I entered college aspiring to build a career dedicated to serving others. Initially, I envisioned becoming a doctor as the ultimate way to make a meaningful impact.
During my studies, I was inspired by peers driven by noble causes. One ambitious friend spearheaded a crowdfunding effort to clear landmines in Cambodia. By hosting fundraising dinners with friends and their parents—at a modest cost—he raised $50,000.
This motivated me to join an arts-based trauma therapy program for street children near Phnom Penh. After organizing fundraisers, I yearned to witness the results firsthand.
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Recognizing the shortage of medical supplies, I consulted Vancouver doctors and packed four duffel bags with essentials like antibiotics and bandages.
After arriving in Bangkok, I crossed into Poipet on the Cambodia-Thailand border with these bags. In Siem Reap, I delivered the supplies and volunteered at a hospital, modernizing its outdated computer system.
Witnessing the hospital's resource constraints was heartbreaking. Most patients were mothers and children with critical illnesses, often traveling days to get there with nowhere to stay. That first week was profoundly challenging.
I then visited Phnom Penh to see the projects I'd funded, before heading south to Sihanoukville. There, I spent six weeks with M'Lop Tapang, tackling community challenges like education gaps, sexual abuse, substance abuse, and health issues. The experience was transformative.
If you're torn between serving the underserved and pursuing personal growth, rest assured these paths aren't mutually exclusive. From my hands-on work in Cambodia, here are three key entrepreneurial lessons I've carried into my career.
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1. Surround yourself with vision-aligned people.
By my return, M'Lop Tapang had expanded from 20 to over 200 staff—many the same individuals who had left comfortable Western lives years ago, still as dedicated as ever. Their unity enabled lasting impact.
This taught me to foster similar alignment in my ventures. Launching a health-tech company with a doctor friend exemplified this: he provided medical expertise, I contributed technical skills, and a designer ensured usability. Our complementary strengths accelerated a valuable product—something none of us could achieve alone. Trusting your team unlocks entrepreneurial potential.
2. Don't try to fix everything—understand and empower.
On my first trip, in a Sihanoukville slum, M'Lop Tapang launched hygiene education for families. Seeing untreated infections in children whose budgets couldn't cover basic meds, I rushed to buy supplies. Yet, it was clear my short-term fixes couldn't sustain change. I realized how little I truly understood.
Years later, with greater wisdom, I prioritized listening to those we serve—just as with collaborators. Building our health-tech startup, we isolated ourselves for a year, assuming we knew user needs. We should have engaged them early for real insights.
Everyone brings unique value; listen intently to amplify it.
3. Work backward from your ultimate goal for innovative paths.
My first pivot was choosing entrepreneurship over medicine for broader reach. Later, after founding multiple companies, I sought deeper impact. Starting from the end—'How can these communities sustain themselves?'—sparked divergent thinking.
No single 'miracle' exists. Now, after a decade in business, I'm partnering with fellow entrepreneurs to launch a program teaching young Cambodians entrepreneurship, empowering them to solve local issues.
Stay open to unexpected routes; they often lead to greater rewards and service.
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