MBA 12, creates senior care start-up in Singapore COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Gillian Tee, MIA/MBA 12, creates senior care start-up in Singapore COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Barely 10 minutes into the interview, Miss Gillian Tee is asking for time out and a drink of water. The 34-year-old had no problems handling the cut and thrust of New York and Silicon Valley technopreneurship for a decade, but talking about her late nanny and maternal grandmother is making her teary and a tad emotional. Youre good, she says, sheepishly dabbing the tears at the corner of her eyes. Her late nanny, then a 60-something woman from Kuala Lumpur, practically raised her until she was 10, while her maternal grandmother lovingly cocooned her from the turbulence of her parents divorce during her teens. It was rough, but they were a source of comfort. They had a huge impact on my life, says Ms Tee, adding that she developed a soft spot for the elderly as a result. This affinity is one of the reasons she gave up a heady career in New York City and Silicon Valley, where she co-founded Rocketrip, a start-up to reduce travel costs, which has raised US$18 million (S$25 million) in funding. She is now home in Singapore where she has set up Homage, a start-up which connects professional caregivers with seniors who need help. Read the rest of the interview at Straitstimes.com. [Video still courtesy of Straitstime.com]