Wenny Lim, SIM Alumna, Chief Operating Officer, HomePay SG

When Wenny Lim looks back on her younger days, she remembers being the kind of student who did not particularly enjoy school. “I was not someone who particularly loved studying,” she admits. By the time she was applying for university, she describes herself as “pretty lost,” uncertain about what she wanted and doubtful of her chances.

SIM-RMIT University became her turning point. She grew up observing her close and loved ones pursuing their dreams and starting businesses, and although unfamiliar with the business world herself, she was always intrigued by it. When it came to finally choosing a course of study, “knowing my personality, I did not want to stress myself out by choosing something that I was completely uninterested in,” she says. At SIM, she discovered not just a course of study of her interest, but a new sense of direction.
 

A Flexible Pathway to Discovery

SIM-RMIT Bachelor of Business (Marketing) with a second major in Finance programme exposed Wenny to possibilities she had never considered. She discovered that business was not just about numbers or theories, but about solving real-world problems. “It showed me that the business world was made up of different facets, and there were so many different paths I could take. With this mindset primed at an early age, it allowed me to embrace new challenges and paths with an open mind,” she says.

And though she began her SIM life prioritising part-time jobs to seek independence and not rely on her parents for an allowance, her later years were marked by immersion and growth. She joined the Golf Club, AIESEC Business Development, and Project Protégé, and explored overseas exchange opportunities. The lessons stuck. Through AIESEC, she learned to pitch to business leaders with confidence. Project Protégé gave her a mentor who modelled the importance of sharing authentic experiences - the good and the bad for others to learn from. By the time she graduated with Distinction and two top student awards, Wenny had already developed the toolkit of resilience and leadership that would define her career.

 

From Advertising to Interior Design

Her first professional chapter was in advertising, managing accounts for heavyweight clients such as HSBC and Lazada. The work was dynamic, demanding, and people centric. “It taught me the importance of building personal relations and strong communication,” she says.

But the turning point came with the passing of her grandfather in 2019. “He left such a wonderful legacy,” Wenny reflects, and it made her think about the kind of impact she wanted to leave on the world. She stayed in advertising for another year, but when the pandemic forced a pause, she re-evaluated her path. Her leap into the interior design world was bold but short-lived. Six months into Wenny's first role, the firm collapsed. Overnight, she lost not only her work but the commissions she was due - thousands of dollars gone. “It impacted me not only financially but emotionally,” she says. “The industry is not regulated, and it makes it easy for firms to open and close down with a snap of a finger.”
 

From Setback to Startup

What could have been the end of a dream instead became the start of a new one. Drawing from her own painful experience, Wenny and her co-founders began shaping a solution to the trust gaps plaguing the renovation industry. The result was HomePay, Singapore’s first fintech renovation-exclusive escrow payment app.

At its core, HomePay protects both sides. For homeowners, funds are securely held in escrow until renovation milestones are met. For interior designers, payment is guaranteed once work is delivered, eliminating the need to chase overdue balances. Beyond payments, the platform offers practical tools for both homeowners and interior designers, which Wenny herself wished she had when freelanced as a designer.

The timing could not have been better. COVID had sparked a renovation boom as Singaporeans invested in their homes, and digital payments were becoming mainstream. “Opportunity and timing were everything,” she says. “That overlap created the perfect moment for HomePay.”

But launching innovation in a traditional sector was never going to be smooth. “You can build the most secure, user-friendly fintech tool, but if contractors and homeowners do not feel safe using it, adoption will be painfully slow.” The strategy was clear: embed the solution into existing workflows, win small victories, and partner with respected industry players to build credibility.
 

Leading with Resilience and Purpose

As Chief Operating Officer (COO), Wenny draws daily on her background. Advertising taught her how strategy connects to execution; interior design gave her empathy for both homeowners and contractors; her education provided the breadth to adapt across industries. “It was amazing to see how everything came full circle,” she reflects.

Her leadership philosophy is rooted in adaptability. “It starts with treating every career change as training for the next unknown,” she says. Skills like problem-solving and relationship-building transfer across industries, even when environments change. Resilience, for her, comes from detaching identity from a single plan. “I try to hold my vision tightly but my methods loosely,” she explains. “That way I can pivot without feeling like I have failed.”

As a woman in tech and renovation - two male-dominated fields - credibility has not always been a given. “I had to prove my expertise before the conversation even began,” she says. Yet the challenges sharpened her focus. “Once people see you can solve their problems and keep your promises, gender fades and trust takes over.”
 

Redefining Success

When Wenny first started, success was about survival, proving HomePay worked, signing early customers, and closing deals. Today, her definition has shifted. “It feels less about growth and more about quality and impact,” she says. Seeing homeowners stress less, contractors paid fairly, and her team proud of their work was what mattered the most.

To young women aspiring to enter male-dominated industries, she offers this: “Do not wait until you ‘feel ready,’ you will never have 100% of the answers. What matters is showing up prepared, asking smart questions, and following through on your word. And remember, being different in the room is an advantage. Use that visibility to bring fresh ideas, not just fit in.”

Her advice for students and young graduates is equally grounded: focus on impact over titles, be curious, and take calculated risks. “Every step teaches you something you cannot get from a textbook. Build relationships that matter. Careers are not just built on skills; they are built on trust, credibility, and the impact you leave behind.”

From a once-uncertain student to the COO of a pioneering fintech startup, Wenny’s journey reminds us that careers do not have to follow a straight line to be meaningful; they must move with purpose, impact, and heart.