Shows
Headstart On RecordWhat is it like being a young boss?Good leadership that inspires confidence cuts across age. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. It isn’t possible to draw lines along age, tenure, skill and leadership in the working world as neatly as previously. The image of top leaders has expanded beyond the notion of someone assuming their position after a long-drawn process. This is a convention upended, perhaps most prominently, by the heady proliferation of influential start-ups with precociously young leaders at the he...2024-12-1525 minThe Straits Times PodcastsWhat is it like being a young boss?Good leadership that inspires confidence cuts across age. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. It isn’t possible to draw lines along age, tenure, skill and leadership in the working world as neatly as previously. The image of top leaders has expanded beyond the notion of someone assuming their position after a long-drawn process. This is a convention upended, perhaps most prominently, by the heady proliferation of influential start-ups with precociously young leaders at the he...2024-12-1525 min
Your Money with Michelle MartinMoney and Me: How is Tokenization taking off in Asia?Did you know that according to a McKinsey analysis, tokenized market capitalization could reach around $2 trillion by 2030! And it seems like the interest in these digital assets doesn't stop there with news that the Monetary Authority of Singapore announced that it will introduce new measures to advance tokenization in financial services. So what do you need to understand about the concept of real-world assets and their tokenization on the blockchain? And what are the most promising opportunities for real-world asset tokenization in the current market? Find out with Michelle Martin as she speaks with Looi Qin En, P...2024-11-2625 minMoney and MeMoney and Me: How is Tokenization taking off in Asia?Did you know that according to a McKinsey analysis, tokenized market capitalization could reach around $2 trillion by 2030! And it seems like the interest in these digital assets doesn't stop there with news that the Monetary Authority of Singapore announced that it will introduce new measures to advance tokenization in financial services. So what do you need to understand about the concept of real-world assets and their tokenization on the blockchain? And what are the most promising opportunities for real-world asset tokenization in the current market? Find out with Michelle Martin as she speaks with Looi Qin En, P...2024-11-2625 min
Economics ExploredIs DeFi the Future of Finance? Exploring VirtuSwap’s Vision w/ Prof. Evgeny Lyandres - EP262Explore the mechanics of decentralized finance (DeFi) with Professor Evgeny Lyandres, who breaks down how decentralized exchanges work and how VirtuSwap stands out in providing liquidity for small-cap crypto assets. With insights into the challenges and future of tokenization, this episode offers a clear view of where DeFi may be heading. Evgeny is Professor of Finance and Head of the Blockchain Research Institute at Tel Aviv University. Disclaimer: This podcast episode contains general information only and is not financial or investment advice. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for Gene, please email him at contact@e...2024-11-151h 00
London Fintech PodcastLFP 259 - Exploring the future of Digital Assets and Asia's Fintech landscape - with Qin En LooiWatch the video version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1M4ODqxthw&t=973sIn this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark sits down with Qin En Looi, a leading figure in the Asia fintech space, to explore the future of digital assets and the convergence of fintech and blockchain technology. Qin shares his journey from a traditional Singaporean upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur and investor, co-founding Glints and leading Saison Capital. He reflects on how these experiences shaped his understanding of fintech’s potential in Southeast Asia. 2024-11-0624 min
PayPod: The Payments and Fintech PodcastInvesting in the Future Saison Capital’s Qin En Looi Talks Web3, Blockchain, and Fintech InnovationEpisode Topic In this episode of Pay Pod, host Kevin Rosenquist sits down with Qin En Looi, partner at Saison Capital, to explore the transformative world of Web3, blockchain, and tokenization in fintech. Qin En shares his insights on how Web3 is more than just a trend—it's an avenue with the potential to reshape financial services by increasing transparency, reducing intermediaries, and making global transactions more efficient. This conversation dives deep into the benefits and challenges of Web3, exploring its role in creating new financial products and offering global market access. Whether you're new to blockchain or...2024-11-0626 minEconomics ExploredThe Future of VC: Blockchain, Web3, and Emerging Markets w/ Qin En Looi, Partner, Saison Capital - EP256Qin En Looi, a partner at Saison Capital, discusses the venture capital landscape, particularly in emerging markets like Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America. Saison Capital, backed by Credit Saison, focuses on early-stage investments and has $150 million in assets under management. The firm has seen three exits and emphasizes the potential of Web3 and decentralized finance (DeFi). Looi highlights the efficiency and cost advantages of DeFi, citing examples like Thala, a decentralized currency exchange, and Helix, which tokenizes private credit. He also notes the geopolitical implications, such as near-shoring to Mexico, and the positive impact of the recent Fed...2024-10-0140 min
The Jamilia Grier Show31. What VC's Really Think About Your Pitch - Interview with Qin En Looi, Saison CapitalSend us a textSend us a textIn this episode, we uncover the mysteries behind the VC pitch process. Ever wondered what goes on inside the minds of venture capitalists when you're pitching your Web3 startup? Wonder no more! Our special guest, Qin En Looi, Partner at Saison Capital, pulls back the curtain and shares invaluable insights into what VCs really look for in Web3 companies.From the importance of authenticity to the metrics that truly matter, Qin En offers candid advice that every entrepreneur needs ...Join the ByteBao Network: Join a global community...2024-04-1434 min
Analyse Asia with Bernard LeongSaison Capital and Real World Asset Monetization in Crypto with Qin En Looi"The one thing that has become quite clear in Asia, at least it's direct to retail - the government is not ready. The market is not ready. And there still needs to be a very high level of consumer protection. A lot more of a B2B-to-C approach. Where, let's say today's Web3 companies will need to partner up with existing licensed entities, whether they be licensed startups or even licensed institutions to provide their offerings to the retail. That's actually really good. Because it provides safeguards. We saw what happened last time when we didn't have those safeguards. So...2024-04-0946 min
Venture with GraceQin En Looi: Empowering Founders at Saison CapitalQin En Looi is a Partner at Saison Capital. Saison Capital is an early stage fund with a focus on emerging markets. We back ambitious founders solving big problems, with deep fondness for web3, fintech and embedded finance - non-fintech companies expanding into fintech. Their team comes from an operating background, and we are unafraid to roll up our sleeves to support our founders. We are backed by Credit Saison, a Tokyo-listed 30b AUM consumer finance company with extensive financial services across Asia.
- Investment Focus and Strategy
- Operational Expertise and Founder Support
- Partnership with Credit Saison...2024-03-231h 01
BlockcastNavigating the 2024 Crypto Landscape With Saison Capital's Looi Qin En | Blockcast 15Dive into the future of cryptocurrency in this episode of the Blockcast, where we explore the 2024 outlook for the blockchain and crypto industry. With us, we have a guest at the forefront of the crypto VC world: Looi Qin En, partner at Saison Capital, who takes us behind the scenes of the Singapore-based firm – the venture arm of Credit Saison, one of Japan's largest consumer credit companies, revealing their mission, investment strategies, and the key factors that guide their partnerships and investments in the crypto space.Also: 2024 Outlook: The major themes and trends for 2024, including th...2024-02-0235 min
Under The RadarUnder the Radar: Saison Capital on investing in Pre-Seed to Series B companies, working with Stripe, and if VCs are running out of dry powder amid falling VC funding?The VC investment landscape is back with focus as we speak to the venture arm of one of Japan’s largest consumer credit companies, Credit Saison. Called Saison Capital, the corporate venture arm invests in Pre-Seed to Series B companies with a focus on Southeast Asia and India. While the firm is sector agnostic, it likes to work with founders that are building platforms or ecosystems that have the potential to distribute financial services to the underbanked. Question is, what expertise does Saison Capital want to provide to startups and how does that influ...2023-09-2820 min
Parents in TechMicrosoft x Parents in Tech: Embracing New Cultures with Kevin Chan Meet Kevin Chan, a proud father of six-year-old twins and Global Partner Solutions Lead. He and his wife moved from Seattle, USA, to Singapore to raise their children closer to their own Southeast Asian roots. With over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, Kevin has a unique perspective on balancing technology and parenting. He's passionate about helping his children build strong connections with their cultural heritage and believes that moving abroad has benefited their family in many ways. Kevin's experiences and insights make him a perfect guest for parents considering a similar move.
2023-07-2830 min
Parents in TechMicrosoft x Parents in Tech: Achieving Career Success & Parenting Bliss with Cynthia YeoGet ready to meet Cynthia Yeo, a powerhouse in the tech industry and a dedicated parent to three beautiful children. With over a decade of experience at Microsoft, Cynthia has climbed the corporate ladder while expertly balancing her career and family life. As the leader of the Enterprise Commercial Team in Microsoft Singapore, Cynthia inspires others with her resilient spirit, which she attributes to her strong and resourceful mother. You'll love her candid and honest stories of overcoming personal challenges and her commitment to helping her children flourish through independence and accountability. Cynthia's journey is a true testament to...2023-07-2123 min
Parents in TechMicrosoft x Parents in Tech: Balancing Career and Family Goals with Bryan ChuaBryan Chua, a Senior Solutions Architect at Microsoft in Singapore, talks about his family, his views on technology and parenting, and the values he and his wife want to teach their children. Bryan believes in exposing his children to technology and educating them on its benefits, but also setting boundaries and limits on usage. He emphasizes the importance of caring for others and sharing as values he and his wife want to teach their children. This conversation also touches on AI, its impact on the future of work and creativity and provides valuable advice for parents looking to balance...2023-07-1425 min
Parents in TechMicrosoft x Parents in Tech: Managing Career and Family Goals with Seow KhunIn this episode, I speak with Seow Khun, a mother of four who embraces a hybrid lifestyle offered by technology as part of her efforts to provide her children with an equitable upbringing. Seow Khun is the Public Sector Lead for Microsoft in Singapore. A mother of four boys who is fervently pursuing a certificate in disability studies and has a strong interest in utilizing technology to assist children with special needs.
In this episode, Seow Khun discussed how to provide employees the flexibility to truly control their work and home life balance, and how this is e...2023-07-0731 min
Parents in TechHow to Successfully Work with Your Spouse: A Couple's Guide to Work-Life Balance with Dan and MichelleMy special guests are Daniel and Michelle.
Daniel and Michelle, co-founders of Nimbus Group, an office and home cleaning service provider. They share their experiences working together, building a business, and parenting their nine-year-old daughter. Daniel and Michelle discuss their previous attempts at working together and how they learned to separate their work and personal lives. They also talk about the importance of having clarity on roles and responsibilities and how they have divided their responsibilities to avoid conflict. As the business has grown, they have been able to improve their work-life balance and set b...2023-06-1840 min
Parents in TechBook Club: Raising Confident and Secure Children - Raising a Secure Child and Raising Good HumansThe theme for this episode is raising confident and secure children. We examine two books — Raising a Secure Child and Raising Good Humans.
Raising a Secure Child, written by Kent Hoffman, Glen Cooper, and Bert Powell John, was published in 2017. This book helps us as parents to understand how our childhood experiences, psychology, and attachment styles affect our parenting, and is packed with practical tips. The book introduces a concept called the "Circle of Security" to frame Attachment Theory ideas. At the top of the circle, children need a secure base from which they can explore the wo...2023-06-0519 min
Parents in TechBook Club: How Children Learn - How Children Learn and The Montessori ToddlerThe theme for this episode is how children learn. We examine two books – the eponymous How Children Learn by John Holt and The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies. These two books discuss different foundations and methods to help understand how our children acquire and absorb information.
