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VCWoman Achieve 2025 Mentor Spotlight – Chung Tan

Entrepreneurs Mentorship VCWoman Achieve
Posted on January 30, 2025
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Name: Chung Tan | Business/Profession: Deputy Director, Employment & Industry, City of Fayetteville

Please share a little about your background, personally and/or professionally.

Previously, I co-owned a trading company in Malaysia selling disposable healthcare products to Europe. I was also once a marketing manager for the States of Arkansas and Georgia ASEAN (Association of South-East Asia Nations) Office in Malaysia. In that capacity, I was instrumental in assisting Arkansas and Georgia companies to expand their business in South-East Asia, China, Australia and New Zealand.

I am a member of the Arkansas Economic Developers and Chamber Executives (AEDCE), National Development Council (NDC), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). I am a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP), and a Mid-South Economic Development Professional (MSEDP). Back in 2016, I was recognized as one of ten Women in Business by the North West Arkansas (NWA) Business Journal.

I am a graduate of the National University of Malaysia and University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Happily married with 4 children and 2 grandsons.

Please share more about your current position and place of work. How have you grown professionally/personally in this role?

I am currently the Deputy Director of Employment & Industry at the City of Fayetteville in Arkansas. As an economic development professional for more than 20 years, my co-workers and I work to recruit, retain, and develop businesses in our communities. We, at the City’s Department of Economic Vitality, strive to be the business advocate and liaison between the city and more than 3,800 local businesses that provide more than 45,000 jobs in our city.

What drew you to being a mentor for an entrepreneurial group curated for non-men? How has being a woman or non-binary individual impacted your professional journey?

I am honored to have this opportunity to share my experiences with women entrepreneurs and thankful to be invited to join them on this ride. In the past, I have not thought about gender being an issue in my professional journey. After DEI became a trend, this paradigm does cause me to think further on this topic and its implications.

What are three things you enjoy doing outside of work?

Enjoying my family, cooking new dishes, and watching drama series.

What is your go-to piece of advice for professionals, entrepreneurs, or anyone looking to you for guidance?

What are the things that keep you up at night and how do we come to terms with them.

What is a professional achievement that you are most proud of, and why are you proud of it?

Being certified as a certified economic developer, CEcD. The passing rate is at 30% and I was told that it’s harder than a bar exam! The certification gives me the training and a solid foundation to do my job well. The designation gives worldwide recognition for the professional in the field of economic development and it helps to bolster my career advancement.