Jacqueline Ye, Co-Founder of Delegate, knew from a young age that she wanted to start her own business one day. She worked towards her goal with single-minded determination and today; she is the proud co-owner of a company whose mission is to help people plan an amazing event in the shortest time possible.
Delegate is a free online marketplace that allows you to browse, compare, and hire the best event vendors in Singapore. Whether you’re looking for a themed venue, customized 3D props, or a mobile barista, Delegate’s got you covered.
Delegate’s vendor community is mostly by-invite-only, and each of them is verified against strict standards.
Jacqueline describes herself as an inquisitive person who is good at observing and learning from what she sees. She is bubbly and effervescent, and she takes her sunny attitude to work each day!
The New Savvy sat down to chat with this up and coming young lady to learn more about what makes her tick.
The New Savvy: Jacqueline, tell us more about your story/background. How has your past shaped you to be who you are now?
Jacqueline: I’ve always looked up to my dad, and by the time I was 10 years old I knew I wanted to start my own business that would create value and positive impact.
I’m the youngest amongst my siblings and extended family, so I’ve always been good at asking questions, observing others, learning from their trials and errors, and understanding the power of the right incentives – the carrot and the stick stuff.
I think that’s helped me a lot in developing and growing Delegate. I’m single-minded and determined when I want something so running my company has always seemed inevitable to me.
The New Savvy: Tell us more about your business.
Jacqueline: Delegate is a one-stop online resource that connects anyone who is looking to plan an event for high-quality event vendors, including venues, caterers, entertainment, decor, and much more. It caters to both professional organizers for corporate and company events, as well as novice planners such as brides-to-be or party hosts. Delegate is the easiest way for people to discover, hire, and review event vendors from their desktop or mobile devices.
The New Savvy: How is it Delegate different and what are the Unique Selling Points of your business?
Jacqueline: We’ve addressed a gap in the market for a free, efficient, and user-friendly event planning platform online. We’re also the first in Asia to provide an all-encompassing tool for both corporate and personal event planners, across multiple business verticals, functions, and event types. Our community of vendors has all been pre-screened, so our users can enjoy peace of mind when they book services on Delegate.
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The New Savvy: You are a two women team, how has that worked out for you? Any disagreements? Or does it propel the business better?
Jacqueline: It’s working well for us! My business partner Melissa and I have very different personalities, and our strengths complement each other. I’m more about the big picture and am always strategizing and ideating. Mel, on the other hand, is much more detail-oriented and operationally driven. We’ve had our differences but we always move on from issues quickly, and we don’t take things personally or dwell on things past.
We’re also very direct with each other, and we tell it like it is when we communicate. We’re focused on the same goals for Delegate. For us, it’s all about making the best choices for Delegate and achieving the business’s objectives. Also, we both try to see the humour in everything, even in stressful situations.
The New Savvy: Could you describe one of your typical workdays?
Jacqueline: Our days are filled with meetings, discussions, and events. We’re still a small team, so every one of us wears multiple hats and juggle different roles and responsibilities. As every business owner knows, everything is within your purview, so there are always new challenges to conquer and new things to pick up. There’s also so much administrative noise to deal with!
The day usually starts with a quick catch-up with the team to see if there are any critical issues that need immediate attention, I prefer getting the most time-consuming tasks out of the way first. Most of our team work remotely so I’m constantly on Slack, Quip, or Hangout. I usually have several meetings or calls scheduled with our team, strategic partners, and stakeholders.
I’m also constantly planning or executing a campaign, finding ways to further our user outreach. A couple of days a week, we’ll attend events that are related either to the events or tech industry.
The New Savvy: Share two advice for female entrepreneurs.
Jacqueline: One, stop selling yourself and your achievements short! I’ve observed that women tend to be shy to credit themselves for their accomplishments, despite their amazing feats and accolades.
Two, support, empower and collaborate with other women. It’s hard enough as it is to be a female entrepreneur, let’s build a culture of positive affirmation where women support and applaud the efforts of other women.
The New Savvy: What is the one advice that has impacted you the most?
Jacqueline: Strive to become a little wiser every day by developing a voracious appetite for learning new things and cultivating curiosity.
The New Savvy: How do you improve your financial knowledge?
Jacqueline: I majored in Finance at University, but have to confess that I have little interest in the subject! So I look to sites like The New Savvy that offers great, digestible pieces that are fun and more importantly, applicable to my daily life. I also like that The New Savvy sheds insight to the occasionally murky financial industry. Aside from that, I have great family and friends who provide advice and guidance.
The New Savvy: What would you like to learn more financially?
Jacqueline: So much! I would like to understand more about what the best strategies to employ are in personal finance and money management.
The New Savvy: How do you think modern women can be more fulfilled in their lives?
Jacqueline: Most women I know are incredibly unkind to themselves and are often their harshest critiques. I think they would feel a lot more fulfilled if they practised more self-compassion and kindness to themselves.
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The New Savvy: What is a skill you think all women should learn and why?
Jacqueline: I don’t think there’s one skill across the board that I would recommend. I would just encourage them to pick up skills that make them feel empowered, whether it’s programming, learning a new language, or rock climbing. That, and being able to read a balance sheet.
The New Savvy: Who are your heroes?
Jacqueline: This is an easy one–my parents are my heroes! My dad was raised by a single mother, and he’s been working tirelessly to support himself and his family since he was 12. He secured a scholarship from NUS and graduated with First Class Honours, which was quite a rare feat for his time.
He built up his business in mechanical spare parts from scratch and has given my three siblings and me a very comfortable life. I’ve always admired his intelligence, acumen, and grit. My mum is the light of my life. She’s the quiet heroine that’s each of our biggest cheerleader and nurturers. She’s sacrificed a lot for us and keeps us connected with one another. My family’s very tight-knit, and that’s all because of my mum.
The New Savvy: Where do you go on a night out?
Jacqueline: I’m not much of a clubber! I prefer weekend brunches with a bit of bubbly or kicking back at restaurants and bars with a bottle of wine and close friends. Lately, I’ve been hanging out at Lucha Loco, Potato Head, Open Farm Community, Tap at Capitol Piazza, and the Haji Lane area.
The New Savvy: Share a parting quote with us!
Jacqueline: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” – Seneca
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