How Children Learn by John Holt was first published in 1967, and then revised in 1983. In 2017, a 50th anniversary version was published with a new prologue, although the content remained substantially the same. He wanted to create change by dissociating education from schooling, with the belief that children do not need and, in...2023-05-0119 min
Parents in TechBook Club: Developing & Nurturing Children's Minds - The Yes Brain and The Whole Brain ChildThe theme for this episode of Parents in Tech Book Club is developing and nurturing our children's minds. We examine two books by New York Times bestselling authors Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph. D., in which they deep-dive into the “why” of our children's behavior and the “how” for our kids to reach their full potential.
The first book is titled "The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child", and the second is titled "The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind". The first book tak...2023-04-0321 min
Parents in TechBook Club: Communicating with Children - How to Talk so Little Kids Will ListenThe theme for this episode of Parents in Tech Book Club is communicating with children. We look at two best-selling parenting books. The first book was first published in 1982 and has been called “the parenting bible” by many media outlets such as The Boston Globe. This book is none other than "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk" by Adele Faber and Elaine Malzish. Fast forward 3 decades, the daughter of one of the authors, Adele, was inspired by her mum and wrote her own book, which is the second book we will talk abou...2023-03-0521 min
Parents in TechLife After an Organ Transplant, Becoming an Ironman Triathlete, and being a Homeschooling Stay-at-home Dad with Cliff TamGrowing up with a liver transplant, training for the Ironman triathlon, and sharing what life is like as a stay-at-home dad in tech. I talked to Cliff Tam on how he decided to become a nurturing hands-on dad to spend more meaningful time with his family.
At a very young age, Cliff was diagnosed with cancer and went through a successful liver transplant. Despite growing up immuno-compromised, he went on to become an Ironman triathlete and gave up his career in tech and in Christian ministry to be present with his children.
C...2023-02-1246 min
Parents in TechThe Importance of Rest, Personal Mastery, and Setting Boundaries with Nathaddeus TanThe importance of rest, how parenting requires high self-awareness and discipline, and being firm with setting rules. I talk to Nathaddeus Tan about his experience with paternity leave, managing his emotions around his children, and the parenting styles between him and his wife.
Nathaddeus is Regional Sales Manager at Zscaler. When I recorded this episode with Nat, he was a Territory Sales Manager at SalesForce for almost 5 years, and has consistently been one of the top performers in his team. At Salesforce, he was selected for the prestigious Salesforce Leadership Accelerate Programme designed to groom f...2023-02-0533 min
One More ScoopOne More Scoop with Qin En LooiQin En Looi is a Principal at Saison Capital, where he actively leads pre-seed and seed investments in Fintech and Web3 firms, Prior to that, he served as co-founder and COO at Glints, the leading talent ecosystem in Southeast Asia.In his free time, he founded and hosts Parents in Tech, a podcast for parents in Southeast Asia.What made him decide to drop out of college? What were the events in his early life that shaped his path? What series of fortunate events that led him on an unlikely journey to co-found...2023-01-291h 05
Parents in TechManaging Finances, Protecting Marriage, and Being an Involved Dad with Joshua FooOn managing finances and being tactical in leveraging free resources, protecting the romance in marriage, and involving himself with the family, Joshua Foo shares his Parent in Tech stories as a father to two girls and two boys, aged 19, 16, 15, and 11.
Joshua Foo is the Regional Director at Chainalysis. Prior to joining Chainalysis, he spent 18 years in the IT and cyber security space, managing infrastructure at security teams and the Singapore government before moving to the private sector as the Sales Director for FireEye, RSE, and Cardboard Black VMware.
In this episode, Jo...2023-01-2937 min
Parents in TechExplaining tech to kids, resolving favoritism, and balancing gender roles at home with Eric ChanOn explaining how tech works to kids with simple words and techniques, addressing favoritism with rationality, and balancing gender roles with his wife at home, Eric shares his Parent in Tech stories as a father to two boys, aged 6 and 3.
Eric Chan is the Lead Product Manager at Grab. Eric started his career as the Design Engineer at Dyson before working in product roles at Razer, Igloo Home, and Property Guru. He’s a passion explorer at night and recently started a video podcast, Your Grit Story, featuring the stories of founders, leaders, and change-makers who...2023-01-2226 min
Parents in TechQuarantine Babies, Sleep Training and Work Slumps with Yao Hong Ch’ngHaving a newborn during quarantine, imposing a sleep training system for the kids and overcoming work slumps. In this episode on Parents in Tech, I speak with Yao Hong on parenting during quarantine.
Yao Hong Ch’ng is the Head of Engineering at January Capital. Previously, Yao Hong was one of the early employees at StashAway where he built the company’s flagship product from day zero. He managed product engineering launching in five different regions over four years and headed the business intelligence and data engineering efforts.
When asked about the one...2023-01-1526 min
Parents in TechRejecting the Status Quo, Drawing Boundaries, and Finding Balance with Shadab TaiyabiRejecting the status quo, drawing clearer boundaries, and finding the right balance in managing children’s relationship with technology. I talk to Shadab Taiyabi about how he and his wife adapted to COVID and created quality time, and shielded their kids from the perils of technology.
Shadab is the Head of FinTech and Innovation, APAC at Schroders. He is the President of the Singapore FinTech Association, a member of the Digital Innovation Committee at the Investment Management Association of Singapore, and the Head of Community at the FinTech Nation. Shadab is a father to two chil...2023-01-0827 min
Parents in TechIntentional Planning, Finding the Right Footing, and Setting Boundaries with Sriram VedDiving into the deep end of family planning, finding the right parenting footing with your spouse, and applying the concepts of integration and setting boundaries, Sriram shares both his and his wife’s experiences with their two girls, aged two and a half and 9 months old.
Sriram is the Director for Sales Strategy and Operations at Salesforce. He leads a multi-faceted team spanning sales strategy, sales operations, and go-to-market strategy. Before Salesforce, he began his career at McKinsey before joining Dell as the Director of Global Operations Strategy and Digital Transformation, and finally Salesforce.
2022-12-2635 min
Parents in TechThe Pros of Working From Home, Benefits of Coding for Kids, and the Value of Prioritizing Family with Steven TongThe flexibility that work-from-home offers, teaching computational thinking to kids at an early age, and the importance of family. I talk to Steven Tong on how he navigates through work, personal, and family life.
