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At 17, Charlotte Chan never imagined a single email could change her life. A weekend entrepreneurship boot camp at Young Founders School (YFS) sparked a transformation, pushing her beyond her comfort zone. Though set on becoming a dentist, she discovered new skills in leadership, communication, and business. With her team, she built Viewfinder, a peer mentoring platform, and gained real-world experience in problem-solving. The program gave her the confidence to pitch in front of industry professionals—and win. This success led her to present at RISE, Asia’s largest tech conference. More than business skills, YFS instilled resilience, teaching her that setbacks are stepping stones. Today, Charlotte is pursuing a master’s in Dental Public Health, blending healthcare with an entrepreneurial mindset. She credits YFS for shaping her approach to innovation and problem-solving. Her advice to students? Take the leap—you never know where it might lead!
Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone
Charlotte wasn’t initially drawn to startups, but the promise of developing leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills felt like an opportunity she couldn’t ignore. Throughout the program, she listened to inspiring guest speakers—technology innovators, financial experts, and seasoned entrepreneurs—who shared real-world insights and challenges. Their stories sparked new perspectives and broadened her understanding of the professional world beyond the structured path she had envisioned.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Over the course of the boot camp, Charlotte underwent a transformation. She had always been hesitant to voice her thoughts in front of older mentors, but YFS gave her the confidence to articulate ideas clearly and engage in meaningful discussions. She also learned the power of collaboration, as she and her team worked tirelessly to build their startup idea—Viewfinder, a peer mentoring platform inspired by their struggles navigating university applications.
For the first time, Charlotte was exposed to financial concepts and business management principles. Coming from a science-heavy background, she had little prior knowledge in these areas, but YFS gave her the foundation to make informed decisions and contribute to strategic planning. It was a skill set she hadn’t anticipated needing, yet one that would prove invaluable in the years to come.
The Power of Resilience
The most profound lesson Charlotte took from YFS wasn’t about business—it was about resilience. Many of the guest speakers shared stories of setbacks and failures, emphasizing that challenges were not roadblocks but rather stepping stones. It was a mindset shift that would stay with her long after the program ended.
One of the biggest personal challenges she faced during the program was the final pitch competition. Standing before industry professionals and peers, she felt the weight of nervousness and imposter syndrome. But with the support of her mentors and teammates, she found the courage to deliver her pitch—and to her astonishment, her team won the competition. That victory led to an even greater opportunity: presenting at RISE, Asia’s largest tech conference, alongside her teammates. It was a moment of triumph she never could have imagined before stepping into the YFS world.
Bridging Entrepreneurship and Healthcare
YFS didn’t change Charlotte’s dream of becoming a dentist, but it added a new layer to her aspirations. It showed her that entrepreneurship and healthcare were not separate worlds, but rather fields that could complement one another. She developed a keen interest in the entrepreneurial aspects of healthcare, realizing that her passions for psychology, sociology, and biology could intersect in meaningful ways.
Today, Charlotte is pursuing a master’s degree in Dental Public Health, determined to use her knowledge to enhance healthcare systems and promote oral health on a larger scale. The entrepreneurial mindset she cultivated at YFS—one that embraces innovation, collaboration, and resilience—continues to shape how she approaches challenges in her profession.
A Message to Future Young Founders
To any high school students considering YFS, Charlotte’s advice is simple: Take the leap! The program offers a rare opportunity to develop lifelong skills, connect with inspiring individuals, and gain a deeper understanding of problem-solving in the real world. Whether or not one pursues a startup, the lessons learned will be invaluable in any career path.
She remains deeply grateful to the YFS team and mentors—especially Billy, Mariana, and Catherine—whose guidance made a lasting impact on her life. Looking back, she knows that single weekend was more than just an entrepreneurship boot camp—it was the beginning of a mindset shift that would shape her future in ways she never expected.
Written By: Charlotte Chan
