Her career may have spanned years in business management roles, but when Denise Kwok made the switch from an employed staff to a social entrepreneur, she saw benefit of starting again as a student. Hers is a story where lifelong learning meets lifelong impact.
Would you leave the comfort of a stable, salaried job and invest your own savings to start a company that helps others find job opportunities?
For Denise Kwok, the answer was simple: yes.
At 48, Denise had already held a variety of business management roles, both locally and internationally.
Her career took her to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in her mid-thirties. Later, she moved to Shanghai, China, further expanding her global experience.
Living and working abroad taught Denise invaluable lessons in independence and resilience. Yet, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, she realised it was time to return to her roots and embrace a new challenge.
“The uncertainty, the distance, and the global disruption made me realise how important home really is,” Denise shares. “I returned to Singapore because it offered me a chance to be closer to my family and contribute in a way that aligned with my values.”
BUILDING A HOME FOR ALL
Back in Singapore, Denise reignited her passion for community service, volunteering at the grassroots level. It did not take long for her to notice the vulnerability of gig workers in the city — cleaners, handymen, delivery riders, and odd-job contractors.
“These workers were essential to the functioning of our society, yet their livelihoods were fragile,” Denise observes. “They often lacked basic insurance, faced payment disputes, and had little access to legal advice.”
Her heart ached not only for their struggles but also because society had overlooked their contributions for so long.
This simple interest in community welfare gradually evolved into a sense of purpose. That was when she decided to leave her corporate job and embark on a new journey as a social entrepreneur.
Her vision? To create a platform that would empower gig workers in Singapore by providing reliable, quality home-service jobs along with structured benefits that support holistic well-being, from healthcare and financial planning to retirement security and mental wellness.
In its prototype stage, LetXGig, was born from the belief that true community support comes not from charity, but from a sustainable model that uplifts home-service workers while delivering real value to homeowners.
“As homeowners, when you choose LetXGig, you’re not just getting trusted services; you’re supporting a fairer, more compassionate system,” Denise explains. “It’s a system that provides gig workers with the respect and benefits they deserve.”
PURPOSE OVER UNCERTAINTY
Making the leap into entrepreneurship was not easy. The uncertainty of leaving a stable job to pursue something so uncertain weighed heavily on Denise.
In fact, the initial phase of LetXGig was self-funded, and she had to learn how to balance dreams with reality.
Over time, however, Denise's conviction grew stronger than her worries.
“I realised that if I did not take this leap, I would always wonder, ‘What if?’ So, I chose to trust the purpose, even when the path was unclear.”
While Denise had extensive experience in business management, developing an app was an entirely new challenge. As a non-tech founder, she had to learn a “new language” — not just tech jargon but also how to communicate and collaborate with developers. Every stage, from prototype to pilot, became a lesson in resilience and prioritisation.
“In many ways, the decision was a huge jump not because I was unfamiliar with business, but because social entrepreneurship demands a different kind of courage,” Denise muses.
“I leaned on my management experience where it helped, but I also allowed myself to be a beginner again.”
RELEARNING AND REINVENTING
Despite her years of experience, Denise recognised the gaps in her knowledge.
“I felt less confident in some areas, like financial modelling and technology,” she admits. “But I knew that if I wanted LetXGig to succeed, I needed to understand these aspects better.”
And that was why Denise enrolled in the Specialist Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship (SDSE) programme despite her age.
SDSE is a bespoke programme offered under Dr Richard K M Eu – SIM Social Entrepreneurship Centre (RESSEC). The centre aims to build the next generation of social entrepreneurs where innovation and collaboration transform Singapore's social service sector, communities, and environment for the better.
Not only did SDSE provide Denise with the technical skills, but it also connected her with a community of like-minded individuals who were also working towards social change.
One of the programme’s most significant contributions was helping Denise refine her business model. During her capstone project, her supervisor, Jason, guided her in turning a jumble of ideas into a clear and effective plan for LetXGig.
But the breakthrough came when Denise found collaborators who could bring her vision to life. Through a sponsored internship, she gained the support of two talented interns from SIM with backgrounds in computer science and design respectively.
This sponsored internship is part of SIM’s two-pronged effort to support SDSE social entrepreneurs by providing them with much-needed manpower, while also offering SIM students meaningful, real-world work experience that enhances their employability.
“The interns helped me conceptualise the app’s logic, design the user interface, and refine the overall platform,” Denise agrees. “Suddenly, I was not alone. I had a small, passionate team supporting me.”
Together, they brought structure and clarity to the platform’s initial stages, transforming an idea into a tangible solution.
“When I started, LetXGig was just an idea,” Denise smiles. “But SDSE provided the tools and connections to bring it to life.”
A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT
Denise’s journey is a testament to the power of community, learning, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. LetXGig started as a vision, but with the right support, tools, and network, it is now on a path to changing the lives of gig workers across Singapore.
Her advice for others with a dream to make a difference? Just do it.
“If you have an idea that could change lives, do not wait until it is perfect — just start. SDSE offers not only the knowledge you need but also a powerful network of mentors, peers, and supporters who will walk with you every step of the way.”
Looking to make a meaningful impact while gaining work experience? The SDSE internship offers flexible arrangements — including part-time or full-time, hybrid or fully remote options — to accommodate students who are still attending classes, subject to mutual agreement between the employer and the student. Students can apply via the CareerSense app, SIM’s career platform that provides learners with resources and tools to support their career journey.