Asian Business Owners - A.B.O.

Faye thought she could do it all:Run her business, be a present mum, finish every project, keep every opportunity moving.But she realised she can't keep every plate spinning at once.In this episode of the ☀️ Summer Series, Faye Caddie, founder of Bump & Co., social antenatal programme, shares what she's learning about ambition, motherhood, business and knowing when to let something wait.We talk about:The pressure to do everythingThe decision to postpone projectsHow her customers changed the direction of her businessThe loneliness of being a solo founderWhy having the right people around you can change your confidence📣 This episode is in partnership with The Hive Wan Chai, coworking space in Hong Kong.Timestamps: (00:00) Teaser(00:42) Podcast Intro: the Summer Series(01:47) Meet Faye, Founder of Bump & Co(04:03) Inside The Antenatal Programme(05:14) What Brings Faye Joy(08:26) Letting Go This Summer(10:37) Business Pivot Beyond Classes(13:45) Society Motherhood And Work(15:45) Next Year Clarity And Confidence(18:13) Solopreneur Confidence Tips(19:54) Advice On Realistic Goals(22:00) Faye's Summer Recommendation(24:15) Wrap Up👉 To find out more: Bump & Co on InstagramTo follow my journey:📲 Find me on LinkedIn💬 Follow abo.pod🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners

☀️ This summer, I'm asking founders six short questions to understand what's on their minds.Today's guest is Sara Vazir, founder of Sara's Henna. For years, Sarah introduced herself as a henna artist. But recently, she realised that what she creates goes far beyond art itself.Her work is about telling stories, experiences, connection and exploring new possibilities.In this conversation, we talk about:Learning to set healthier boundariesSaying yes to opportunities that once felt impossibleCreating memorable experiences that tell stories📣 This episode is in partnership with The Hive Causeway Bay, coworking space in Hong Kong.Timestamps: (00:00) Teaser(00:46) Podcast Intro: the Summer Series(01:54) Meet Sara and Her Henna Brand(04:31) Relocating to Hong Kong(06:17) How to Set Healthy Boundaries(07:39) Saying Yes to Bigger Projects(10:06) Core Ethos and Community Connection(11:37) Current Summer Obsession(12:42) Big Goals For the Coming Year(15:06) Henna Retreat Story(18:01) How Sara Started Sara's Henna(19:54) Henna Benefits and Cultural Meaning(21:40) Advice From Sara(24:19) Sara's Summer Recommendation(26:02) Wrap Up👉 To find out more: Sara on InstagramTo follow my journey:📲 Find me on LinkedIn💬 Follow abo.pod🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners

☀️ This summer, I'm asking founders six short questions to understand what's on their minds.The first guest of this Summer Series is Vannessa, a life and parenting coach based in Hong Kong.For a long time, Vannessa organised free and low-cost events because helping people matters so much to her. Then she realised something that completely changed the way she saw her business:If I don't value my work, nobody else will.In this short conversation, we also talk about:• charging what you're worth• balancing purpose and profitability• building an intentional online community• rediscovering the joy of reading📣 This episode is in partnership with The Hive Kennedy Town, coworking space in Hong Kong.Timestamps: (00:00) Teaser(00:49) Podcast Intro: the Summer Series(01:54) Meet Vannessa(03:45) The Joy of Reading Again(04:52) Early Mornings and Intentional Planning(05:51) Charging What Youre Worth(08:44) Moving Abroad and Going Online(09:31) Building a Paid Community(11:42) Three Pillars of Coaching(12:37) Whats On Her Mind Now(13:01) Growing The Community(13:18) Moving To Malaysia(14:11) Life Of Constant Relocation(15:13) One Year Vision(16:44) Coaching Approach Explained(18:43) Balancing Passion and Numbers(21:46) Summer Habit (25:12) Wrap Up👉 To find out more: Vannessa's websiteVannessa on Instagram📣 This episode is in partnership with The Hive Kennedy Town, coworking space in Hong Kong.To follow my journey:📲 Find me on LinkedIn💬 Follow abo.pod🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners

Some of the biggest changes begin by stepping away. That's what happened to Jasmine Liu.In this Key Moment, Jasmine shares how burnout led her to take a solo trip to Bhutan, a country that measures success through happiness instead of GDP.What started as a break became an opportunity to slow down, reflect and rethink what truly mattered.This Key Moment could be exactly what you need to hear this summer, as it's a moment to question your direction, give you the space to reset and reflect.🎧 To (re)listen to the full episode with Jasmine :From Burnout to Building a Wellness Company: Jasmine’s Founder Journey✅ Get your free day pass at Garage Society!Timestamps:(00:00) Teaser(00:34)) Podcast and Guest Intro(01:41) Burnout Warning Signs(03:06) Solo Trip to Bhutan(04:02) Hard Questions and Permission(05:59) Back Home Small Steps(07:08) Balancing Work and Wellness(08:45) Rapid Fire This or That(10:13) Fintech Startup Lessons(11:28) Redefining Success Beyond Money(12:09) Slow Transition to Health Tech(14:28) Gratitude and Building From Zero to One(15:17) Wrap Up✅ Get your free day pass at Garage Society!👉 To find out more:Jasmine on LinkedInAttend the Build Well, Live Well Summit hereTo 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, some stories deserve to be heard again.This week, (re)listen my conversation with Maaike Steinbach, former CEO of Visa and founder of FemTech Future.After spending more than 25 years in corporate leadership, Maaike made a decision many people think about but few actually make: she left her executive career to build a startup with a mission.In this conversation, we talk about what it's like to leave corporate, start over, find purpose and build a business from scratch.We also discuss:• What FemTech actually is• The gender health gap• Building a startup after a successful executive career• Why women's health remains under-discussedTopics: career change, leaving corporate, startup founder, former CEO, Visa executive, entrepreneurship, founder journey, women in business, female founder, FemTech, women's health, leadership, purpose, corporate to startup, business podcast.Timestamps: (00:00) Teaser(00:51) Podcast Intro(01:46) Meet Maaike Steinbach(02:17) What Femtech Means(03:57) Leaving Corporate Leap(06:27) Personal Health Turning Point(08:24) Gender Health Gap Explained(12:17) Why It’s Big Business(13:26) When to Make the Jump(17:00) DEI Belonging at Work(21:49) Quickfire Questions(24:17) Entrepreneur Treats(24:53) Gender Bias After Corporate(29:53) FemTech Taboo Talk(32:09) Healthcare Gaps and Misinformation(35:37) Podcast and Community Events(36:42) No Business Plan Needed(39:30) Three Pillars and New Platform(42:31) Celebrity Advocates(44:50) Personal Boardroom Advice(48:55) Wrap Up👉 To find out more: FemTech Future's websiteMaaike's podcast FemTech at WorkTo follow my journey:📲 Find me on LinkedIn💬 Follow abo.pod🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners

The biggest career changes aren't always the ones we plan.In this Key Moment from my conversation with Mehroo Turel, coach and founder of Mums@PLAY, we talk about unexpected career pivots, listening to yourself and how every chapter can prepare us for the next one, even if you realise it afterwards.🎧 To (re)listen to the full episode with Mehroo :Transition & Reinvention: From Miss India to Entrepreneur in Hong KongTimestamps:(00:00) Teaser(00:46) Podcast and Episode Intro(01:13) Mehroo Career Pivot(02:01) Clothing Business to Standstill(03:07) Reinventing Through Teaching(04:19) Building a Coaching Practice(05:24) Why Coaching Felt Right(07:22) Coaching Basics Explained(09:27) Goals That Evolve(12:01) Wrap UpFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it!

Over the past 12 months, my business has changed.I made a series of decisions that didn't lead to a big breakthrough but changed how I operate and the direction of my business.In this solo episode, I share the seven decisions that had an impact on my marketing agency and my podcast.I talk about:• Building a personal brand• Refining my positioning• Learning to delegate more• My realisation about content distributionAnd more...Timestamps:(00:00) Teaser(00:48) Episode Intro(01:58) Decision nº1: Personal Brand(03:34) Decision nº2: AI Teammate(04:37) Decision nº3: Clear Target Client(05:55) Decision nº4: Podcast Repositioning(07:38) Decision nº5: Delegate More(09:12) Decision nº6: Distribution Plan(10:36) Decision nº7: The Biggest Decision Ever(11:33) Wrap UpFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it!

Growing up, Jerwine followed the path that made sense.A stable career, a secure future and a life that looked successful from the outside.But she had something else on her mind. There was always a creative side of her asking for more.In this conversation, Jerwine shares what it took to leave accounting behind, build THE BLOMSTRE in Hong Kong and trust herself enough to create a life that finally felt aligned.She also shares an exciting milestone exclusively in this episode, make sure you listen until the end!We talk about:Walking away from the "safe" pathStarting a creative business in Hong KongSelf-doubt and uncertaintyLearning to trust yourselfRedefining successThe exciting next chapter for THE BLOMSTRE✅ Get your free day pass at Garage Society!Timestamps: (00:00) Teaser(00:57) Podcast and Guest Intro(03:24) Life as an Accountant(04:54) Creativity After Work(06:51) Planning the Exit(10:07) Pandemic Candle Pivot(11:58) Pitching Retailers(16:00) Workshops and Wellness(18:27) First Big Corporate Event(22:18) Motherhood and Identity(25:00) Mentorship and Systems(29:50) Overwhelm and Boundaries(31:23) Husband Joins Full Time(34:14) Partners In Business(36:37) Quitting The Day Job(38:04) Dream Clients Come True(39:37) Comfort Zone Breakup(41:59) Slow Sustainable Growth(46:01) Time Delegation Hiring(50:11) BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!(52:07) Scenting Underrated Moods(54:26) Founder Mindset Shifts(57:57) Community Pay It Forward(01:00:59) Closing✅ Get your free day pass at Garage Society!👉 To find out more: The BLOMSTRE's websiteThe BLOMSTRE on InstagramTo follow my journey:📲 Find me on LinkedIn💬 Follow abo.pod🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners