The Borderless Podcast

By BorderlessBusiness Entrepreneurship

The Borderless Podcast episodes

June 08, 2022 Are you on the Right Path in Life or in the Rat Race? Asian Australian Stories with Kenneth Tang: Managing Director, Dynamic Technologies Cambodia
Today's guest is Kenneth Tang, the Managing Director of Dynamic Technologies. Born in Cambodia, Ken & his family moved to Australia during the Civil War and lived a relatively comfortable existence in the suburbs of Sydney.
However, over time, Kenneth realised that he wasn't on the path he wanted, despite a successful tech career that took him abroad to Hong Kong, the US and Europe.
He eventually decided to step back and re-assess his life, attempting various things (like an Australian themed cafe in Hong Kong) and failing a lot in the process.
Listen to this episode to hear more about Kenneth's journey, the way he navigated his life & career, and how he ended up back in Cambodia to help contribute to the country.
I enjoyed this conversation as it focuses on finding meaning and purpose in your life & career. Note the Zoom recording was laggy but I'm sure you guys aren't watching the screen that intently :)
Episode themes & timestamps:
INTRO / LIFE IN AUSTRALIA
0:00 - Intro
2:25 - Ken's Intro, growing up in Sydney, Australia from Cambodia
4:55 - Any struggles growing up Asian Australian?
7:30 - Were you familiar with your Cambodian heritage?
KENNETH'S CAREER JOURNEY & LIVING OVERSEAS
10:55 - Kenneth's early career journey
12:41 - Kenneth's journey from Australia to Hong Kong, the US & Europe.
18:00 - Ken's career break back in Australia & re-assessing life, getting to know his family & heritage
21:10 - Moving back to Hong Kong and trying to experience as many things in life.
LIFE LESSONS
23:10 - Re-assess your life, finding something meaningful. Ken's decision to return to Cambodia for the 1st time and deciding to stay permanently.
26:25 - Falling into the trap of the 9-5 rat race vs pursuing something meaningful.
30:10 - The importance of "failure" or failing
33:25 - The importance of relationships and understanding who you are.
ON CAMBODIA
38:20 - What does Kenneth do in Cambodia? What are Dynamic Technologies? Improving the quality of life for locals through smart cities and solutions. The High economic growth rate in Cambodia creates issues & opportunities.
44:05 - How did Kenneth adapt to working in Cambodia? How did he adjust to day to day life?
50:30 - Are many overseas Cambodians coming back to Cambodia? Advice for others thinking of returning to Cambodia?
55:00 - Kenneth's future plans & conclusion
Find out more about Dynamic Technologies (part of the Dynamic Group) & their vision for Cambodian smart cities here: https://dynamictechnologies.io/
1 hr 2 min
May 30, 2022Finding a Startup Job in Japan – with Wei Chen (Tokyo Talent Sourcer)
I interviewed Wei Chen about how foreigners can find a startup job in Japan with limited Japanese proficiency. Born in Taiwan and having studied abroad in the US, Wei found herself in Japan and has managed to embed herself into the Tokyo startup ecosystem despite being a foreigner. She currently works as a freelance talent sourcer, helping match startup companies to great talent.
Listen to this episode to hear Wei’s story about:
Moving from Taiwan to the US to Japan

How she found her 1st job in Tokyo

How she got permanent residency (PR)

Advice for other foreigners in finding a start-up gig

Barriers as a female foreigner in Japan

Potential pathways for people who aren’t fluent in Japanese
If you want to find out more, feel free to reach out to Wei on Linkedin!

Timestamps / Topics
Intro

0:00 – Introduction
0:57 – Wei’s introduction
2:25 – Why did she move to Japan?
7:25 – Why did she stay in Japan?
9:10 – Being an Asian foreigner in Japan. Pros & Cons
10:45 – Main cultural barriers in Japan
12:50 – Challenges of being a female foreigner in Japan
Finding a Job in Japan

17:40 – How Wei found her 1st job in Japan
23:10 – What does Wei do as a talent sourcer?
26:50 – Advice for foreigners finding a gig in Japan.
28:26 – Advice for foreigners who aren’t fluent in Japanese? Potential industries?
30:30 – English teaching in Japan as a starting point?
21:15 – Recruitment jobs in Japan … how does it work without Japanese proficiency?
33:40 – Applying for big Japanese corporations?
35:16 – Visa options (working holiday, freelance etc). How Wei got Permanent Residency in Japan
40:00 – Is Japan open to foreigners to get visas/jobs?
42:50 – Scholarships?
46:50 – Is doing a 2nd degree in Japan worthwhile?
48:35 – Wei’s thoughts on the startup ecosystem in Tokyo
Life in Japan