Steven Tong has more than two decades of experience in technology - starting from a solutions architect and IT consultant, to investor at SG Innovate and StartupBootcamp and now, leading innovation as Head of SAP.io Foundry in Singapore. He is a genuine, warm, and welcoming person who is a father to a nine-year-old daughter and a husband to his entrepreneur-couples the...2022-12-1930 min
Parents in TechTeamwork, Adapting and Having Empathy with Aditya KumarTaking turns to parent and bond with their newborn, facing challenges with a calm and discerning mindset, and being aware of one’s self and the people around us.
Aditya is the Head of Growth and Partnerships for Southeast Asia and India at HubSpot. Before this, he led the international expansion of Practo, a B2B startup in India, and was the country manager for Singapore. He is passionate on topics including sales and marketing tech stacks, low no-code platforms, and farm-to-table initiatives. Recently, in August 2021, Aditya welcomed his daughter into the world, along with his...2022-12-1232 min
Parents in TechDeveloping Soft Skills, Nurturing Creativity and Curiosity with John Tan from Saturday Kids and Doyobi
Letting children learn through hands-on experiences, collaborating with their peers, and allowing them to always ask “why.” In this episode, I speak with John Tan about the importance of helping children keep their spark and drive to learn.
John Tan is a father to five children, an education entrepreneur, and the CEO and Founder of Saturday Kids (for ages 5 to 16) and Doyobi (for ages 8 to 12). Both are coding schools in Singapore, and a product of John’s advocacy of inspiring kids to become curious self-directed learners. In the year 2019, he was recognized as an Obama...2022-12-0438 min
Parents in TechFlexible Working Style, Leadership and Massive Improvements with BanWei Chua of SleekProviding a balanced and flexible working environment that allows employees to fulfill their duties at work and at home leads to producing quality work. In this special collaboration with Sleek, I talk to BanWei Chua about how he balances work and family life through the flexible working environment that Sleek provides to parents like him.
BanWei Chua started as a developer and senior manager before becoming the Deputy Chief Technology Officer in Sleek. He is a parent to a boy and a girl, ages nine and seven.
In this episode, he discusses the importance of...2022-11-2725 min
Parents in TechHow being a mother helps me in becoming an empowered altruistic leader by Pauline Sim of SleekAllowing employees to meet their full potential at work by providing a healthy working environment where personal time is respected. The capabilities of women at work are acknowledged and nourished. In this special collaboration with Sleek, I talk to Pauline Sim about how she faces her adversaries at work and at home, how she handles her time, and how the work culture at Sleek enabled her to become a leader.
Pauline Sim worked in the banking industry for 18 years before becoming the head of the FinTech and Partnerships team in Sleek. She is a mother to two...2022-11-2028 min
Parents in TechSwitching Careers, Caring for others and yourself with Aisyiah Mohd from SleekSwitching careers in her 30s, caring for the people at Sleek and taking care of yourself before caring for others. In this special collaboration series with Sleek, I talk to Aisyiah Mohd about her journey of being a parent in tech despite having a non-tech background beforehand.
Aisyiah Mohd is the Head of People and Culture at Sleek. Aisyiah is a proud mom of two teenage kids who keep her young at heart, age 19 and 15.
In this episode, she discussed the story of how she left her stable job, stayed at home to c...2022-11-1327 min
Parents in TechValues Found and Taught in the Workspace and the Family with Sleek founder Julien LabruyereBeing a parent and also a founder perhaps can be challenging to others and might find it hard to manage their time. In this episode, I speak with Julien Labruyere about the importance of balancing professional life and time with family, especially with children and how it is different to raise kids in an Asian culture.
Julien Labruyere is a father to 2 children. He is an entrepreneur and the co-founder of Sleek (https://www.sleek.com), a one-stop solution for entrepreneurs, SMEs and investors to register new businesses from anywhere and effortlessly manage their accounting, pa...2022-11-0625 min
Parents in TechGiving Kids a Choice, The Art of Experimenting and Having a Work-Life Balance with Zi XinGiving kids the freedom to choose what they want, the art of experimentation on parenting techniques and setting clear boundaries between work and life. I talk to Zi Xin on how to manage time and energy for work, family, and hobbies.
Born and bred in Singapore, Zi Xin enjoys using technology to solve problems. He loves and lives to eat, but hates to queue - leading him to co-found Appic Technologies while in university. Appic Technologies was acquired by Chope in 2014, and since then Zi Xin has worked in product management leadership roles.
...2022-10-3028 min
Parents in TechFinding Love, Dealing with Fussy Eater Kids and Work-Life Balance with Gaurav JainGetting to know his wife through a magazine, convincing a fussy eater child to eat her meal, and creating a schedule to manage working from home. I talk to Gaurav Jain about raising his family in Singapore, while making work-from-home work with two kids.
Gaurav Jain is the Director of Engineering at Autodesk. Throughout his career, he has also started several side projects such as an online social platform for creative professionals and edutech mobile apps and games. He met his wife while browsing a magazine of potential partners, which turned out to be one o...2022-10-2430 min
Parents in TechMoving to Singapore to Raise a Family, and Prioritizing Family - Fitness - Work with Sammy ElazabAligning priorities on family, fitness and work, migrating from England to Singapore and breaking parenting stereotypes, especially around dads. I talk to Sammy Elazab on having a well-balanced work, personal, and family life.
In this episode, we speak to Sammy, Senior Sales Manager and Head of Online Sales Organisation - Southeast Asia at LinkedIn. Sammy and his wife moved to Singapore a decade ago with the intent of staying for 2 years, but fell in love with the sunny island and stayed on. He is on a mission to make the days of others better by h...2022-10-1723 min
Parents in Tech Raising Kids in a Digital World, Growing in Patience and Prioritizing Family with Lennard LimRaising children in a digital age, having more patience as a dad and prioritizing family over work. I talk to Lennard Lim on loving and raising two kids, and how family goes beyond bloodlines..
