GUEST BLOG by JEANETTE CHEAH

I'm Jeanette Cheah, Co-founder and CEO of Hacker Exchange.

Hacker Exchange works with students and early-stage founders all around the world, helping them to turn their ideas into reality and launch their very own startups.

We work across great startup and entrepreneurship ecosystems such as Silicon Valley in California, Tel Aviv in Israel, Singapore, Melbourne in Australia, virtually, and more. 

Before I founded Hacker Exchange in 2017, I actually worked for about 14 years at some of Australian's biggest companies like ANZ Bank and Origin Energy. That experience gave me a really good background in understanding how a business works from the inside.

From an academic perspective, my studies were in economics, sociology, and postgraduate marketing. Plus I also up-skilled in user experience design because I thought it was really important for me to understand the technology side of things, and how a business person can translate their knowledge into tech.

But when it came to me transitioning from the corporate world to the startup world, there were a few things that definitely influenced that decision. 

Firstly, I was looking for an opportunity so I could stretch my muscles and run as fast as I possibly could, without the constraints that are around you when you're in a corporate business. Don't get me wrong - the restraints are there for a reason! They are important to protect a company's shareholders and customers. But for me, I felt like that environment was putting a lid on how quickly I could move and how far I could reach as an individual. And I wanted to really challenge myself to see what I could achieve without boundaries.

Secondly, it was about passion. I found myself becoming increasingly passionate about helping people: to get their voices heard, turn their ideas into reality, and discover their potential. So by becoming an entrepreneur in the education sector, it was a chance for me to channel that passion into something that could tangibly - and actually - change lives and career trajectories. 

Finally, from a financial and lifestyle perspective making that step and transition was a huge change for me. It was a big change from even the way I think, act and dress! Gone were the suits, the 'work mask' and a fear of speaking out of turn, and in came the t-shirts, my authentic voice - and a true expression of who I am!

I am more than grateful for the decision I made over 3 years ago.

However, in hindsight, I probably wasn't 100% ready for all of the ups and downs and twists and turns of entrepreneurship!

And when I reflect on the journey, neither corporate nor startups are better than the other - I'm just really glad I got to experience both. But, now, as an entrepreneur, I get to live my passion and work with people that I love every single day. And if I do my job well as a CEO, one day my startup could grow into a big business too!

For anyone who is curious about getting into entrepreneurship or starting their own business, I have three simple bits of advice.

Tip #1: TAKE SMALL STEPS

Be action-orientated. Take a really small step in the direction that you're passionate about, even the small actions can have a big payoff. They'll also help you build confidence as you see the progress you're making. 

Tip #2: FIND YOUR TRIBE

Really embrace your community. The people around you have your back and they'll support you as you go through the journey, it's pretty tricky to do it alone. I loved finding a tribe of founders who I could bounce ideas off whenever I was stuck. 

Tip #3: BE SEEN

Be courageous! As Brene Brown says, courage is about stepping up and letting yourself be seen. And now more than ever, we need more courageous entrepreneurs and innovators to change the world. 

Good luck! I can't wait to see the new innovations and startups that will come from this next generation!