Vince Chan

This is a very special episode. I've never had a guest with the same first name as mine. And you are the first. Groundbreaking, really. So, Vince, let's start with your story. Share your history and career path with us. Then we'll talk more about different aspects and elements of your experience. Let's begin by getting to know more about you.

This is a very special episode. I've never had a guest with the same first name as mine. And you are the first. Groundbreaking, really. So, Vince, let's start with your story. Share your history and career path with us. Then we'll talk more about different aspects and elements of your experience. Let's begin by getting to know more about you.

Got it. Thank you. Yeah, so Today I'm an entrepreneur, but maybe I'll start from my origin. I was born in South Korea and I grew up there until I was 12. Then I immigrated to Canada and then I came to the US for college and then navigated to different parts of the world and came to where I am today. I would say there are a few things that have really marked my life.

Got it. Thank you. Yeah, so Today I'm an entrepreneur, but maybe I'll start from my origin. I was born in South Korea and I grew up there until I was 12. Then I immigrated to Canada and then I came to the US for college and then navigated to different parts of the world and came to where I am today. I would say there are a few things that have really marked my life.

The first thing is definitely the immigrant experience has been a really big component. Moving from South Korea to Canada when I didn't really speak much English at age 12, I think really forced me to really discover myself again at age 12 and really invest in learning and education as a way to adapt to a new environment.

The first thing is definitely the immigrant experience has been a really big component. Moving from South Korea to Canada when I didn't really speak much English at age 12, I think really forced me to really discover myself again at age 12 and really invest in learning and education as a way to adapt to a new environment.

The second thing that has really marked my experience is just post-education, going through a lot of different professional experience across consulting, international development in different countries, and just really learning what is it that I really care about, about the world, which for me, sort of the thread was people development, capability building, and talent development.

The second thing that has really marked my experience is just post-education, going through a lot of different professional experience across consulting, international development in different countries, and just really learning what is it that I really care about, about the world, which for me, sort of the thread was people development, capability building, and talent development.

And so present day, I'm working on a startup that is an education technology company that helps people, so professionals learn together in group.

And so present day, I'm working on a startup that is an education technology company that helps people, so professionals learn together in group.

SparkWise, that's your baby. But before we dive into SparkWise and all the exciting new initiatives, let's talk about your journey. You mentioned moving from Asia to Canada and United States. which is somewhat similar to my own experience. I moved from Hong Kong to Canada and studied in the United States.

SparkWise, that's your baby. But before we dive into SparkWise and all the exciting new initiatives, let's talk about your journey. You mentioned moving from Asia to Canada and United States. which is somewhat similar to my own experience. I moved from Hong Kong to Canada and studied in the United States.

While you studied engineering at Princeton, then you transitioned into public administration at Harvard, focusing on economic development and eventually moved to different parts of the world. What drove you to make those transitions? How did these experiences enrich your character? Or perhaps it was the other way around. Wasn't your character that drove all those moves?

While you studied engineering at Princeton, then you transitioned into public administration at Harvard, focusing on economic development and eventually moved to different parts of the world. What drove you to make those transitions? How did these experiences enrich your character? Or perhaps it was the other way around. Wasn't your character that drove all those moves?

Yeah, it's an interesting question. I would say the thing that comes to my mind is, so first of all, I've for a long time been on a quest to find what is it that truly motivates me intrinsically. And today I feel like I've found it, especially with the work I do in Sparkwise. But that journey was very long.

Yeah, it's an interesting question. I would say the thing that comes to my mind is, so first of all, I've for a long time been on a quest to find what is it that truly motivates me intrinsically. And today I feel like I've found it, especially with the work I do in Sparkwise. But that journey was very long.

I think the part of the reason why it was a long journey is that growing up, I would characterize my young self as a people pleaser. Getting a lot of validation and enjoyment from things that others tell about me. And which means for a long time, I was very much driven by extrinsic things, whether it be compliments, like awards or prestige or things like that.

I think the part of the reason why it was a long journey is that growing up, I would characterize my young self as a people pleaser. Getting a lot of validation and enjoyment from things that others tell about me. And which means for a long time, I was very much driven by extrinsic things, whether it be compliments, like awards or prestige or things like that.

And I always felt like that wasn't the sort of the thing that really fulfilled me. And I was constantly looking for what is it, the thing that motivates me. So my winding sort of career path reflects that journey. Now, I would say There are maybe two things that guided my process. One of which actually comes from my background in engineering. So I studied in operations research.

And I always felt like that wasn't the sort of the thing that really fulfilled me. And I was constantly looking for what is it, the thing that motivates me. So my winding sort of career path reflects that journey. Now, I would say There are maybe two things that guided my process. One of which actually comes from my background in engineering. So I studied in operations research.