills listed in the requirements.
Others
What keeps you ticking?
Finding ways to impact and improve the lives of many