Lennard is a Product Manager of Trust and Safety at TikTok. He has more than a decade of product management experience at Yahoo, Singtel, BBC and most recently, GovTech, and a strong believer in making use of analytics for strategy and design. Lennard is a father of two, a son aged 11 and a daughter of their own aged 2.5 years old.
...2022-10-1030 min
Parents in TechModern Balancing Act Ep 3: Sharing the load - Tackling the double duties of a working mom by Amanda LauIn this special collaboration series with Workato, we talk to parents to find out how they create work-life integration and balance their career ambitions with family aspirations.
In this episode, I speak with Amanda Lau, Campus Recruiting Program Manager at Workato. She has more than a deacade of HR experience, helping people and organisations succeed through coaching, relationship building and HR program design. On top of that, she is also a mother to two children, aged four and seven.
As a recruiting program manager, she shares how Workato helps employees achieve wo...2022-10-0519 min
Parents in TechModern Day Balancing Act Ep 2: Being a super dad to 3 children while managing demanding work schedules by Steven HoonIn this special collaboration series with Workato, we talk to parents to find out how they create work- life integration and balance their career ambitions with family aspirations.
In this episode, I speak with Steven, Senior Manager of Business Technology Operations at Workato. Steven is father to three children, ages four, nine, and 13.
Steven shares the importance of coordinating with his wife to come up with routines to manage their work and home duties. He also discussed how Workato offered learning opportunities and technological support to adapt to post-pandemic ways of wor...2022-09-2822 min
Parents in TechModern Balancing Act Ep 1: Workato's supportive culture: How it has shaped me as a better leader and parent by Choon YenNurturing an open and inclusive work environment, encouraging employees to use their parental leave, and respecting everyone's hours. In this special collaboration with Workato, I talk to Choon Yen about how she is able to balance her time with work and family through the policies and initiatives that Workato has for working parents like herself.
Choon Yen is the Head of People Operations and Systems in the Asia Pacific and Japan at Workato. She is a mother to a two-year-old and her husband works as a mindfulness coach and a data manager at a non-profit....2022-09-2132 min
Parents in TechFrom Work to Home Ep. 6: Having Open Discussions, Battling Stigma, and Working Parents with Rahal KansaraThe creation of a safe space, encouraging environment, and getting rid of the stigma.
From Work to Home is a special collaboration series with Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform for businesses. I speak with Rahal Kansara on how she creates work-life integration and balances her career ambitions with family aspirations.
Rahal is from Stripe's APAC recruiting team who focuses on core business recruiting, particularly in risk and financial recruitment. She aims to provide a safe working environment for parent candidates coming to Stripe, as she, herself, is also a mother to her child, aged 9.
I...2022-09-0522 min
Parents in TechFrom Work to Home Ep. 5: Getting Uncomfortable, Seeking Help, and Setting Boundaries with Meenakshi DhingraGetting uncomfortable and challenged in a new environment, seeking help in times of need, and setting boundaries between work and family.
From Work to Home is a special collaboration series with Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform for businesses. I speak with Meenakshi Dhingra on how Stripe creates work-life integration and balances their career ambitions with family aspirations. Meenakshi is Stripe’s Global Community Support and Operations Lead for APAC. She is also a mother to 2 children, aged 13 and 9.Meenakshi expounds on her experiences, particularly in dealing with sacrifices for the sake of family, implementing work-life inte...2022-08-2928 min
Parents in TechFrom Work to Home Ep 4: Taking Opportunities, Challenges on New Soil, and Prioritizing Yourself with Vivian XuThe preparation it takes to take on a new job and a new life in a different country, facing and overcoming the challenges of raising a family upon just moving, and setting time for yourself.
From Work to Home is a special collaboration series with Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform for businesses. I talk to Vivian about her career with Stripe, her experience of moving to Singapore from the States, and how she has learned to be able to balance her work with her duties as a mother. Vivian is an Engineering Manager at Stripe’s APA...2022-08-2223 min
Parents in Tech From Work to Home Ep 3: Supportive Work Culture, WFH Adjustments, and Embracing Flexibility with Lisa HarrisDeveloping a supportive culture, coping with work from home adjustments, and embracing flexibility with Lisa Harris
From Work to Home is a special collaboration series with Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform for businesses. I speak with Lisa Harris about how Stripe’s policies and activities actively support working parents like her. Lisa is from Stripe’s People Partner team at APAC. She is a mother of 2 beautiful children, Mikayla, age 10, and Parker, age 8.
Lisa shares how Stripe cultivates the value of support and patience, proving how conducive their workplace is to buildi...2022-08-1527 min
Parents in TechRaising a Child with Down Syndrome, Overcoming Fears, and Partner Support during Pregnancy with Jonathan SeowThe journey of raising a child with special needs, overcoming the anxieties of being a first-time dad in a difficult situation, and learning how to show more support for one’s spouse. In this special episode, I speak with Jonathan Seow about the challenges and lessons he learned as a father of two.
Jonathan is the Chief Financial Officer at Moleac and a board member at Down Syndrome Association of Singapore. Jonathan has an illustrious career starting as CIMB before rising the ranks in the biopharmaceutical space. He's also an active advocate and supporter for fam...2022-08-1230 min
Parents in TechFrom Work to Home Ep 2: Establishing Support Systems, Being Upfront, and Learning Love Languages with Chek LimEstablishing family support and parenthood communities, being upfront on the topic of parenthood, and learning the love languages of your wife and kids.
From Work to Home is a special collaboration series with Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform for businesses. I speak with Chek Lim on how Stripe creates work-life integration and balances their career ambitions with family aspirations. Chek is from Stripe’s Customer Success & Payments Optimisation APAC team. He is father to 3 beautiful children, aged 7, 6 and 4.
