NTUpreneur Lennon Lim and his passion for entrepreneurship

My first experience with entrepreneurship was starting a home-based business called Misuboi. It was sparked with the intention to learn beyond what I was being taught in my degree major, and to build a strong fundamental business sense. At the same time, in an environment where we are expected to follow a path that has been set out for us, the notion to carve my own was very attractive to me too. With that in mind, entrepreneurship became a viable approach to attain what I desired. Understanding the need to increase my proficiency in entrepreneurship-related concepts, I signed up for the Minor in Entrepreneurship (MiE) programme.

The experience in MiE has been impactful, to say the least. The programme covers the basics of running a business; from creating a business model to financing the business itself. It also presented its own set of challenges. The programme was intensive, such as having to prepare for back-to-back presentations and projects. While the workload did take a toll on me, the challenges simulated the working environment of what an entrepreneur would experience - fast-paced and dynamic. MiE is a community of passionate, hardworking and committed individuals, both students and instructors alike. When everyone around you perseveres and pushes themselves, the experience motivates you to move beyond boundaries, which I found exhilarating and unique about being part of MiE.

The instructors would share their personal experiences of their own entrepreneur journey. We have been exposed to the stories of successful entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk or Steve Jobs but hearing the instructors’ stories about their own successes and hardships gave me a more realistic view about what it is to be an entrepreneur.

Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone! Entrepreneurship might be a new concept to most students joining MiE, but the skill sets that the programme imparts are extremely useful and vital in the working world. Skills such as creative thinking, teamwork, and presentation competency are part and parcel of the programme. You must be willing to take the initiative to learn to fully reap the benefits. Personally, the opportunity to hone my skills in these areas was the reason I treasured the time spent during the programme.

Besides utilising my newfound knowledge to better manage my passion projects, I came to realise that networking is vital to excel. "It is not what you know, it is who you know that matters most". I look forward to attending more networking events and entrepreneurship courses that would provide me with a platform to meet like-minded people, to share ideas and learn from each other. The next person I meet might be a potential working partner in the future.