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About Jerene

Name: Wong Pei Ling, Jerene

Academic Year: 3

Degree: Information Systems Management

2nd Major: Strategic Management

Hobbies/Interests: Travelling, Dance, Photography, Organising Events, Cafe-hopping

Past CCA/Involvement:Convocation 2013(Student Host), InnovateIT13(Team Host),Convocation Pre-Formal Segment 2012(Artiste Manager), APEX Biz-IT 2012(Sponsorship), BizCom- Freshmen Bash 2012(Marketing), SMU Bowling-Competitive

Current CCA/Involvement: SMU Gourmet Club(Events)

Facebook: facebook

Email: jerene.wong.2011@sis.smu.edu.sg| Email me

Why TSM South Korea?

What motivates you to join TSM?
It was said that “entrepreneurship is the best way for Singapore to survive in the next 50 years and it has to start in school”. However, entrepreneurship can’t be taught in class or learnt from textbook. It is a journey of exploration, risk-taking and learning from fellow like-minded individuals. With technological advancements and rising costs in Singapore, people are turning towards technopreneurship to keep up with the entrepreneurial spirit. However, the question is Singapore being a small country, with limited resources, how would we be able to create an economy of new business innovation and climb up the Global Innovation Index ladder? Being part of TSM would give me the opportunity to learn and explore beyond the shores on how companies like Korea has been successful in creating an IT economy with new business innovations, competing in the market with Japanese and European products. The company visits would give me a chance to learn from different aspects such as innovation development and fund-raising, providing an overview of what it takes for a firm to survive and operate. The key takeaways and experience from this module and trip would definitely allow me to contribute my knowledge and expertise to my family’s business and to the benefit of passionate, aspiring individuals.

Why pick South Korea?
South Korea started off as a small Asian nation, being one of the world’s poorest countries. However, it has accomplished a remarkable feat to become who she is as a reputable market leader in electronics, mobile communication and automotive today, which inspired me. I wish to know the key factors that contributed to her success in incorporating the technopreneurship spirit into its culture. It was said “the future is now in Korea”. Till date, companies in the Silicon Valley viewed South Korea as a place where they can get a glimpse of what Americans will use in the future, which clearly tells us how much it has grown over the past decades. Recently, I watched a video of the Tech in Asia Meetups of how Memebox bootstrapped to become a $1 Million Company. I was enthused by what he shared on his entrepreneurial journey and hope to physically experience the start-up scene in Korea.

Internship Opportunities

What type of internship opportunities interest you?
Opportunities to take on the role as a business analyst or project manager would be ideal. I am still open to other IT related roles where I can put the skills learnt into good use as I strongly believe that internship is a time for one to try out different roles and gain experience. Apart from that, I have always wanted to do an overseas internship as it will give me an enriching cultural experience such as learn about the working style and culture of companies in Korea and professional development to prepare me for the future and challenges ahead.

Any ideal firms (based in South Korea) that you wish to join?

Starting Business

What types of business interest you?

• Online Shop
• Web Design
• Media Related
• IT Solutions

What plan do you have in starting a business? (list existing business)
I have always wanted to set-up an online shop business. I do understand that there are many competitors out them but I strongly believe when you have the passion to do something and willing to take the risk, nothing is impossible. I am in the midst of discussing this business plan with my partners and transform this dream into reality.

Past Experiences

Although I don't have much experience in the entrepreneur field, I hope to gain more insights into the entrepreneurship scene. My main reason to pursue entrepreneurship is the burning desire to create value and make an impact in people's life. I always believe that we students are the entrepreneurs for tomorrow. The strong desire motivated me to participate in a competition with two friends to pitch our business idea to transform our idea into a successful start-up.

Entrepreneurs' Challenge @ NAA- Pathfinder
The eChallenge is a business plan competition, organised by University of Adelaide, together with the Entrepreneurship,Commercialisation and Innovation Centre which aimed to foster the successful development of new ideas into investment-ready, early-stage companies. It also stimulated innovation and entrepreneurship and created genuine commercial prospects. In a nutshell, our idea is to provide a web platform where young adults showcase their skill sets to market themselves to potential employers. It is a platform to promote a value network, give young adults the opportunity to earn money and gain experience from the completion of corporate projects and talent search for companies. We received favorable comments from the panel of judges during the competition and it was featured in the Straits Times a few months back.

FYP Project Transformed to a Start-up Business
Back in my polytechnic days, my team developed an integrated roster and leave management system for our client, Singapore General Hospital- Department of Anaesthesiology using PHP. The objective of developing this system is to help them transform from a paper-based system and adopt a new approach of scheduling rosters for their staff, improving their overall business process. We have received favorable feedbacks from our client and he has offered us to continue providing support for them. Hence, it has successfully grown to become a start-up company in providing IT solutions. Even though I chose not to be part of the partnership of this start-up company as I was not ready then, I still did provide advice and assistance at the early stage of the business.