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Ep213: On Leadership, risk taking, dual career to career transition. In the Making of Bessie Lee
Podcast highlights:
00:30 - What a warm up to know a bit about the kind of person Bessie Lee is and her ambition!
"....I am already determined to be the most tech savvy grandma say 20 years from now..."
02:18 – On Corporate Innovation, power play between global and local, change management, decision making and getting over obstacles.
09:36 - On leadership that creates change and impact:
For me, I was very committed, so much so, that I was willing to put my job on the line. Willing to be fired. That’s how far I would go. For executives who want to drive real change – you have to show your determination and commitment by willing to put your job on the line
12:44 - How were you in college? And first job? And learning’s to many a young talent listening or enablers of young talent listening in?
"...It’s all about “EXPOSURE” and "FIGHTING FOR YOUR OWN CAREER"..."
16:33 -Advise to managers, leaders, CEO’s?
You need to play with digital yourself to internalize it. Talking about it is not going to work if you don’t play with it. Take ecommerce as an example. You can talk as much as you want about eCommerce but you’ll never know the ropes of it unless you run your own little C2C shop. I set up my own little 2nd hand shop online. I wanted to experience as a seller, not just as a buyer.
19:12 - With your own experience as a CEO in multiple settings - what are some of the success ingredients or sources of influence in shaping people into leadership position?
25:28 - On successfully getting endorsement to have a dual career – part as a CEO of one of the largest holding companies in the world – WPP China and part running your own start up?
4 years ago I wanted to come out of my job. Sir Martin Sorrel agreed for me to have a 60:40 split between my CEO role at WPP and my own startup – on my time and pay.
30:42 - More about your entrepreneur venture - WithinLink?
We are a sector specific strategic investors that has a boutique portfolio but heavier incubation model. The sector we focus more is on marketing technology and ad tech – solutions which will empower agencies/brands.
33:38 - First month of starting up as an entrepreneur outside of a Corporate venture?
The first 9 months we didn’t have an office. Whether it was my HR partner, Corporate communications partner, Legal officer, CFO – all four of them are so talented and were on a career crossroad where they wanted to do something different, yet have their feat on the ground. We all shared a common career crossroad t thinking – we wanted to leverage the access we built in the past 20 odd years to help young companies. Least I could do was to offer equity interest of the company.
41:35 - Mentoring or sponsoring someone?
Both is about your commitment to someone else. You see a talent and you are committed to developing that person. You took it on as your responsibility or mission to develop this person. It’s a bit like my relationship with my assistant – Helen. I took it as my personal mission to develop her.
42:49 – You’re thankful to? For those who contributed to your journey
1. F K Leong - My first boss who took me on and fast track me
2. Kelly Clark - Who was willing to try me for China role
3. Sir Martin Sorrel – I want to thank him for his openness. When I sat down with him to discuss this 2 career/ 2 hat arrangement – he was open to it and in the end happy to accept it
4. All the 13 team members of WithinLink – who were willing to take that risk. We are nowhere near being comfortable. We are still a bumpy ride but hope they are having as much fin as I am now.
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By Graham BrownPodcast highlights:
00:30 - What a warm up to know a bit about the kind of person Bessie Lee is and her ambition!
"....I am already determined to be the most tech savvy grandma say 20 years from now..."
02:18 – On Corporate Innovation, power play between global and local, change management, decision making and getting over obstacles.
09:36 - On leadership that creates change and impact:
For me, I was very committed, so much so, that I was willing to put my job on the line. Willing to be fired. That’s how far I would go. For executives who want to drive real change – you have to show your determination and commitment by willing to put your job on the line
12:44 - How were you in college? And first job? And learning’s to many a young talent listening or enablers of young talent listening in?
"...It’s all about “EXPOSURE” and "FIGHTING FOR YOUR OWN CAREER"..."
16:33 -Advise to managers, leaders, CEO’s?
You need to play with digital yourself to internalize it. Talking about it is not going to work if you don’t play with it. Take ecommerce as an example. You can talk as much as you want about eCommerce but you’ll never know the ropes of it unless you run your own little C2C shop. I set up my own little 2nd hand shop online. I wanted to experience as a seller, not just as a buyer.
19:12 - With your own experience as a CEO in multiple settings - what are some of the success ingredients or sources of influence in shaping people into leadership position?
25:28 - On successfully getting endorsement to have a dual career – part as a CEO of one of the largest holding companies in the world – WPP China and part running your own start up?
4 years ago I wanted to come out of my job. Sir Martin Sorrel agreed for me to have a 60:40 split between my CEO role at WPP and my own startup – on my time and pay.
30:42 - More about your entrepreneur venture - WithinLink?
We are a sector specific strategic investors that has a boutique portfolio but heavier incubation model. The sector we focus more is on marketing technology and ad tech – solutions which will empower agencies/brands.
33:38 - First month of starting up as an entrepreneur outside of a Corporate venture?
The first 9 months we didn’t have an office. Whether it was my HR partner, Corporate communications partner, Legal officer, CFO – all four of them are so talented and were on a career crossroad where they wanted to do something different, yet have their feat on the ground. We all shared a common career crossroad t thinking – we wanted to leverage the access we built in the past 20 odd years to help young companies. Least I could do was to offer equity interest of the company.
41:35 - Mentoring or sponsoring someone?
Both is about your commitment to someone else. You see a talent and you are committed to developing that person. You took it on as your responsibility or mission to develop this person. It’s a bit like my relationship with my assistant – Helen. I took it as my personal mission to develop her.
42:49 – You’re thankful to? For those who contributed to your journey
1. F K Leong - My first boss who took me on and fast track me
2. Kelly Clark - Who was willing to try me for China role
3. Sir Martin Sorrel – I want to thank him for his openness. When I sat down with him to discuss this 2 career/ 2 hat arrangement – he was open to it and in the end happy to accept it
4. All the 13 team members of WithinLink – who were willing to take that risk. We are nowhere near being comfortable. We are still a bumpy ride but hope they are having as much fin as I am now.