Share
Asian Business Owners - A.B.O.
3 Real Entrepreneur Lessons I Learned From My Guests
Season 4, Ep. 18
•
In this special episode of Asian Business Owners, I share 3 powerful lessons from top entrepreneurs in Asia.
From launching a fashion retail business to leading an auction house or building a sustainable beauty brand, these founders reveal what it really takes to succeed.
You’ll hear:
#1 How to turn uncertainty into growth — with Ariane Zagury, Founder of Rue Madame Fashion Group
#2 How sharp thinking and the right connections accelerate your rise — with Jonathan Crockett, Chairman at Phillips
#3 How keep trying and listening to the market leads to something sustainable — with Laurie Mias, Founder of MONO Skincare
Follow my show if you enjoy this episode ✅
Content:
Ariane Zagury, Founder of Rue Madame Fashion Group
(01:04) How She Found Her Voice In Retail
(04:33) Starting With The Wrong Business Plan and Reaching Profitability
Jonathan Crockett, Chairman at Phillips
(06:41) Transitioning Back to Corporate Was A Big Win
(08:51) Being an Entrepreneur: An Eye-Opening Experience
Laurie Mias, Founder of MONO Skincare
(10:19) Huge Misconception About Skincare
(11:25) The Very Tough Product Development Phase
More episodes
View all episodes
1. QUICK WINS: Why Your Content Isn’t Converting (And What to Fix First)
02:12||Season 6, Ep. 1You’re posting consistently and you're getting views and likes but no or very few leads or enquiries. Why does nothing happen?In this Quick Wins episode, let's break down why content often fails to convert even when it looks “good”. We’ll cover:• Why content without direction kills conversions• The biggest messaging mistake founders make• Why clarity beats persuasionConversion doesn't mean being pushy or salesy. You simply need to help people connect the dots.Timestamps:(0:32) No direction = no conversions(1:12) The outcomes mistake(1:33) Connect the dotsFollow me on LinkedIn and Instagram for more tips and behind-the-scenes!
38. SPECIAL — Bouncing Back After Setbacks: Burnout, Shutdowns & New Beginnings
20:13||Season 5, Ep. 38Have you ever come across big roadblocks in your career or founder's journey?In this special medley episode of Asian Business Owners, listen to founders who faced major setbacks:Gianne — when a business shuts down and a pivot followsAlan Law — burnout, wellness and redefining successCarmen — stepping away to reset, reflect and evolveTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction to Asian Business Owners Podcast(00:29) Overcoming Setbacks: A Special Episode(01:03) The CBD Business Shutdown: A Personal Story(02:51) Building a Support Network for CBD Entrepreneurs(04:45) From CBD to Lexi Media: A New Beginning(07:04) Allen Law's Journey: From Burnout to Wellness(11:04) Founding Seveno Capital: Investing in Wellness(12:16) The Bali Reset: Embracing Authenticity(19:56) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsListen to the entire episodes:GianneAllenCarmenFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it!
37. SPECIAL — 2 Quick Wins to Make Your Marketing Easier This Year
06:23||Season 5, Ep. 37Happy New Year! To kick off this new year, (re)listen to these two Quick Wins episodes that focus on making your marketing clearer, lighter and more effective.What it covers:Creating content that actually worksUnderstand your audienceBalance content formatsBut also:How to use Instagram Stories as a sales toolCreate time-sensitive offersSpark conversations and build trustStart the year focused, sharp and aligned.For more content, follow me on LinkedIn
36. SPECIAL — Pivots & Reinvention: Stories of Career Shifts That Changed Everything
19:23||Season 5, Ep. 36It's the beginning of a new year, are you secretly dreaming of switching careers, changing life, reinventing yourself?In this special medley episode of Asian Business Owners, listen to stories of reinvention from founders who chose alignment over comfort.What's covered:Jessie Li — from banking to building influenceCarmen — leaving corporate life in Paris to rebuild a career in Hong KongRenaud-Louis — from Rolex to entrepreneurshipTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction to Asian Business Owners Podcast(01:10) Reinvention Stories: From Banking to Influence with Jessie (04:23) Personal Branding and Influencer Marketing(08:09) From Corporate Life to Entrepreneurship in Hong Kong with Carmen(14:11) Rolex to Retail: A Journey of Humility and Family Business with Renaud-Louis(19:06) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsListen to the entire episodes:JessieCarmenRenaud-LouisFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it!
35. SPECIAL — 2 Quick Wins You Might Have Missed: KOLs on a Budget & Social Media Mistakes
06:28||Season 5, Ep. 35In this Quick Wins episode, revisit two powerful lessons many founders miss when it comes to marketing.1/ Let's break down how to collaborate with KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) without a big budget2/ Let's uncover the most common social media mistakes that hurt your growth Short, practical, easy to apply: don't miss this special episode, especially if you're reconsidering your marketing strategy for 2026.For more content, follow me on LinkedIn
34. SPECIAL - The Best Advice I've Heard Lately
05:50||Season 5, Ep. 34As the year comes to an end, I wanted to pause and revisit the advice that stayed with me the most.I've put together this special medley episode of Asian Business Owners, you'll hear some grounding and inspiring pieces of advice by business owners I invited on the podcast.Hit play and listen to them as you slow down, reflect and close the year. To listen to the whole episodes with the guests, tap the links below.(00:00) Introduction and Welcome(00:31) Reflecting on the Year(01:03) Gabriella Montandon: Why Fun Matters(03:22) Allen Law: Stress, Purpose & Sustainability(04:27) Gianne Chan: Gratitude & Personal Happiness(05:32) ConclusionListen to the entire episodes:GianneAllenGabriellaFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it!
33. BEST OF Quick Wins 2025: LinkedIn, VAs & Funding Without VC Money
08:47||Season 5, Ep. 33As the year comes to an end, I’ve curated a Best of Quick Wins 2025 episode with some useful and practical tips shared this year on Asian Business Owners.In this episode, we cover three areas many founders struggle with:Building a strong personal brand using LinkedInUsing virtual assistants (VAs) to save time and focus on what really mattersExploring funding options beyond venture capitalFor more content, follow me on LinkedIn
32. The 3 Real Lessons 2025 Taught Me as a Founder
11:15||Season 5, Ep. 322025 didn’t come with a big breakthrough moment.Instead, it quietly taught me lessons that reshaped how I think about business, creativity and myself as a founder.In this solo episode of Asian Business Owners, I reflect on:Figuring things out as I go (even if I want control)Listening to that inner voice when something feels “off”Being okay with being misunderstoodThese lessons didn’t arrive loudly but they made me more confident, more aligned and more resilient.I hope these lessons will help you too and I'd love to know what you learned this year. Tell me on IG (@abo.pod) or LinkedIn (link below).Timestamps:(00:00) Welcome To Asian Business Owners(00:32) Reflecting on 2025: Key Lessons Learned(01:25) Lesson 1(05:05) Lesson 2(07:37) Lesson 3(09:29) ConclusionFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it!
31. QUICK WINS: How to Find New Clients Without Cold Emailing
04:05||Season 5, Ep. 31Cold emailing makes you uncomfortable? You’re not alone.In this new Quick Wins episode, I walk you through 3 practical ways to attract new clients organically without sending a single cold email.We’ll break down:• How to pick ONE platform and own it• How to partner with complementary businesses & influencers• Why events still work and how to use them to your advantagePlus, a bonus pro tip that instantly makes your brand more relatable and memorable.Content:(00:15) You Hate Cold Emailing?(00:43) #1 Pick One Platform(01:29) #2 Partner With Local Businesses(02:10) #3 Host Events(02:39) #4 Paid Ads & SEO(03:20) Bonus Pro Tip To Make Your Brand Relatable(03:41) Final Tips & ConclusionFollow me on LinkedIn