Current Role | Co-Founder, Grab – Southeast Asia’s Leading Super-App |
Previous Position | Management Consultant, McKinsey & Company |
Key Recognition | Forbes Asia Power Businesswomen 2020 | Led Grab to $40 Billion IPO Valuation |
Background and Early Foundations
Tan Hooi Ling’s rise from a modest upbringing in Malaysia to co-founding Grab, Southeast Asia’s largest technology platform, exemplifies strategic foresight and relentless execution. Initially trained as a mechanical 4 engineer at the University of Bath, she later pursued an MBA at Harvard Business School, where the idea for Grab was born as a class project focused on improving safety and efficiency in Southeast Asia’s transport sector.
Her early stints at McKinsey & Company and Salesforce helped refine her skills in strategic analysis, market expansion, and operational scaling, all of which played a critical role in Grab’s meteoric growth across the region.
Career Milestones and Impact
Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
2012 | Co-founded MyTeksi in Kuala Lumpur, which evolved into Grab |
2014 | Orchestrated Grab’s regional expansion into Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines |
2018 | Played a pivotal role in Grab’s acquisition of Uber Southeast Asia |
2021 | Led Grab to a historic $40 billion NASDAQ listing via SPAC |
Monthly Active Users (Grab Platform) | Over 180 million across 8 countries |
Employees Managed During Growth Phase | More than 8,000 |
Cities Operated In | Over 500 across Southeast Asia |
Digital Finance Initiatives | Spearheaded GrabPay, reaching over 50 million users |
Leadership Style and Influence
Tan Hooi Ling is known for her methodical and grounded leadership approach, balancing analytical rigor with empathetic management. She has championed a culture of collaboration, diversity, and data-driven decision-making, particularly focusing on increasing female representation in tech leadership at Grab.
Her influence is noted in product development strategy, where she consistently emphasized user experience, innovation, and social impact, particularly in areas like urban mobility and financial inclusion.
Legacy and Future Focus
In 2023, Tan stepped back from day-to-day operations at Grab, transitioning into an advisory role while dedicating her time to mentorship, impact investing, and supporting emerging Southeast Asian entrepreneurs.
Her legacy is firmly embedded in Grab’s transformation into Southeast Asia’s first decacorn, proving that technology rooted in local insights can scale globally. Through Grab, she has left a mark not only on urban transport but also on the digital economy and inclusive growth across the region.
