Desiree Lim Sim Yee
Desiree Lim Sim Yee
Explain what you do in 7 words
I support investees developing solutions for children.
Where you’re from, and where you are now?
I’m from sunny Singapore and I live and work in Stockholm now!
What you were doing before joining UNICEF?
I started out in strategic planning and B2B market research in the power sector based out of Shanghai and started an edtech software startup before joining the Singapore government to develop the local water startup ecosystem and work with startup founders. Just before UNICEF, I was deploying monies into early-stage and deep tech startups from sectors such as power, water and maritime from a government-linked venture capital fund.
What has been your biggest success in your role at UNICEF?
I just joined so I will circle back to this question in 1 year! Hopefully I would have supported startups to deploy solutions that improve the lives of children.
What was your dream job when you were a child?
Honestly I was happy being a child and did not think about working! While schooling, my dream job went through reiterations - from an environmental engineer, frontline journalist covering conflict zones, human rights lawyer, an officer in a global intergovernmental entity such as United Nations (yes dreams do come true!), account manager or strategist in an advertising agency, management consultant to product marketer for industrial products.
What is your hidden skill / talent?
I’m a mosquito magnet like no one else (probably only second to my brother). If you were in the nature with me, you would not get a mosquito bite!