The Adrian Tan Show

How do you build trust at work—and the confidence to leave a corporate career? Audrey Low joins Adrian Tan to discuss her move into coaching and entrepreneurship, and why relationships matter as much as individual performance.

Audrey, founder of Designing Trust and co-host of The Curious Co. Podcast, reflects on her upbringing in China, an early career crisis and the lessons that shaped her approach to coaching. They explore generosity, measuring trust in organisations and practical advice for aspiring solopreneurs.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:53 Audrey's background and life in China

01:50 Culture and education

02:52 Practical life skills

05:03 Radical generosity and personal growth

09:47 Career journey and a quarter-life crisis

11:58 Moving into coaching and entrepreneurship

19:09 Trust in relationships

23:08 Measuring and building organisational trust

28:24 Reflections and future aspirations

43:48 Advice for aspiring solopreneurs

47:15 Closing thoughts

Connect with Audrey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreylowhx/

Designing Trust: https://designingtrust.co/

The Curious Co. Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KgjtfgfGrHyZ9UI3YfZqy

Original episode sponsor: Deel — https://www.deel.com/adriantan

More from Adrian: https://www.adriantan.com.sg

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/

What does a board director actually do—and how do you build a career beyond one job? Wong Su-Yen joins Adrian Tan to discuss the responsibilities, risks and realities of board service, alongside speaking, teaching and self-employment.

Drawing on her leadership and consulting experience, Su-Yen explains how she manages parallel careers, discovers her strengths and builds a support network. The conversation offers a practical look at preparing for independent work and deciding when to hire help.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Meet Wong Su-Yen

01:24 From music to marketing

02:00 Consulting and leadership

02:45 Choosing board roles

04:17 Managing parallel careers

07:09 What board directors actually do

11:38 Her first board role

13:54 Responsibilities and risks

19:06 Managing multiple board roles

22:19 Speaking and teaching

23:56 Balancing different kinds of work

24:44 Discovering your strengths

27:04 Trying new things

29:38 The realities of self-employment

30:21 Building a supportive community

34:26 Preparing for self-employment

40:00 Managing your time

43:03 Hiring support

44:29 Closing thoughts

Connect with Su-Yen: https://www.suyenwong.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suyenwong/

Original episode sponsor: Deel — https://www.deel.com/adriantan

More from Adrian: https://www.adriantan.com.sg

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/

Everyday parenting challenges can reveal business opportunities. Nancy Lai joins Adrian Tan to discuss building Playand, a modular foam furniture brand, and A Mighty Mum, a nursing clothing line.

Nancy shares her journey across entrepreneurship and teaching, and how she balances family priorities with product development and running e-commerce businesses. They also discuss bootstrapping, choosing tools, managing time and dealing with self-doubt.

In this episode:

• Creating products around problems encountered as a parent.

• Launching businesses during the pandemic.

• Family priorities, time management and selecting tools.

• Cash flow, bootstrapping and early business challenges.

• Imposter syndrome and advice for aspiring mumpreneurs.

Originally published in March 2025. Brands and business references reflect the original conversation.

Original episode sponsor: Deel. https://www.deel.com/adriantan

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:29 Introducing Nancy Lai

01:25 Nancy’s e-commerce brands

03:27 Startup journey

06:47 Teaching and the pandemic

08:52 Starting businesses during COVID-19

13:28 Family and business

15:52 Product development and parenting problems

22:04 Business philosophy and family priorities

26:44 Time management

27:20 Business and family balance

28:30 Choosing tools

29:40 Starting a business

30:26 Cash flow

31:52 Bootstrapping stories

38:40 Imposter syndrome and self-doubt

46:33 Advice for aspiring mumpreneurs

51:24 Final thoughts

Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lnancy/

Playand: https://www.playand.store/

A Mighty Mum: https://www.amightymum.com/

More from Adrian: https://www.adriantan.com.sg/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/

Does your business support the life you want? Ezekiel Vicente joins Adrian Tan to discuss moving from Mindvalley into executive coaching and fractional leadership.

The conversation explores the challenges founders face, building a network, hiring well and identifying the real problem behind a business struggle. Ezekiel also shares his perspective on purpose, adaptability and relationships within leadership teams.

In this episode:

• Moving from an executive role into coaching and fractional work.

• Starting out, networking and balancing responsibilities.

• Hiring, team building and interpersonal challenges.

• Knowing your why and building a business that serves you.