Chek also shares how Stripe is a family-friendly company, and how it continuously helps...2022-08-0827 min
Parents in TechFrom Work to Home Ep 1: Coping with Pandemic Changes, Breaking Parenting Stereotypes, and Taking a Break with Sandeep NairCoping with pandemic changes, breaking parenting stereotypes, and taking a break with Sandeep Nair
From Work to Home is a collaboration series with Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform for businesses. I speak with Sandeep Nair about how important flexibility and crisis management skills are to parenting. Sandeep is from Stripe’s Customer Success and Payment optimization team at APAC. He is a father to three beautiful children, aged 5 and twins aged 2.
Sandeep shares how beneficial working at Stripe is especially during his adjustment period as a working parent in the pandemic, and m...2022-08-0120 min
Parents in TechFinding Balance, Nurturing Relationships, and Implementing Family Values with Praveen VeluFinding the right balance between career and family, building relationships with your children and spouse, and teaching children the value of discipline, patience, and humility. I talk to Praveen about his experiences as a dad with two boys aged two and five.
Praveen Velu is Strategic Partnerships Lead at Meta. Praveen started his career in financial broadcast journalism during the Global Financial Crisis with companies including CNBC and Yahoo. He then led network development at The Walt Disney Company in APAC, before co-founding Evie.AI, an AI personal assistant that schedules meetings. This is one of the...2022-07-2433 min
Parents in Tech Living Across the Globe, Optimism, and Similarities Between Parenting and Angel Investing with Jachin ChengMoving with a young family and living in different parts of the world, being an optimist at work as well as in parenting, and the fungibility of skills as a parent and an angel investor. I talk to Jachin Cheng on his take on parenting and investing.
Jachin Cheng is a Senior Product Manager at Google Pay and Google AI. He was born and raised in the US before joining Google in 2007. His 15-year career with them has brought him across Israel, the UK, Switzerland, and finally Singapore. His globe-trotting career, along with his wife a...2022-07-1738 min
Parents in TechWork-Life Balance, Being a Supportive Dad and Setting Boundaries with Eric WangPreparing for unexpected fatherhood was the beginning of Eric’s parenthood journey, as the career-oriented product manager shares how he had to pivot from a mindset focused on himself, to the life of an actively involved husband and father. Eric talks about how he balances his zeal for career growth with a passion for parenting and supporting his wife. He highlights the importance of setting boundaries to create time for his family, share the workload, and instill good behavior in his growing daughter. In doing this, Eric encourages other dads to take small steps towards being an engaged parent.
...2022-07-1038 min
Parents in TechRaising Twins, Setting Boundaries, and Family Bonding with Mark LeadercramerEncouraging kids, especially with twins, to think critically, using a routine to allocate time between work and family, and finding meaning. I talk to Mark about banned words in their house (“can’t”), achieving work-life balance, and spending quality time with family.
Mark Leadercramer is the Head of Enterprise Sales and Cryptocurrency for Stripe in Southeast Asia. Mark started his career in media and advertising before spending a decade building and leading Mintel, a market intelligence firm in Asia Pacific. Mark is passionate about coaching and building high-performing teams and is a father of three: the twi...2022-07-0330 min
Parents in TechDeep Work, Energy Management, and Winning in Adversity with Samuel HallCreating a space that encourages deep work for you and your peers, energy management as an introvert, and embracing adversity as a parent. I talk to Samuel Hall as he shares the wisdom and enlightenment he has collated over the years as a high-performing parent.
Samuel Hall is the CEO of Rainmaking Asia Pacific Venture Studio. Samuel was born and raised in the UK and started his career as a lawyer before moving to Singapore and building his career across multiple startups and new ventures. In 2016, he found that the Rainmaking APAC venture studio had a...2022-06-2640 min
Parents in TechTaking Risks, Embodying Patience and Compassion in Parenting, and Building Networks with Royce WeeTaking a career risk switching from public to private sector with a young child, becoming a nurturing father and leader at work while building strong networks. I talk to Royce Wee on his views on work-life balance and the importance of being a loving father.
Royce Wee is Head of Global Public Policy at the Alibaba Group. Royce is a lawyer by training, and his foray into technology began as Deputy General Counsel at the Infocomm Media Development Authority. Since then, he has held leadership roles in the intersections between tech, law and policy at or...2022-06-1930 min
Parents in TechSpecial: HackerNoon co-founders David & Linh on Parenthood Partnership, Decision Making, and Managing Kids' Screen Time Building a company as parent entrepreneurs, prioritization in decision making, and the role of technology in parenting. In this special episode of Parents in Tech, I speak with David and Linh Smooke on what it is like to be husband-and-wife entrepreneurs, maintain a routine to balance work and family, and manage their child’s exposure to technology.
David and Linh are the Co-Founders of HackerNoon, the leading hacker and developer publication on the internet that features more than 25,000 curious and insightful contributing writers. They are also the parents of a five-year-old daughter, Norah, and a soo...2022-04-2547 min
Parents in TechAdjusting to Parenting, Upbringing Influences, and Balancing Aspirations, with my wife Gladys KeeTransitioning to the new reality of being a mother, learning how to parent from your parents, and balancing career and parenting ambitions with your husband. Gladys shares with us her experience as a first-time mother who also aspires to have a thriving career.
Gladys Kee works in Client Services at The Trade Desk, an advertising technology company. She is also my wife and the mother of our 15-month old daughter, Gabby.
In this season finale, we discuss the lessons we learnt in our first year as new parents, as well as th...2022-04-1833 min
Parents in TechManaging Miscarriage, the Importance of Paternity Leave, and Being Vulnerable at Work with Sandra ErnstThe physical and emotional effects of a miscarriage, advocating for paternity leave to become a norm, and having an empathetic and vulnerable leadership style. I talk to Sandra Ernst about being a working mum and responding to the challenges of pregnancy and motherhood.
