Karen Contet discusses her role in two startups that motivates and encourages others by her example, ’Women Who Code HK and W Hub’, insights into what it takes to switch industries and career path, her approach to maintaining a rich balance to all aspects of life, and advice to just starting out entrepreneurs.
Introduction: (0:01 – 0:43)
Neville J McKenzie introduces the podcast and the guest, Karen ContetMentions the purpose of the podcast and encourages listeners to visit the website and leave commentsBackground and Startups: (0:46 – 2:24)
Karen Farzam introduces herself as the co-founder of W Hub and Women Who Code Hong KongTalks about the purpose of W Hub as a startup profile-driven platform showcasing startups and helping them find synergy with other startupsDiscusses the challenges and growth of the tech startup scene in Hong Kong over the past five yearsShares her motivation for transitioning from a career in finance to the startup ecosystemTeaching and Events: (2:25 – 3:34)
Karen talks about teaching front-end web development at General AssemblyMentions organising events and job fairs to bridge the gap between startups and talentHighlights the importance of showcasing startup missions and values to attract the right talentDiscusses her involvement in Women Who Code and their efforts to encourage more women to join the tech industryLearning to Code and Balance: (3:36 – 6:01)
Karen shares her journey of learning to code and building the W Hub websiteTalks about the logical nature of coding and the supportive coding communityDiscusses the importance of work-life balance and the challenges of being an entrepreneur with a familyMentions the need to unplug and the role of sports in achieving balanceStarting a Startup and Advice: (6:03 – 8:19)
Karen talks about the importance of having a supportive co-founder and listening to different perspectivesShares her experience of facing skepticism and the need to prove doubters wrongEmphasises the value of hard work, connecting with the right people, and leveraging word-ofmouth for startup successGives advice to aspiring entrepreneurs to challenge their ideas, focus on execution, and launch their Minimum Viable Product (MVP)Expansion and Contact: (8:21 – 17:09)
Karen discusses the expansion plans of W Hub to other countries in AsiaMentions the importance of having local people to understand country-specific challengesTalks about attracting people to be involved through networking, media presence, and word-of-mouthProvides her contact information and encourages people to get in touchConclusion: (17:12 – 18:57)
Neville J McKenzie thanks Karen for the interview and wishes her successMentions the website and encourages listeners to visit for more informationEnds with closing remarks and outro musicThe post EIA 006 Motivating by Example appeared first on AsiaBizStories.