Despite obligations at her family business, this multi-faceted businesswoman is determined to break out on her own and inspire others to do the same
Penang-born Mei Tan has always identified herself as a 'creative'. The graphic interactive communication major started her professional career as a web designer at MTV International in New York. However, a duty to her family brought her back to Malaysia to join the family's property development business, Asia Green Group.
“I started from the bottom in administration. Later, I was transferred to the purchasing department before joining the project department where I got my hands 'dirty' working on construction plans and at construction sites,” she shares.
When she moved into the sales & marketing department, she was finally able to reconnect with her creative side. Mei was the creative director for many years before she was promoted to the company's chief operations officer & executive director.
Despite having all these responsibilities, she still yearned to start something of her own. At the end of 2016, she founded Scoopoint Co-Working & Incubation Space to shake up the entrepreneurial scene in Penang.
Below is a short excerpt from our chat with this dynamic young lady.
Why did you start your own business?
I used to think that I need to leave my family business to do my own things. As much as I did not want to leave my family and siblings, I longed to live a life of passion and purpose. Three years ago, I decided to follow my instinct and register my business.
Tell us more about your startup.
I started Scoopoint to help aspiring creative entrepreneurs and new startups. I wanted it to be a place where new talents can come together and create ideas that could become the next successful venture.
Now that Scoopoint has stablised, I'm now following a bigger dream to connect with the next generation in family businesses through investment opportunities across Asia. And that’s how Innovatif+ came to be.
