Tim Chong
- Programme: MBA
- Nationality: Australian
- Job Pre-programme: Growth Strategy Manager, Accenture Development Partnerships
- Job Post-programme: Co-founder and CEO, Yonder
Tim Chong threw himself into both work and adventure in his 20s, combining a career in management consultancy with stretches in Cambodia and Kenya. In search of a thriving fintech ecosystem, he then moved to the UK, where he completed his MBA at London Business School. Alongside giving him a valuable network on both sides of the Atlantic, the programme also set him up for startup success. As he explains: “The things I learned in the classroom now make a material difference to my business.”
What did your CV look like before London Business School?
I studied Business Information Systems at university in Australia before moving into management consultancy, primarily in the technology, media and telecommunications sector, which I loved.
In my 20s, I also tried to have as many different life experiences as possible and pushed myself to try new things. That included a stint as a missionary in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; launching a graduate recruitment startup; and spending 10 months working at the intersection of management consultancy and international development with Accenture in Nairobi, Kenya. While there, I spent time with the founders of the mobile money platform M-PESA and realised that building a tech startup could make a real difference to people’s lives, while also being incredibly fun. That was really the moment I knew I wanted to build something myself, which ultimately led me to pursue an MBA.
Given my interests, London felt like the obvious place to be. It’s home to some of the best fintech companies in the world and has an incredibly strong startup ecosystem. I’d also met a couple of London Business School alumni at Accenture and was struck by how smart, grounded and genuinely nice they were. I could immediately see myself at LBS too.
“The lessons on Organisational Behaviour have been hugely valuable too. What started as something I learned in class now makes a material difference to the outcome of my business every day.”
What has been the most significant impact of the programme/London Business School on your career so far?
Without London Business School, I would never have had the opportunity to intern at the fintech company ClearScore and, in turn, I would never have met my colleagues there, who later became my co-founders. Our company, Yonder, offers debit and credit cards that reward people for exploring their cities, with perks across travel, restaurants and entertainment.
During the MBA, I also spent a semester on exchange at Berkeley in California, where I was immersed in the tech ecosystem of the San Francisco Bay Area. The MBA really gave me the best of both worlds in that sense.
More broadly, the network I built over those two years led to both lifelong friendships and incredible connections that have helped me build my own startup. Whether you’re raising capital or looking for introductions to investors, the School opens so many doors. It also has a fantastic founders community. Every startup goes through difficult periods, so having people around you who truly understand the experience makes a huge difference.
In terms of what I learned in the classroom, the lessons on Organisational Behaviour have been hugely valuable too. It’s amazing how negotiating a job offer and negotiating a major transaction that could change the trajectory of your company ultimately rely on many of the same skills. What started as something I learned in class now makes a material difference to the outcome of my business every day.
“The School has a fantastic founders community. Every startup goes through difficult periods, so having people around you who truly understand the experience makes a huge difference.”
What’s your favourite memory from your time at London Business School?
Some of my favourite memories include the annual Snow Trek, the Cycle to Paris and the Social Impact Trek to Kenya. I look back on all of them very fondly. They were moments of fun and adventure, but also opportunities to really bond with my classmates.
Going back to Kenya was a particular highlight and felt like a real full-circle moment, because I could show people the side of the country I had experienced years earlier. It was a chance to challenge stereotypes and show that Nairobi has this thriving tech scene, amazing restaurants and nightlife, and so much energy and creativity. It was an incredible experience.
