2324T1 Tokyo/Participant Information/Rachel LIM Jo Ee
Contents
Template (COPY your page using the code below)
| HOME | | COURSE | | ITINERARY | | ROLE | | TEAM | | ORGANIZATION | | REFLECTION |
About Yourself
SMU email: rachel.lim.2020@scis.smu.edu.sg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheljoeelim/
Academic Year: Year 3 (2020)
Degree: BSc Information Systems (Major in Digitilisation and Cloud Solutions & Business Analytics)
Why Virtual TSM?
- What motivates you to join TSM?
In Year 2, I took IDP under Prof Ben and remembered him talking about his experience as an faculty instructor for TSM. His enthusiasm for the module sparked my curiosity. Afterwards, some of my friends also shared their TSM experience which further motivated me to apply for TSM. I recently read a news article[1] It celebrated the up and coming startup scene in Japan and particularly, Tokyo. I am excited to experience the enterprising spirit of the locals and fellow SMU peers in the 2324T1 Tokyo trip.
Furthermore, I embarked on an internship as a Product Management Intern at a startup, ZilLearn Inc (under the Kydon Group) last year. ZilLearn Inc is a B2B and B2C edutech company. This internship allowed me to experience the startup environment, which was fun and challenging. It was fun because the small team size encouraged flatter hierachy, open communication and teamwork. Yet, it was challenging because we had to balance growth and resources. I sincerely hope to tap on this experience to further my understanding and appreciation of entrepreneurship/startups through TSM.
- Where would you like to visit?
Wow, there are various places I hope to visit, but the top 3 are:
- Eigooo: Since my internship was at an edutech startup, I hope to visit Eigooo, a Tokyo-based startup that helps Japanese English learners practise the language with teachers through a text chat app
- Meiji Group: I have a fond memory of Meiji Group (Their fresh milk products were my sole favorite milk to drink)
- Kitchhike: I love food and I stumbled upon Kitchhike, a platform that connects travellers to locals who open their homes to serve home-cook meals. It functions like an AirBnB for home-cooked meals). How cool is that? And yummy :)
Starting a business
- What types of business interest you?
From the places I would like to visit, I believe you can sense that I am interested in the F&B and Edutech industry. Just as how I remembered Meiji Milk to be my favorite milk product, I feel that food brings joy to people and creates memories. For Edutech, my internship has allowed me to appreciate the value of delivering online education. This was because a project I participated involved delivering a B2B edutech product for a Malaysia Company to increase access of online education in Malaysia.
- What plans do you have in starting a business?
I always dreamed of opening a sake (japanese alcohol) ice cream business but did not know how to start. Hence, I hope the TSM experience can provide me the networking and learning opportunity to kickstart this dream after graduation.
Past Experiences (optional)
- ZilLearn Inc: Product Management Intern (May-Jul'22)
- Accenture: Incoming Analytics Practioner Intern (May-Aug'23)
- Champion Team of the Scale Up Nation 2023 (A Case Challenge organized by UOB-SMU Asian Enterprise Institute)
- Representing Markaids, a food ingredients business based in Malaysia, I led my team through the ideation of a go-to market strategy to introduce their new snowskin mooncake powder to Southeast Asia.
- My team advanced through 3 rounds: Preliminary, Semi and Finals (6 Jan to 30 Jan'23)