Sandra Ernst has been working in C-level roles in fintech since 2016. Prior, she worked in finance roles across Central Europe and Malaysia. Now, she is a COO at Igloo, an insurtech company in Southeast Asia. Sandra opens up about the miscarriage she suffered from a few years back and how she bounced ba...2022-04-1136 min
Parents in TechChildhood Influences, Role Modeling, and Women in the Workforce, with Lynette TanThe impact of childhood experiences on parenting styles and career decisions, the importance of being a role model for your children, and the place of women in the workforce. We talk with Lynette about her thoughts on bringing up children in a technology-saturated world.
Lynette Tan is Chief Executive and Board Member of Singapore Space & Technology Limited as well as co-founder and Executive Director of the Singapore Space & Technology Association. She has been featured by Fortune and CNBC for driving some of the world’s most innovative space startups. In 2020, she was appointed Karman Fellow, an a...2022-04-0436 min
Parents in TechSwitching Jobs, Inspiring Values, and Heguru Schooling, with Cynthia SiantarChanging jobs in the first year as a mother, cultivating values in children, and experimenting with a Japanese baby schooling method. Cynthia recounts her adventures since she became a mother less than a year ago.
Cynthia Siantar is Go-To-Market Leader at Bank Jago, Indonesia’s first fully digital bank. With more than 10 years of background in banking, start-ups, and fintech, Cynthia held key positions in ING Bank and Oriente, and in 2014 she co-founded Call Levels, a finance market monitoring solution.
Cynthia walks us through her thought process of switching jobs shortly after...2022-03-2834 min
Parents in TechResponding to Feedback, Empathizing with Others, and Managing Pressure, with Samantha PearlsonGiving and receiving feedback, empathizing with the perspectives of others, and fighting the guilt of putting yourself first. Samantha relates the motherhood experiences that have made her grow as a person and as a professional - from calendar management and prioritization, to conflict management and task delegation.
Samantha Pearlson is General Manager of South-East Asia Client Services at The Trade Desk, an advertising technology platform. She has long-standing experience in advertising and media, and a solid reputation as a leader in ad-tech. Recently, she was appointed Identity Council Member at the Interactive Advertising Bureau of So...2022-03-2037 min
Parents in TechSociety’s Expectations, Role Models, and Pursuing Passions, with Ngiam Xin WeiManaging expectations placed by society on mothers, pursuing passions despite a busy work and family schedule, and carving out time for yourself. Xin Wei shares with us her experience mothering two young children, and how she learnt to be physically and mentally present no matter how busy work gets.
Ngiam Xin Wei is Managing Director of Deliveries at Grab, the iconic Southeast Asia technology company that recently went public. Xin Wei is a veteran Grabber who joined in 2015. Prior to her current role in deliveries, she held key leadership positions including head of GrabHitch, the s...2022-03-1342 min
Parents in TechInternational Womens' Day Special: A Miracle Child, Untold Stories, and Mental Health with Queenie ChanA special Parents in Tech episode celebrating International Womens' Day.
Against all odds, Queenie had a miracle daughter after many years of waiting, defying a medical diagnosis that meant she wouldn't have been able to have a child. Queenie narrates how she was blessed with Angela but then she faced a number of post-natal challenges along with the start of the pandemic.
This challenging ordeal inspired her to share her story to help and uplift others who may be facing a similar situation, motivating her to create the platform "Untold Stories", a series of inclusion s...2022-03-0737 min
Parents in TechPositive Parenting, Prioritizing Family, and Multi-tasking with Michele ManigartApplying positive parenting techniques, setting family as priority number one, and multi-tasking to stay productive. Michele tells us how she makes the most of her time to pursue her career, raise two children (Chloe, aged 10 and Arnaud, aged 7), and find the time for sports, reading and investments.
Michele Manigart is Chief Strategy Officer of SEEK Asia. SEEK is a $12bn tech company Headquartered in Australia, with presence in 18 countries. It is most well-known in Southeast Asia for two leading brands - JobStreet and JobsDB, the #1 Job-search engines in Malaysia, Singapore, HK, Indonesia and T...2022-02-2746 min
Parents in TechMONEY FM 89.3 Interview: Qin En's Interview on The Breakfast Huddle Parents in Tech host Looi Qin En joins MONEY FM 89.3 on how he thinks the tech industry can power change and progression to better support working parents and greater work-life balance especially in this Covid-19 era.
Research by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) also showed that while most fathers want to use their paternity leave to be more involved when their child arrives, the key reason they do not is the lack of workplace support.
Qin En shares how workplaces can better support parents by relooking at how opportunities are allocated and p...2022-02-2516 min
Parents in TechCareer Breaks, Parenting Teenagers, and Shared Responsibilities, with Rama SridharDeciding to take a break in your career, parenting during the uncertain times of adolescence, and maintaining equal parenting responsibilities. Rama tells us how she manages to keep work, family, friends, and personal interests well balanced.
Rama Sridhar is Executive Vice-President, Asia Pacific of Mastercard, where she establishes digital partnerships and develops new payment flows and products. Rama leads a team of ~50 technologists, business and finance professionals to create the future, including crypto-funded cards. Recently, she was recognized as Innovator of the Year in the Women in IT Summit & Award Series.
Wit...2022-02-2043 min
Parents in TechChannel News Asia 938 LIVE Singapore Today: Qin En's Interview with Lance & CherylParents in Tech host Looi Qin En joins Channel News Asia 938 LIVE hosts Lance and Cheryl for a speed-conversation behind the founding of the podcast and lessons learnt from speaking to mums in tech.
Parents in Tech started from an unconscious bias Qin En realized he had between himself and his wife Gladys. Listen to this episode to hear what this bias was, and what a podcast has to do with this realization.
The one takeaway Qin En has for parents in tech is that there's really no one way. It's all about figuring out wha...2022-02-1505 min
Parents in TechStimulating Curiosity, Cross-Cultural Parenting, and Setting Priorities with Fannie SoubieleStimulating children’s minds, parenting in a cross-cultural environment, and setting clear work-life priorities. I talk to Fannie on raising two boys who are curious about the world around them while keeping up with career aspirations.
