Asian Business Owners - A.B.O.

After starting his career as a journalist, Anthony Sar spent years interviewing founders, CEOs and industry leaders.Until one day, he realised he didn’t want to just tell their stories anymore, he wanted to build.In this episode, we talk about what it takes to move from observing to building, pivot across industries and stay relevant over time.Anthony shares how he built Finoverse, the company behind Hong Kong FinTech Week, one of the leading fintech events globally and how he’s now entering a new chapter in AI.We also explore something deeper: why, in a world increasingly shaped by AI, human connection might become your biggest advantage.In this episode, we cover:– The shift from observer to builder– Leaving journalism to start from scratch– Building Hong Kong FinTech Week With Finoverse– Why most founders misunderstand “staying relevant”– How AI is changing the way we connect– Why human relationships matter more than everTimestamps:(00:00) Welcome to Asian Business Owners(00:31) Meet Anthony Sar(01:38) Journalism Roots(02:45) From observer to Builder(03:36) Entrepreneurship MBA(05:34) Risk and Curiosity(08:18) Moving to Asia(10:06) First Startup in HK(12:37) Founding Finoverse(13:38) Reinventing Conferences(16:06) Hong Kong Fintech Week(16:58) Scaling with Storytelling(18:43) Beyond Events Community(20:04) Challenges and Trust(22:47) Earning Trust Early(23:26) Co-CEO Dynamics(24:54) Why Pivot to AI(26:52) Events Need Better Matches(28:53) Samantha AI Explained(31:44) Voice Calls and LLMs(32:57) Business Model Insights(34:00) AI for Real Connection(37:34) Ethics of Humanising AI(39:43) Relevance Through Values(43:46) Stay in the Game(47:10) Closing and Outro👉 To find out more: FinoverseCheck out Anthony on LinkedInTo follow my journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it!

After more than 80 conversations with founders, I realised that I don’t remember everything, I remember one thing., one perspective, one piece of advice.That may be enough to change how I think and decide.In this solo episode, I reflect on what really stayed with me after all these conversations and how it changed the way I listen.I talk about:how little we actually retain from conversationsstories of patience, resilience and determinationthe lessons that stayed with me from past guestsTimestamps:(00:00) Welcome to Asian Business Owners(00:47) Reflecting on How Much We Remember From a Conversation(04:24) Alison Chan's Father's Inspiring Journey(07:55) Laurie Mias's Determination with MONO Skincare(11:14) Jingjin Liu on Pricing with Confidence(13:16) ConclusionListen to the entire episodes:Alison Chan and her father's storyLaurie Mias and how she built MONO SkincareJingjin Liu about building confidence and owning up to your pricingFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it!

For a long time, I thought I was on the right path. Good job, stable career, clear trajectory but something didn’t feel right.After years in the corporate world in Paris, I hit a wall: burnout, loss of motivation and a growing feeling that I needed to change something.In this solo episode, I (re)share the story behind that turning point. How I left corporate life, moved abroad and slowly rebuilt a career that felt more aligned.I talk about:what burnout really looked like for methe decision to leave everything familiar behindstarting over in Hong Kongfinding my first clients and building my marketing agencylaunching the Asian Business Owners podcastTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction(00:27) My life in Paris before COVID(03:17) Burnout and losing motivation(06:17) The decision to move to Hong Kong(07:33) Starting over and finding purpose again(11:05) Launching my podcast(14:10) Lessons learned & reflections(18:18) Closing thoughtsFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it!

Entrepreneurship changes how you see people, what you expect from them and what support really means.This is Part 2 of my conversation with Rasheed, entrepreneur and host of Entrepreneurs Stories Podcast.In this episode, we talk about the personal side of building a business and the part that affects your life outside of work.What we discussed:Why not everyone will understand your journeyWhy your close circle isn’t your target audienceHow your priorities and lifestyle naturally evolveFriendships, expectations and letting goChoosing energy over expectations🎧 If you haven’t listened yet, start with Part 1: Clients, boundaries and the people around you.Timestamps:(00:00) Welcome to Asian Business Owners(00:27) The Mountain Mindset(01:46) Gym Discipline(04:17) Look Back Progress(05:21) Goals and Balance(07:00) Unexpected Podcast Origin(09:33) Crafting Real Conversations(12:39) Entrepreneur Personal Growth(14:16) Therapy and Self Awareness(16:12) Loyalty and Consistency(17:40) Loyalty to Values(18:16) Therapy as Investment(19:40) The Ten Year Game(21:13) No Shortcuts Myth(22:45) Social Media Reality Check(23:45) Founder Life and Family(27:11) Passion That Spreads(29:10) Five Pillars of Purpose(30:47) Purpose Without Pressure(32:51) Keep Your Childlike Wonder(33:58) Closing👉 To find out more: Listen to Entrepreneur Stories podcastCheck out Rasheed on LinkedInTo follow my journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it!

Building a business changes more than your work, it changes how you handle clients, how you set boundaries and who you spend time with.In this special episode with Rasheed, host of the Entrepreneurs Stories podcast, we talk openly about the less visible side of entrepreneurship.Here's what we cover:Why building in public feels vulnerable at firstThe challenge of setting boundaries with demanding clientsPeople, teams, delegation and the difficulty of letting goHow entrepreneurship changes your friendships, priorities and support systemWhy energy matters so muchTimestamps:(00:00) Welcome to Asian Business Owners(00:37) The Fear of Building in Public(02:18) Entrepreneurship Never Stops(05:20) How Carmen Started Her Marketing Agency(06:48) Client Boundaries Reality(07:39) Cross Platform Marketing Agency(08:45) Small Clients Ask More(12:54) Rasheed's Multiple Businesses(14:09) People and Team Energy(16:32) Delegation and Trust(18:04) Hands Off vs Micromanage(21:35) Reframing Client Conflict(24:18) Setting Client Boundaries(26:03) Friendships and Entrepreneurship(30:05) Changing Priorities and Drinking(31:08) Support Systems and Spouses(32:51) Entrepreneurs See Each Other(34:38) Closing of Part 1👉 To find out more: Listen to Entrepreneur Stories podcastCheck out Rasheed on LinkedInTo follow my journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it!

I thought some things would get easier with time but they didn’t so I just learned to live with them.This is Part 2 of this personal solo episode of Asian Business Owners. I continue sharing what I still find difficult as a founder, what the reality behind running a business is.If you haven't listened to Part 1, where I talk about unstable income, ups and downs and mental load, go have a listen before tuning to Part 2.In this second part, I talk about:The challenge of managing timeThe weight of responsibility that comes with entrepreneurshipThe expectations we carry as foundersThese are things we don’t talk about enough but that most founders experience.Timestamps:(00:00) Welcome to Asian Business Owners(00:45) More Aspects of Entrepreneurship I Struggle With(01:19) Time Management(02:37) How to Deal With Priorities And Energy(04:49) Carrying The Weight On Your Shoulders(06:18) A Vision Without Guarantees(08:01) Support the Podcast(08:52) OutroFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it!