It was a gamble on life savings for a simple belief: no child’s future should be left to luck.
The lesson behind a broken system
Every student remembers a teacher who changed their life. For one Singaporean entrepreneur, that lesson became the foundation of a lifelong mission.
Her turning point came as a teenager preparing for a major exam. After engaging a private tutor who confessed she could not teach the subject, she was referred to another teacher who transformed her understanding entirely. The experience revealed a larger flaw: how easily a child’s future can hinge on luck.
In a country where education shapes identity and opportunity, the idea that access to quality teaching depends on chance felt deeply wrong. That moment sparked a conviction that education needed a different kind of structure — one built on accountability, transparency, and empathy.
The high stakes of education in Asia
Education across Asia has become one of the most competitive sectors in the world. In Singapore, parents spent about S$1.8 billion on private tutoring in 2023, a rise of almost 30 percent from 2018, according to data cited by Nanyang Technological University. Regionally, the Asia-Pacific tutoring market reached US$48 billion in 2024, driven by rising education spending, competitive exams, and expanding middle-class families.
Behind those numbers lie immense social pressures. For many parents, investing in education is both an act of love and a form of insurance. It reflects a belief that the right guidance can determine a child’s academic and emotional trajectory.
Yet, this pressure also reveals a deeper imbalance. Education systems have prioritised outcomes over understanding, results over relationships. Many young people today are academically equipped but emotionally exhausted. The conversation, increasingly, is shifting toward mentorship that nurtures resilience and curiosity, not just performance.
Redefining leadership in a male-led industry
Building a business in this space has not been without challenges. The education and technology sectors remain predominantly male-led, and women founders continue to face subtle but persistent biases.
At industry events, questions are often directed toward male counterparts even when the subject expertise lies elsewhere. The assumptions may be unspoken, but their impact is tangible. Such moments reflect a broader issue within entrepreneurship: women are often required to prove their credibility before being recognised for it.
In this environment, leadership takes on a different meaning. It is less about command and more about conviction — the ability to listen deeply, make decisions guided by empathy, and hold firm to one’s purpose despite doubt.
What women leaders can teach us about conviction
Fear is a constant companion in entrepreneurship, but conviction endures longer. Across industries, women leaders are redefining what it means to take calculated risks, lead with empathy, and build teams grounded in trust rather than hierarchy.
Their experiences show that courage is rarelyas loud as it often looks like quiet persistence — the decision to move forward even when the path ahead is uncertain.
For future founders, particularly women, the lesson is clear: progress seldom begins with the absence of fear. It begins with the decision to act anyway.
The future of education is human
The broader transformation of education in Asia will depend not only on access and affordability but also on how society defines success. Academic excellence remains vital, but it cannot come at the cost of mental well-being or personal growth.
The next generation of leaders, educators, and parents will need to balance rigour with empathy, innovation with inclusion. The systems that once rewarded perfection must now make room for possibility.
Belief remains the first step toward change. And sometimes, one act of conviction, whether in leadership, education or life, is enough to shift an entire system.
Cherry Goh is CEO and Co-Founder of Scholarly.
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Featured image: Francesco Pinto on Unsplash