Crazy Smart Asia

“People were shocked when I told them that there was a time during Covid, before we founded Green Rebel, where we had a cash reserve that could last us only a week,” says Green Rebel and Burgreens co-founder and CEO Helga Angelina Tjahjadi, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Chong Seow Wei, the double plant-based business entrepreneur shares how she went from pandemic nightmare to Starbucks mega-deal, why she went social-media viral for the wrong reasons and her plans to build the business into a global franchise.

"The first generation builds the family business, second generation consolidates it, third one destroys it,” says Nepalese business mogul and philanthropist Binod Chaudhary on Crazy Smart Asia. With his son and successor Nirvana, he spoke to Tatler Asia president Tamara Lamunière about navigating relationships as a business family, how to have those awkward succession planning chats and trusting your intuition. 00:00 Introduction to Crazy Smart Asia and today's guests01:03 The dynamics of family businesses in Asia02:15 Inside the Choudhury family business: a billionaire father son duo03:59 Navigating generational shifts 07:12 Binod and Nirvana’s distinct focuses10:04 Exploring the path to IPO12:03 The family philosophy 25:52 The Chaudhary’s shared values27:34 Closing remarks and credits

“I washed my face with a bar of soap,” says Charlotte Cho, the founder of K-beauty marketplace Soko Glam and skincare brand Then I Met You, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, the OG K-beauty entrepreneur explains how to centre your work in the Korean art of “Jeong”, the VC trap founders must beware of and secrets from inside the beauty industry.

“In F&B, we love to torture ourselves. But with the pain comes the joy of serving people, seeing people smile while eating their food,” says Chin Ren Yi, the co-founder of MyBurgerLab, a popular burger chain in Malaysia known for its local flavours and charcoal buns, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, the entrepreneur shares his insights for longevity in his industry, overcoming co-founder split struggles and why focusing on being happy is his number one priority. Show notes00:00 Welcome to Crazy Smart Asia: getting to know Chin Ren Yi01:24 Quickfire questions: the man behind the burger02:19 Childhood reflections: mimicry, education and family time05:46 A life-changing moment under the stars: from engineering to F&B06:46 The introvert's journey to being an extroverted entrepreneur09:00 The birth of MyBurgerLab12:28 Marketing masterstroke: the viral charcoal burger15:50 Challenges of starting a business20:12 Early F&B experiences and influences21:35 Crafting a unique burger experience with local flavours23:23 Defining success through impact and growth24:11 Achieving business longevity 25:05 Marketing focus on college students27:45 Community leadership during the pandemic32:44 Future plans35:06 Learning from a co-founder leaving the business40:32 Moving beyond hustle culture

“Maybe your concept of entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be those of Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk,” says Louise Mabulo, the founder of The Cacao Project, a restorative agroforestry initiative, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, the entrepreneur, farmer and chef shares how she went from Masterchef Junior to TED Talk speaker to bringing pride back to farming in Asia.Show notes:00:30 The journey of a young farmer, chef, and entrepreneur01:27 Quick fire questions with Louise Mabulo02:16 From Wales to the Philippines: a story of homecoming and discovery03:31 MasterChef Junior and the birth of a passion for chocolate12:29 The genesis of The Cacao Project: turning crisis into opportunity23:31 Expanding The Cacao Project and future aspirations26:05 Personal reflections and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs31:22 Wrapping up: the importance of family and community

This week, we pick out five inspiring quotes from the seventh season of Crazy Smart Asia to help you build a better world, better business or better you. Listen for a quickfire highlights reel of crazy-smart perspectives from our guests—from a record-breaking powerlifter to a heel-wearing Japanese monk.If you enjoyed these short clips, why not go back and listen to the full episodes: The recipe to keeping the creative flame alive, with André Chiang and Syed Asim Hussain The power of small steps with impact entrepreneur and mountaineer, Christine Amour-LevarBootstrap business to multimillion-dollar fashion brand with Love, Bonito co-founder, Rachel LimThe key to self-acceptance with Buddhist monk and LGBTQ+ icon, Kodo Nishimura Raising the bar: Singapore’s record-breaking powerlifter Farhanna Farid on the champion mindset

“I never really thought cooking was my thing,” says culinary anthropologist Nithiya Laila, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, Laila shares how she’s built a business around communal eating, how the produce we grow and eat tells the story of who we are and the surprising reason she played truant at school.

“I really believe in the power of small steps. That discipline has been key in achieving certain things in my life,” says Christine-Amour Levar, the Singapore-based founder of NGOs Women on a Mission and Her Planet Earth, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, the avid mountaineer shares how her divorce reconnected her with nature, why her mother calls her a “little ant” and how she’s supporting other women, one expedition at a time. 

“I might be homosexual, but it does not matter. Anybody can be enlightened,” says Japanese author, Buddhist monk and LGBTQ+ icon Kodo Nishimura, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, Nishimura shares his journey growing up queer in a temple, how to build your uniqueness into a brand and why he’s got love for Sailor Moon, Drew Barrymore and Super Mario.