1819T2 Hong Kong/Participant Information/Gary Chua

HOME |

COURSE |

ITINERARY |

ROLE |

TEAM |

ORGANIZATION |

REFLECTION

About Gary Chua

SMU email: garychua.2016@sis.smu.edu.sg
LinkedIn: Gary Chua
Academic Year: 3
Degree: BSc Information Systems
2nd Major: Banking Processes & Technology
Interests: Fintech, Rugby, Aviation
Application for subsidy: Yes

Why TSM Hong Kong?

• What motivates you to join TSM?

This TSM will be beneficial for me to really understand how its like to be an entrepreneur. Having dabbled with a startup that failed miserably during my teenage years with a group of secondary school friends clearly shows how little experience I have about the inner works of a startup. Thus this failure actually motivates me to figure out the right way to get a start up going.

• Why pick Hong Kong?

Being involved with a community service project at the Crossroads Foundation in 2016 and moving on to leading the community service project in 2017 has increased my interest for the inner works of Hong Kong. Working closely together with the Crossroads Foundation and other beneficiaries has opened my horizon to the community service work that is done in Hong Kong. Having exposed myself to the community service side of Hong Kong has gotten me interested in the business side of the country itself.

On top of that, what perks my interest in Hong Kong is mainly the competition we have, especially in the financial sector. It will be interesting to see how the fintech startups in Hong Kong build on their ideas and push out products and overcome regulations put in place.

Starting a business

• What types of business interest you?

Businesses which utilise technology to optimise and improve operations intrigue me.

Especially fintech firms. The finance industry has been relying a lot on technology to value add to their operations. The key thing that I prefer to focus on would be technology that improves the general consumer's lifestyle.

• What plan do you have in starting a business?

I plan to focus on deviating from social norms and create an unforgettable experience for my clients. However, before I even come up with an idea, I feel it is imperative for me to learn the ropes of how to manage people.

Past Experiences (optional)

• SMU Gym Supervisor

In charge of 50 student trainers, handling the daily operations of the SMU Gym

I think this links to my previous point of learning how to manage people and handle working relationships between the students (my staff) and my superiors (SMU OSL Staff)

• Crossroads VI (Co-Leader)

Led a team of 17 to Hong Kong to carry out a community service project, aiding both the locals and refugees globally, ensuring vital supplies and aid can be sent to them through meticulous planning and use of optimal supply chains and existing resources in Hong Kong.

What keeps you ticking?

• The need to do continuous learning and be updated with the current affairs
• Focus on experiences and not products
• "Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm"

_{- Winston Churchill}