2122T2 Silicon Valley/Participant Information/Kwak Yoon Joo

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About Kwak Yoon Joo

SMU email: yjkwak.2018@scis.smu.edu.sg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwakyoonjoo/
Academic Year: 4
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Information Systems, Business Analytics and 2nd Major in Data Science & Analytics

Why Virtual TSM?

• What motivates you to join TSM?

Entrepreneurship was something that I was always interested in, I like to jot things down whenever there is an interesting idea. There is just something about the word "Entrepreneurship" that makes your heart start pumping very fast. Beyond the successes of a business, I always looked up to my father who seemed to light up bright when he talks about his business. I have seen him struggle over the years and it was a rough ride for the family but he always said he never regretted his choice and loves what is currently doing and I really admire that side of him.

Entrepreneurship is also partly why I chose my major IS, so that I don't just stop at imagining "What ifs" but to have an actual ability to make the idea into reality, to have a technical background to tap on to come up with a solution myself. Before university, there was always a fear of the unknown (aka tech) but IS background has definitely changed the way I approach a problem or come up with an idea, to have the confidence that your "What ifs" are actually not that far away. That is why I think TSM would be very helpful, I want to channel the technical knowledge acquired to make my business ideas work.

• Where would you like to visit virtually?

Silicon Valley, Europe, and Hong Kong but always open to new places that I have never thought of before!

Starting a business

• What types of business interest you?

I am inspired by start-ups in the fintech, AI-related, and retail industries that have adopted innovative solutions, while ensuring sustainability. Having experience working in two start-ups with very different business models made me really interested to find out what determines the sustainability and survival of a start-up.

• What plans do you have in starting a business?

I am exploring disruptive business solutions, with a few ideas in mind. Having an idea is one thing but actually executing it is another, which I hope to learn a lot from TSM.

Past Experiences

• Work Experience:
  • Business Intelligence & Analytics Intern at SeaMoney(Aug 2021 - Present)
  • IT Collaborative Applications Intern at AET Tankers(May 2021 - Aug 2021)
  • Product Analytics Intern at GoBear(June 2020 - Nov 2020)

• Other initiative:
  • Adulting Challenge

Adulting Challenge is a student-led initiative aimed at educating undergraduates with financial knowledge to help them make informed financial decisions across Singapore. It is quite similar to a start-up at a very early stage. Spearheading a group of organizing committee to plan and execute financial literacy events to increase brand presence in the market was an exciting experience. It taught me that even if you have a good plan and great products to offer, those may not be enough to get the attention of your audience and stand out among your competitors, which I would like to learn more about through TSM.

What Keeps You Ticking?

There are many areas that require urgent help including poverty. If we are satisfied with where we are and the privileges we were given, that status quo will never change. With technology, we now have the actual power and hold the key to making concrete changes in this world. Since we are born into this world, might as well try everything we want to do and do it well, what is the point of hesitating when we are mere specks of dust in this mighty universe anyway. (Quarter-life crisis is real LOL)