• Staying relevant and developing leadership skills.

Originally published in March 2025. Roles and business references reflect the original conversation.

Original episode sponsor: Deel. https://www.deel.com/adriantan

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:29 Introducing Ezekiel Vicente

00:58 Executive coaching journey

03:12 Different roles and responsibilities

06:25 Entrepreneurial challenges

12:32 Building a network and starting out

18:03 Personal and professional life

20:28 Hiring and team building

23:07 Interpersonal issues

25:26 Identifying the real problem

26:00 Motivation

26:50 Changing business perspective

28:07 Knowing your why

28:49 A business that serves you

29:21 The role of a coach

30:14 Adaptability and relevance

34:57 Relationships and teams

39:20 Leadership skills

44:04 Personal and professional growth

47:34 Final thoughts

Connect with Ezekiel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezekielvicente/

Website: https://www.ezekielvicente.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ezekielvicente/

More from Adrian: https://www.adriantan.com.sg/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/

What does it take to move from nursing into entrepreneurship? Amir Bashirudin, founder of The Golden Nuggets Podcast, joins Adrian Tan to share his career change, early business lessons and experiences building a podcast.

Amir reflects on financial setbacks, education and the everyday realities of running a business. The conversation also covers the podcasting landscape and what to consider before starting a show of your own.

In this episode:

• The move from anaesthesia nursing into business.

• Personal experiences of financial struggles and rebuilding.

• Early ventures and lessons from entrepreneurship.

• Education, business life and podcasting in Singapore.

• Starting a podcast and developing its direction.

Originally published in March 2025. Roles and business references reflect the original conversation.

Original episode sponsor: Deel. https://www.deel.com/adriantan

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:29 From nurse to entrepreneur

01:02 Discovering business

03:47 Financial struggles and overcoming debt

15:36 Early business ventures and lessons

26:35 Entrepreneurship and education in Singapore

29:06 Entrepreneurial life

33:30 The podcasting landscape

45:47 Starting a podcast

50:46 Final thoughts

Connect with Amir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbashirudin/

The Golden Nuggets Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2BIzxahlacXYqp8B1fZ324

Podcast services: https://www.tgnpodcast.com/

More from Adrian: https://www.adriantan.com.sg/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/

Who are you beyond your job title? Adeline Tiah joins Adrian Tan to discuss career reinvention, skill stacking and building a working life that fits changing circumstances.

Adeline shares her move from marketing into coaching and the experience of writing Reinvent 4.0. They explore finding a niche, combining skills, maintaining a community as a solopreneur and managing time as a portfolio career grows.

In this episode:

• Adeline’s career pivots and transition into coaching.

• Writing Reinvent 4.0 and thinking about the future of work.

• Identity, skill stacking and choosing a coaching niche.

• Solopreneurship, community and managing workload.

Originally published in March 2025. Roles and programme references reflect the original conversation.

Original episode sponsor: Deel. https://www.deel.com/adriantan

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:29 Reinvention

00:59 Introducing Adeline Tiah

02:22 Career journey

03:13 The pivot to coaching

05:27 Writing Reinvent 4.0

12:09 The future of work

17:19 Perspectives on success

23:04 Solopreneurship and community

25:25 Coaching as a career

26:44 Applying coaching skills

27:13 Finding a coaching niche

28:39 The Life Point 2.0 programme

29:07 Identity beyond job titles

32:30 Skill stacking

39:56 Financial choices and career decisions

44:52 Time management and burnout

48:16 Final thoughts

Connect with Adeline: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adeline-tiah/

More from Adrian: https://www.adriantan.com.sg/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/

When is it time to leave a path that no longer fits? Cheryl Lau joins Adrian Tan to discuss leaving law school and a PhD programme, building a podcast and defining success on her own terms.

Cheryl shares what helped her make difficult career decisions and stay consistent with content creation. They explore authenticity, family expectations, listener relationships and how to handle criticism without letting metrics define the work.

In this episode:

• Moving from academia into podcasting.

• Finding permission to quit and choosing a different direction.

• Consistency, authenticity and success beyond metrics.

• Family expectations and advice for Asian entrepreneurs.

• Building listener relationships and handling criticism.

Originally published in February 2025. Podcast names and career references reflect the original conversation.

