1718T2 Silicon Valley/Participant Information/ClaraChong

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About Clara

SMU email: clara.chong.2014@socsc.smu.edu.sg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clarageous
Academic Year: Year 4
Degree: Social Sciences (Psychology)
2nd Major: Corporate Communications
Right place, Right time: I am an aspiring tech entrepreneur and I was already planning to go Silicon Valley for my grad trip to check the scene & build networks when this opportunity presented itself so I'm very excited :")!
Currently: Interning at a Tech Startup that does apps for automobiles + Doing a Psychology Thesis to be ready for publication next year + being a regular student (yes, I'm like Hannah Montana, living a double life of studying and working at the same time :P) + A Teaching Assistant for my Professor for 2 years now + Leading a Cell Group in church for 5 years now + maintaining my First-Class honours in time for graduation (: + too blessed to be stressed (my mantra)
I know my schedule sounds crazy, but I find everything I do very meaningful and I love being busily purposeful;))

Why TSM Silicon Valley?

• What motivates you to join TSM?

For the longest time, I've known that being an entrepreneur was a career path that I'll eventually take. Many factors contribute to this:
1. My dad is a successful entrepreneur in China and my role model in terms of my career aspirations.
2. I am currently enjoying very much my internship at a tech startup that has been operating for 5 years now doing UX Design, learning various tools and more about the industry and thus far, I sense that the tech industry esp in Silicon Valley is where I'm heading towards.
3. I like that the tech industry is always evolving at a fast pace because as a wise senior once told me, "the tech industry is a constantly changing landscape and you can jump in at any point and pick up from there and possible make a difference."
4. Literally, this opportunity dropped at a point in my life that couldn't have been more timely because I was already planning to go and I think that I'll learn a lot from TSM SV compared to going there by myself.

• Why pick Silicon Valley?

My *really far and ideal* future goal is to migrate to California, possibly Silicon Valley to start my company there. In the near future, I intend to take a MBA or a specialised Tech grad programme (hopefully at Stanford) or any of the colleges in California. Furthermore, I've been doing my research about incubator programs in SV and i intend to apply for some in the future. Basically, the question to ask is, why not pick Silicon Valley? ;P To me, it is the perfect place to learn about the tech industry (:

Starting a business

• What types of business interest you?

Currently, my specific interests are in the Media and Comms Tech industry - businesses that transforms social interaction over technology. Nonetheless, I am generally interested in companies that want to make an impact on the world via technology.

• What plan do you have in starting a business?

I have a close friend who is a developer and doing the NUS NOC Programme in Israel. We are thinking of taking the next year to develop our business ideas (we have a few ideas for the travel and comms industry) before pitching them to VCs in the future. I also could see myself working for more tech companies first and then starting my own company when I have more experience in the tech industry. But my friend and I eventually would like to start our own tech company together.