2324T1 Tokyo/Participant Information/Jowett Chng Kai Cheng
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SMU email: jowett.chng.2020@scis.smu.edu.sg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jowett-chng/
Academic Year: Year 3 (2020)
Degree: BSc Information Systems (BA & DCS) & Msc Computing (Software & Cyber-Physical Systems)
- What motivates you to join TSM?
As I near the completion of my studies at SMU, I find myself pondering my future career goals and aspirations. Among the various exciting areas that I wish to explore, the world of start-ups and entrepreneurship has always intrigued me. I am fascinated by how this dynamic industry is constantly evolving and innovating across different cultures and markets, creating new opportunities for growth and development.
My interest in exploring the start-up culture in different cultures stems from a desire to gain valuable insights into different work cultures, management styles, and the various areas of the technology sector that they are innovating in. By immersing myself in different entrepreneurial ecosystems, I believe that I can expand my horizons and acquire a better understanding of the global business landscape.
Singapore's start-up ecosystem has been growing rapidly in recent years, with a supportive government, a highly skilled workforce, and a thriving innovation culture. However, I am aware that the start-up scene in other countries can be quite different. For example, in some cultures, the emphasis may be on building strong personal relationships and networks, whereas in others, there may be a greater focus on individual achievement and innovation. By understanding the unique characteristics of different cultures, I believe that I can learn how to adapt and thrive in any entrepreneurial environment.
Through this experience/opportunity, I am excited to gain first-hand experience in the start-up culture of different countries, broaden my perspectives and apply them to my future career aspirations. I believe that by immersing myself in the world of start-ups and entrepreneurship, I can develop my skills and knowledge, and contribute to the growth and success of this vibrant and dynamic industry.
- Where would you like to visit?
Tokyo:)
- What types of business interest you?
I'm fascinated by technology companies, specifically those platform ones that cause disruption, creating a new market instead of focusing on existing competition (quote from Blue Ocean strategy - Renée Mauborgne and W. Chan Kim). Companies such as Uber and Airbnb are examples. Uber disrupted the taxi industry by solving the pain points of consumers which are unfixed prices and lack of immediate service. They essentially created a de facto standard for the rest of their competitors with their technology. Hence I'm interested in technology-driven solution type of business
- What plans do you have in starting a business?
In 2020, I founded WebBricks (https://webbrickssg.com/), a development startup based in Singapore, which grew to five digits within the first year. It was because of the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic I realised that there were an increasing number of new companies with new innovative concepts and ideas but needed more technical expertise to bring them to life. That's where WebBricks comes in. We are pivoting from development as a service to a product as a service business model, as it provides more scalability. Will be more than happy to discuss more, not over the wiki page due to confidentiality.
Experience in Start Ups:
- Webbrickssg Solutions Pte Ltd (https://webbrickssg.com/), does development as a service - Founder: me. Aug '20 - present
- Fidor Bank (Germany, Munich) provides online banking services - Software Engineer Intern. Founders: Steffen Seeger. Oct '17 - Mar '18
Internships (MNCs):
- Bank of New York Mellon - Full Stack developer. Jun '23 - Aug '23 (Incoming)
- Shopee - Technical Project Manager Intern. Aug '22 - Jan '23
- Dell Technologies - Cloud Native Architect and Developer. June '22 - Aug '22
CCA:
- SMU Business Analytics and Intelligence - Head of Professional Development. Apr '22 - Apr '23
- Google Student Development Club - Technology Executive. '21 - '22
- Fomo Freshmen Orientation 2021 - Human Resource Director. Mar '21 - Sep '21
Academic Achievements
- Dean's List AY2021-22
- Dean's List AY2020-21
- Aspiration Scholarship Award
- Fast-Track Msc Scholarship Award
