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extracurricular

A 6k startup

I have an obsession with three childhood beverages: Yakult, orange juice and herbal tea. I cannot help but treat Yakult like a daily source of water due to its sweet and fresh cooling aftertaste. Having been advised by my parents to cut down as too much of a good thing is bad, I couldn't tame my addiction such that they refused to buy me. As such, I was determined to earn my own money so I could secure my daily nourishment. I then repurposed the Yakult bottles into DIY octopus toys by applying acrylic paints. Selling to my primary schools for 5k VND, i.e. 20 US cents, I managed to keep in touch with Yakult in 1 term with the money I first ever earned. My dad's orange juice, another daily detox drink, is also my favorite drink. I made my way to Singapore and willingly purchase $1.5 USD for a vending machine orange juice cup to maintain a childhood habit that my dad nurtured.

Another of my season favorite is my mom's herbal tea. She used to ride me around to buy the herbal leaves and make it from scratch, as such it amazingly satiated my tastebud. I wonder what's better than a cooling herbal tea in a scorching summer day in Vietnam. Hence, summer 2015, wanting to share my mom's great recipe and perhaps dissipating the summer heat, the idea of selling it to the neighbors came across my mind. Born into a family of two accountants and now raising up 2 elder sisters majoring in business, at that time my parents and sisters really entertained my ideas and supported the business. My dad was in charge of securing the logistics: the bottles and straws. My mom would be the producer that delivered the soul of the business with her outstanding taste. My sisters and I would be the at the end of the manufacturing chain: packaging, selling and marketing. With 6k VND, i.e. 25 cents USD, a bottle, my very first few customers were my neighbors. The quantity sold exponentially rose and reached 300k VND at the end. Even though there was little revenue earned, I really learn the management of a small vendor and the value of the money. To me, most importantly is that ordinary interest can think big, do big!

Pleave start-up

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During the Junior Achievement Entrepreneurship Programme, I served as the President of a student-led start-up named Pleave, student-led business whose mission is to reduce single-used plastic and raise environmental stewardship, aligning with the UNSDG 12 "Responsible Consumption and Production". mission is to reduce single-used plastic and raise awareness about environmental stewardship through selling bracelets and cupholders handmade from weaving recycled plastic.

Utilizing the elasticity of plastics while refining its delicacy, Pleave converts flimsy plastic bags into strengthened yarns to be weaved into colorful bracelets and cup holders. After experimenting with the Design Thinking framework, Pleave successfully operated three sales, managed to earn a profit of $270.10 and clinched the"Best Annual Report" award in the JA Company of the Year 2024. To complete our mission, Pleave donated $150 to the Singapore Environment Council. From this phenomenal journey, I learn to look at problems on both macro and micro scale and to jump on the bandwagon to market the products. As the President, I reckon the importance of welfare, communication and teamwork in engaging my colleagues. During the JA Company of the Year, I really immersed myself in not only pitching our innovations and start-up journey to judges but also networking with students whose companies' products also deliver significant solutions to world issues. Although Pleave has gone into liquidation as part of the Programme, the entrepreneur spirit that wants to build a difference to humanity lives on.

Economics Events

As a member of the Hwa Chong Economics Moderators, I have had valuable exposure to key figures from both industry and government through volunteering at major events. These experiences allowed me to engage with and learn from distinguished individuals such as Lee Hsien Loong at the 69th ESS Annual Dinner and Professor Jeffrey Sachs, whose insights broadened my understanding of global and local economic challenges. Listening to their perspectives helped me see how economic policy is not just theory, but a powerful tool that shapes real lives. In particular, I developed a deeper appreciation of how sectors like healthcare and education are fundamental to a nation’s economic strength. A well-designed healthcare system sustains a productive workforce, while equitable access to quality education builds human capital and long-term growth.

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150725-ESS-Annual-Dinner-2025-301-scaled

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69th ESS Annual Dinner

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17th Singapore Economic Policy Forum

6th ESS Distinguished Public Lecture

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