Original episode sponsor: Deel. https://www.deel.com/adriantan

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:52 From law school to podcasting

02:55 Consistency

07:12 Leaving the PhD programme

08:49 Permission to quit

14:41 Success beyond metrics

19:37 Authenticity in content creation

29:05 Parental influence and work ethic

31:13 Gratitude and expectations

32:42 Sharing the decision to leave law school

34:31 Advice for Asian entrepreneurs

38:26 Listener relationships

53:27 Handling criticism

58:29 Final reflections

Connect with Cheryl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau/

Cheryl’s podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5wQUAEUHdtyDROGdVUTS4w

More from Adrian: https://www.adriantan.com.sg/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/

Can sensitivity become a strength? Coen Tan joins Adrian Tan to discuss personal growth, mentorship, communication and the realities of building a speaking business.

Coen, founder of Ministry of Influence, shares his experiences with hypersensitivity and the influence of mentors. They also explore authenticity on LinkedIn, networking, handling failure and the place of difficult emotions in personal growth.

In this episode:

• Expert guidance, mentorship and learning from experience.

• Coen’s personal reflections on hypersensitivity and childhood.

• Misconceptions about professional speaking.

• Authenticity and strategic networking on LinkedIn.

• Failure, anger, grief and emotional mastery.

Originally published in February 2025. Roles and references reflect the original conversation.

Original episode sponsor: Deel. https://www.deel.com/adriantan

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and sponsor message

00:29 Introducing Coen Tan

01:21 Culinary metaphors and wisdom stacks

04:45 Expert guidance

06:49 Mentorship and personal growth

12:33 Understanding hypersensitivity

13:50 Childhood experiences

16:41 Parenting reflections

22:25 The speaking industry

30:43 A mentor’s advice

32:50 Motivational speaking

36:01 Authenticity on LinkedIn

41:08 Networking on LinkedIn

46:18 Failure and emotional mastery

55:07 Anger and grief

01:00:16 Conclusion

Connect with Coen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coentan/

More from Adrian: https://www.adriantan.com.sg/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/

From career setbacks to HR entrepreneurship and writing a book: Adrian Tan joins Jeremy Au on the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast to reflect on building his own path.

The conversation explores Adrian’s early career, the ideas behind No More Bosses and lessons from self-employment. They also discuss writing, personal branding and balancing work with life outside it.

In this episode:

• Career beginnings, layoffs and moving into HR entrepreneurship.

• Writing No More Bosses and advice for aspiring authors.

• Personal branding and examples of different career paths.

• The trade-offs of solo entrepreneurship and work-life balance.

Republished on The Adrian Tan Show in January 2025. Originally a conversation on the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, hosted by Jeremy Au.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to The Adrian Tan Show

00:14 Adrian’s journey and book

01:13 Solo entrepreneurship

01:43 Welcome to BRAVE

02:27 Career beginnings and challenges

08:42 Writing No More Bosses

11:05 Advice for aspiring authors

13:20 Personal branding and careers

15:39 Case studies and examples

17:54 Work and personal life

21:35 Reflections

29:59 Conclusion

BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TnqkaWpTT181lMA8xNu0T

Connect with Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyau/

More from Adrian: https://www.adriantan.com.sg/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/

Is working for yourself the right next step? In this guest conversation from Thought Leadership Club, Cheryl Lau interviews Adrian Tan about moving from corporate life to solo entrepreneurship.

Adrian shares lessons from early business attempts, the realities of self-employment and the ideas behind No More Bosses. They discuss finding a niche, building a presence on LinkedIn, dealing with criticism and creating a support system.

In this episode:

• The appeal and trade-offs of being your own boss.

• Lessons from early entrepreneurial attempts.

• Personal branding, engagement and finding your niche.

• Online criticism and support systems for self-employment.

Republished on The Adrian Tan Show in January 2025. Originally a conversation on Thought Leadership Club, hosted by Cheryl Lau.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:13 Adrian’s journey to solo entrepreneurship

03:52 The realities of self-employment

08:18 Early attempts and lessons

13:41 Personal branding on LinkedIn

25:20 Engaging on LinkedIn

25:37 The LinkedIn algorithm

27:42 Finding your niche

29:24 Handling online criticism

33:19 Support systems

36:10 Encouragement for aspiring entrepreneurs

39:11 The reality of self-employment

46:05 Final thoughts and book details

Thought Leadership Club: https://open.spotify.com/show/5wQUAEUHdtyDROGdVUTS4w

Connect with Cheryl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau/

More from Adrian: https://www.adriantan.com.sg/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/