11 questions with MS in Entrepreneurship student Elaine Siu

We asked current Foster students to tell us why they chose Foster, what they like to do for fun, and to share advice with potential applicants. Meet Master of Science in Entrepreneurship student Elaine Siu.

1) Where are you from?

Hong Kong.

2) What did you do before entering this program?

I went to law school in London and was a corporate finance lawyer in Hong Kong for over 10 years. Three years ago I quit my job for some soul searching and ended up building a second career as an entrepreneur.

3) Did you have any entrepreneurship experience before entering this program?

The first venture I started was to help corporate professionals find purpose and live a bigger life. It involved creating content (I wrote an e-book The Seven Habits of Highly Stuck People!) and building a community. That experience actually prepared myself to move from an employee to entrepreneur mindset and I launched my second venture getminimal.com, the first 100% cruelty-free, vegan, eco-conscious beauty e-commerce platform in Hong Kong, in January this year.

4) Tell us why you are excited to be a part of the inaugural MS in Entrepreneurship class

I am extremely excited to be a part of the first intake because this program is brand new and has endless possibilities, very appropriate for an entrepreneurial study! With a program this young (but backed with very seasoned faculty and staff) one gets the best of both worlds: flexibility and structure.

5) What are your thoughts on the entrepreneurship scene in Seattle?

Being new to the city, I am still taking it all in and discovering new things about the entrepreneurial ecosystem here every day. In general I have found an amazing and supportive community of entrepreneurs, mentors and educators. Everyone seems very excited about growing this scene.

6) What connections are you hoping to make while in the program?

I am keeping an open mind. After the first quarter I have learned that what I think I want may not be what I actually need. Whether a co-founder, core team member, mentor, investor or simply a friend, my hope is to make deep and inspiring connections that enrich my life beyond the business context.

7) Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In the last 5 years I have turned my life upside down so I honestly do not know what I will be in 5 years (and I do not care!)

8) What skills and/or knowledge are you looking to develop?

I am still a corporate animal by default especially in the work context. Through emerging in an entrepreneurial environment I hope to get the startup bug, let go of my fear of failure and develop more bootstrapping abilities.

9) What do you like to do for fun?

I am into everything except food and sports. I go through phases of passions from acting to making figure-model, from photography to playing the drums which make me a bit of a course junkie. My current healthier pastime includes yoga, mindfulness practices, reading and writing. My dark side is retail therapy.

10) What’s been your favorite part of the program so far?

The people. Being an entrepreneur is a lonely journey and it is not easy to build a solid support system that can help you navigate the ups and downs. The one thing I am most grateful for is that I now belong to a cohort of amazing people! I have found it hard to cultivate human bonds of such strength in, for instance, a co-working community.

11) What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about applying to the MS in Entrepreneurship program?

Act now! How does your gut feel about this? For me, it was serendipity. After quitting my job I met someone while traveling in Bali who has since become my most trusted friend. She is doing her PhD in entrepreneurship in Foster School of Business and highly recommended MS ENTRE to me. So I packed my bags and moved to Seattle without thinking twice. So far this is one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

Learn more about the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship program

• Sign up for the MS in Entrepreneurship email list
• Attend an MS in Entrepreneurship admissions event
• Visit the MS in Entrepreneurship website

This post is part of a series where we ask current students to answer 11 questions about their experience at Foster. Stay tuned for more interviews in the coming weeks!