1314T2g1 South Korea/Participant Information/Wong Kar Lin, Denise

About Denise Wong

Name: Denise Wong Kar Lin
Academic Year: 3
Degree: Information Systems Management
2nd Major: Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources
Interests: Wakeboarding, floorball, squash, golf, sailing, reading fiction books, literature(writing,poetry), knitting, trying new sports, meeting new people from different countries, camps!
Past CCA: InnovateIT13 (Event Director), WhiteHat Society
Current CCA: Wakeboarding, Floorball
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisewkl | facebook
Email Address: denise.wong.2011@sis.smu.edu.sg | Email me
Contact No: +65 9231 5974

Why TSM South Korea?

• What motivates you to join TSM?

I've never been to South Korea, it will be a new experience! Travelling there on TSM opens a lot of doors to visit places which we would not have access to otherwise, particularly the companies we will visit. I feel its in a once-in-a-lifetime chance that cannot be given up, not to mention the outside the classroom experiential learning.

The key thing I have taken with me since IS101 is that each company has their own problems and adaptations, there is on one fit solution or the perfect answer. Now, given a chance overseas at Korea as Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a major player among the world’s top exporting nations, I wish to experience first hand what are the actual challenges and difficulties a company faces and how technology solution was considered to be a solution to their problem.

• Why pick South Korea?

South Korea recently got a huge boost with the Hallyu (Korean Wave), however I believe that there is more to the country than just the plastic surgery and stars. Rather, having worked in a Digital Advertising Agency (Starcom Mediavest Group) during my internship, I think I admire the people who drive the entertainment industry more, the ones who brought South Korea and KPop to the world. Also, Korea being one of Asian's Four Tigers and the only industrialised country picked by Goldman Sachs in the Next Eleven, I would love to get to see first-hand and visit the companies that contributed to this robust economy and those the continue to be on the cutting edge of technology.

South Korea is also a country that has a rich history, going back all the way into BC years, which is amazing, compared to Singapore's meagre years. I would really like to visit historical sites and just simply soak in the culture and tradition that only time can nurture.

Internship Opportunites

• What types of internship opportunities interest you?

Positions as a business analyst or related to project management would be ideal, or an IT-related position where I can apply what we picked up in school. I would also be open to digital marketing/advertising related positions, though I do not have the background for it, only a basic understanding from my internship at SMG.

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

YG Entertainment! Just kidding. I would love to join the advertising agencies, or either Samsung or LG, they are key producers of a major consumer good everyone uses today - mobile phones. Particularly Samsung, they are currently one of the firms developing cutting edge mobile technology, it would be a huge privilege to get in on some of the action.

Another consideration would be the confectionery/hotels/theme park subsidiaries of Lotte Group. I believe that an insight into how IT aids in running the business would be an eye opener.

Starting Business

• What types of business interest you?
  

Media, retail, technological, gadgets related.

• What plan do you have in starting a business? (list existing business)
  

Planned

During my previous internship my boss threw out a lot of ideas for solutions that could possibly make lives of media professionals much easier either by integrating current existing platforms or moving away from legacy systems. I am still discussing which are the most feasible ideas with him before we move on to looking for a team to develop the solution.

1. Sqkii - a new advertising content delivery platform

Currently working in a start-up (Sqkii General Partnersip) to develop a new advertising platform called Sqkii that Agurz, Eleazar, Janan, Rafael, Nicholas and myself are developing as our FYP project under the team Dr Jean Labs.

2. WebFortitude - Web and Graphic Designing

Co-founded with fellow FYP teammate Rafael over summer, we offer web and graphic designing services such as posters, logos, print, websites, and namecards.

Do check out our website here

3. Office Niche Enterprise Pte Ltd (ONE) - Stationery and Office Supplies

ONE is a stationery import-export company that my mum and I set up together. I took charge of designing marketing materials like brochures, advertisements, The office is housed in the same place she is currently working at as a General Manager, her boss was kind enough to rent us some space at a much discounted price. We mainly supply to offices and bulk orders.

This was the old site(here) that I developed during my JC days which is currently in the midst of undergoing a revamp.

Past Experiences

• Describe your past experience (entrepreneurship, or works in start ups etc)

1. WONNG's Lifestyle Inc - Spa and Reflexology

This Spa was a venture that I started together with my mum and aunt in during one of my school holidays while i was in Secondary School. The outlet is located at 709 East Cost Road. I was involved in drafting spa packages for approval, advertisements, flyers, logistics, and looking for flyer distributors to help give out spa discount flyers. During the opening of the spa I also convinced them to bring in an Airbrush Tattoo artist to boost customer walk-ins - it could be an entire family outing to check out the new Spa in the neighbourhood. It worked well, many walk-in customers actually had kids who clamoured for a tattoo and their parents took turns taking care of the child while the other had a massage. Eventually though, because of the need to always be there every night and the late closing hours, we decided to sell off the business.

I believe the spa is still there though!

In a Nutshell

"A whole new world
Every turn a surprise
With new horizons to pursue
Every moment gets better

I'll chase them anywhere
There's time to spare" - A Whole New World, Aladdin

I really would appreciate the opportunity to visit companies and hopefully, an internship in Korea as I feel it will be a really enriching and interesting new experience that could give me more perspective on business in different markets.

Finally, Credits

Layout borrowed from Agurz Gary Leong