From the moment Olivia Leong Yue Shuen started her presentation of her business idea at the recent Goodday KidSTART 2.0 Finals, I knew she is a kidpreneur extraordinaire in the making. Such confidence and eloquence, what more from an 11-year old schoolgirl is not only admirable but rare. Little did I know then that I had seen Olivia before as she was one of the child actors in “The Sound Of Music” at Istana Budaya in December 2022 and that was when she was just 9-years old. She played the role of Gretl and even then, she was memorable. During the interview with Olivia, I was highly impressed with her replies to my questions. In fact, even some adults would not have spoken better than her. Given a few more years, I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear about Olivia’s achievements on the world stage. Olivia displays a maturity far beyond her age and it is commendable that Goodday has given a platform for talented kids like Olivia to shine and shine brightly at that.
Olivia Leong Yue Shuen is a Standard 5 student at SJKC Puay Chai who is not only excelling academically but also shining brightly in her extracurricular activities. In her free time, Olivia enjoys reading and music, which fuels her passion for storytelling and the performing arts. She actively participates & champions in storytelling, public speaking, poem reciting and singing competitions in English, Chinese and Malay languages. Her vibrant talents shine from intra-school events all the way to international stages.
Her standout project idea for Goodday KidSTART 2.0, “GEO: Dual Habitats Object that ‘Eats Trash to Clean Trash’,” showcases her innovative spirit. This groundbreaking device addresses pollution on both beach and sea with its lightweight, stainless steel, waterproof design, complete with advanced sensors, gps, audible alerts, and warning lights. Olivia’s vision for GEO is to gamify environmental cleanup, making it fun and effective through a subscription-based model – “GEO Bay” & “Go GEO”. Her biggest dream is to make beach and sea cleaning accessible to everyone, ensuring that people like you and me can easily contribute to keeping our shores pristine. Her efforts were recognized with the “Most Sustainable Idea Award,” highlighting the project idea’s impact and potential.
The name “GEO” is inspired by “Green Environment by Olivia”, which she hopes that one day “GEO” will become a genericized trademark for green environmental cleaning.
In addition, Olivia graced the stage in 2022 as Gretl in the Broadway production of “The Sound of Music” at Istana Budaya. She also lends her voice to jingles and provides voice-overs for TV, radio and online commercials.
Talented and ambitious, Olivia seeks more opportunities to showcase her performance and talents on a bigger stage. She welcomes any organization that aims to nurture hidden gems like her into a better platform for the future.
Why did you participate in Goodday KidSTART 2.0?
Olivia: There was a school drive encouraging those who wanted to take part to make a video. I had an idea to clean the beaches and sea as I watched videos of pollution affecting turtles. I love marine life and swimming and want to make the waters a safer environment.
Please elaborate on your business idea for this competition.
Olivia: I was thinking of what I can do to save turtles and came up with an idea of a robot to clean the sea. My vision is that in the sea, the robot will use its flippers to move around and collect trash. The metal waste can be converted into energy. On the beach, a wheel belt can be used to clean up the beach and then segregate into metal waste and non-metal waste. It can clean up oil spills in the sea and detect tsunamis or earthquakes.
How would the robot be located?
Olivia: The control centre will monitor the robot’s movements.
How long would the robot be able to move in the sea?
Olivia: It can last 2 days in the sea.
How did you prepare for this competition?
Olivia: I have participated in other competitions where I spoke B.M. and Chinese. I practised my pitch for Goodday KidSTART 2.0 for 2 days. I used my own words and know the flow of the slides. There was a boot camp yesterday where I overcame my fear.
Do you envision that one day your idea will become a reality?
Olivia: Yes, one day professional engineers will build the robot and every river and sea will have its own robot.
How will you profit from this business once it becomes a relaity?
Olivia: There will be a subscription-based model for the public to rent and use a robot. After a picnic, GEO The Robot can be used to clean up the area before they leave. I hope that one day, GEO will become a trademark for a clean environment.
What lessons have you taken away from your time at Goodday KidSTART 2.0?
Olivia: I have learned to overcome fear and not be scared, bravely dream my dream and presentation skills. The Goodday boot camp was useful and fun. The instructors taught me how to deliver my speech and break the ice with customers.
What advice do you have for future contestants of Goodday KidSTART?
Olivia: Dream big & don’t be afraid to drea. Do your best!