Fannie Soubiele runs Venture Capital Business Development at Amazon Web Services in ASEAN where she helps businesses scale and realize their potential. With a wealth of experience in startups, Fannie was COO of JFDI.Asia, one of the first startup accelerators in Southeast Asia. In 2020, she was recognized in Prestige’s 40 Under 40 List.
Fannie and her hu...2022-02-1341 min
Parents in TechAdaptability, Sleep Tracking and Support from Family, with Marta HigueraAdapting to situations, staying energized throughout the day, and building trust to deal with challenges. Marta shares with us her adventure of being a full-time working mum with two young children.
Marta Higuera is Managing Director and Partner at BCG Digital Ventures, the corporate innovation and venture building arm of BCG, dedicated to launching and investing in game-changing businesses. Prior to Digital Ventures, she co-founded real estate tech startup OpenAgent, one of Australia’s successful tech companies and recognized as Deloitte’s Tech Fast 50 ANZ and APAC.
An innate pathfinder, Marta reveals how staying flexible and...2022-02-0645 min
Parents in TechGrowth Mindset, Self-Promotion and Mentorship, with Karen HoAdopting a growth mindset, self-promoting effectively, and mentoring kids as they make the leap from adolescence to adulthood. Karen shares her experience juggling career ambitions with parenthood and learning to let go.
Karen Ho is Director of Finance at Salesforce and a certified facilitator of Google’s #iamRemarkable program, an initiative to empower women and underrepresented groups to celebrate professional achievements and develop an awareness of self-promotion.
While building her career of 20+ years in tech companies like Accenture, IDA and Dell, she raised three children. We discuss nurturing children with unique abil...2022-01-3033 min
Parents in TechDebugging, Breadth vs Depth and Learning to be Bored, with Sharmili RoyDebugging, Breadth vs Depth and Learning to be Bored, with Sharmili Roy.
Engineering experiences to instill self-sufficiency, self-awareness and survivability in our children who grow up in a tech-enabled world. Sharmili Roy shares how adaptability and debugging from her data science career is applied to parenting.
Sharmili Roy, mother of two sons aged seven and three, is a leader in AI and data science with a background in electrical engineering and biomedical imaging. She’s currently Data Science Senior Lead at Tokopedia and a Bangkit Mentor, building the next generation of data...2022-01-2332 min
Parents in TechScreen time, Sabbaticals and Default Choices, with Karen TayRewriting the narrative of a singular way to live and rejecting default choices. Karen shares her life-changing decision to move to the USA, take a sabbatical and the discoveries she made along the way. She offers tips on unlocking one’s potential and effective networking.
We discuss how parenthood has shaped Karen as a mentor, coach and leader. We also talk about the differences between Singapore and the USA regarding attitudes toward motherhood and career expectations. Karen shares her thoughts on the power of owning who you are, giving yourself the permission to change and emb...2022-01-1632 min
Parents in TechFEAR = Face Everything And Rise; re-defining the possible with Suganthi ShivkumarFace Everything and Rise - Suganthi shares her philosophy on managing fear, stress and anxiety as a working mum in a male-dominated industry, and the life-changing story that sparked it. We dig into the ultimate purpose of striving towards career success: our kids.
Suganthi Shivkumar has two daughters, 20 and 24. When one encountered an unfortunate accident, she restructured her life and career to dedicate her time to what’s most important. Currently Vice President of Asia at Alteryx, she’s held senior leadership positions at companies like Qlik, JDA Software and Informatica. In addition to all of thi...2022-01-0932 min
Parents in TechBaby Tech, Quality Time and Asking for Help, with Dr. Petty ChenAs a working parent, life gets easier when you are aware and make use of the resources available to you. Dr Petty Chen and I talk baby tech, knowing when to ask for help and quality over quantity when it comes to spending time with children.
Currently Director of Medical Products at ASUS, Dr Petty Chen began her career as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. She gained a Master of Public Health from Harvard University before transitioning into hospital administration and finally finding a place as a leader in health tech, all with a young c...2022-01-0234 min
MetaPodFind Your Why, with Qin En and Parents In TechWhat can podcasters learn from the world of tech startups ? Forbes 30 Under 30 listee and successful startup founder, Qin En Looi dives in with his new podcast project, Parents In Tech. Speaking at the very start of his new podcast, his topic stems from life experience for Young Guns in the startup world when children come along. We talk about how being open to learning and developing skill as a podcaster fits perfectly with Agile approaches to developing a startup business. "podcasting also helps me train and develop Active Listening. Because it's not just about a...2021-11-2923 min
Parents in TechIntroducing Parents in TechParents in Tech is my journey to learn about parenting, entrepreneurship and technology. Each and every one of you is welcome. This is how we can rethink work and parenting.
My name is Qin En, your host. I am a venture capitalist who was previously a founder, consultant and venture builder. Why should it be different back home? When did we start making decisions between “work” vs “life”? Who said that having kids sets you back?
We believe being a parent shapes you to be a better entrepreneur, investor and technology professional (a better person really...2021-11-1100 min
BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand & Malaysia Startups, Founders & Venture Capital VC (English)Looi Qin En on Co-Founding Southeast Asia’s #1 Tech-Enabled Recruitment Platform, Student Entrepreneurship, and the Leader’s Responsibility to Derisk - E12Looi Qin En is the co-founder and former COO of Glints. Founded in 2013, Glints is now the number one tech-enabled recruitment platform in Asia for employers to build successful teams. Their mission is to help all people and organizations to realize their full human potential.
They were the youngest founders to have raised venture capital in Southeast Asia. They are backed by VC firms such as Monk's Hill Ventures, 500 Startups, Wavemaker Partners, Golden Equator Capital, MindWorks Ventures, Fresco Capital and Singapore Press Holdings.
They have been featured on Forbes, Huffington Post, TechCrunch, Yahoo News, The S...2020-07-0930 min