Tara Lai Hou Yan

The only constant is change. From a young age I have always been encouraged to explore my interests to the fullest, to pursue my passions and to discover the world by trying everything. From being a World Scholar's Cup senior debate champion to running high-stakes races as a long-distance athlete, every commitment I've faced has all taught me one thing: the world changes fast. Be it a last-minute improvisation in a speech or a split-second decision in the final 80m of the track, adaptation has always been a skill crucial to my success.

In today's fast-paced world, it is undeniable that technology is an inescapable force. With my increasing involvement in various hackathons and AI related competitions, it has become apparent to me that in order to keep up, the world needs to adapt. Yet, as we focus our efforts into the 1s and 0s that make up the most convenient and accessible tools in our lives, we find ourselves losing the foundational skills that brought us here in the first place.

Regardless of how often I use AI transcribed meeting minutes, I am never without a physical notebook and pen. Even as the kindle sits on my desk, my shelf remains lined with the ink-printed books that built my childhood.

This is why I co-founded Inkoders: to empower the minds of tomorrow by leading them into a technology-dominant era, and by reminding them of the skills of foundational literacy that paved the road to today.