50:15 – Wei’s life in Japan.
51:50 – Raising a child in Japan
54:30 – Wei’s future plans. Final thoughts/conclusion.
59 min
May 25, 2022Should you MOVE to Laos? Life in Laos & Startup opportunities with entrepreneur Benjamin Soo (Co-Founder of Modern Lao Homes & Bunnasia)
Why move to a poor, landlocked country of 7 million people to pursue entrepreneurship? Listen to this episode to hear why some expats, foreigners and overseas Laotians should consider moving to Laos.
Laos is a country that does not attract much attention globally, so I chat to Benjamin Soo (based in Vientiane) to hear more about life in Laos and the opportunities & challenges for foreign startups and businesses in Laos.
Born in Malaysia, Ben moved to his mother’s home country of Laos in high school and was inspired to bring about positive change after seeing so much poverty. He went through a long soul searching journey to figure out what he could do to bring about the most impact and create employment and opportunities for locals.
Based in Vientiane, Ben eventually co-founded an upscale construction business, Modern Lao Homes and a SE Asian import/export business for Australian goods called Bunnasia.
Find out more about Ben's businesses here:
Modern Lao Homes: https://modernlaohomes.com/index.html

FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/modernlaohomes/

Bunnasia: https://bunnasia.com/
In this podcast episode, we chat about:
Taking over a failing French restaurant in Laos

Starting a premium construction business with limited experience

Selling Australian goods in Laos & Thailand

The current startup ecosystem in Laos

The attraction of Laos for foreigners, investors & startups.
Podcast Timestamps & Topics
0:00 Intro

1:36: Ben’s Intro

3:53: Why entrepreneurship in Laos? Ben’s entrepreneurial journey from Malaysia to Laos.

11:05: How did Modern Lao Homes start?

14:30: How did Bunnasia (Australian import/export business) start?

17:14: What’s the attraction of Laos for startups or investors (if any)?

20:45: What sort of expats / foreigners move to Laos? What to expect as a foreigner?

26:30: What is the startup ecosystem like in Laos? Chinese & Thai investors?

28:45: Do many overseas Laotians or Laotian diaspora moved back to Laos?

31:30: Ben’s background growing up half Laotian / half Chinese Malaysian

33:50: Can you navigate Laos just speaking English?

35:50: Major challenges for Laos in regard to business and its economy?

38:55: What is the nightlife like in Vientiane? Ben’s day to day life?

43:00: Would Ben go back to Malaysia?

46:00 – Advice for young people & aspiring entrepreneurs

50:30 – Ben’s personal goals in Laos for the next 5-10 years & conclusion
57 min
May 18, 2022Post-Coup Myanmar: What is life like for Overseas Burmese? - with Brandon Aung
Before the 2021 coup, Myanmar was experiencing rapid economic growth (more than 7% per annum), with poverty falling from 48% to 25% between 2005 and 2017. This growth attracted many overseas investors that were attracted by the opportunities in the country.
However, this growth has reversed drastically with the event of COVID & the coup. Listen to this podcast episode to get some insights into what life & opportunities were like pre & post-coup in Myanmar.
About Brandon Aung
Born in Myanmar, Brandon quit medical school to pursue his passion for finance in Australia. However, he was unable to find a finance job as an international student (I’ve discussed this problem in a prior podcast) but he managed to secure a coveted private equity investment role back in Myanmar.
Unfortunately, Brandon left his home country after the 2021 coup and in this podcast interview, he details his life pre & post-coup as an overseas Burmese that has made his way around Australia, Sri Lanka & Thailand (topics & timestamps below).
More episodes here: https://bordersless.com/
Brandon's Life as an International Student in Australia
0:00 - Intro

1:00 - Brandon's background in Myanmar. Why he came to Australia

3:31 - Was it hard to find a job in Australia as an international student?
Moving Back to Myanmar
5:50 - Why did Brandon move back to Myanmar?

9:40 - What happened post-coup in Myanmar?

11:50 - Why were international companies investing in Myanmar pre-coup?

13:45 - Myanmar's ethnic groups & conflict?
Moving to Thailand
17:30 - Why Brandon moved to Thailand & how he got stuck in Sri Lanka

21:40 - What it's like trying to get a job in Thailand & his process for securing a Fortune 500 role.

26:45 - What is the business landscape in Thailand like? The vibrancy of life in Thailand.

29:30 - What's day to day life like in Thailand as an overseas Burmese? How do you compare your life in Australia vs Thailand vs Myanmar? Pros & Cons
Life as an overseas Burmese currently
36:40 - What are other young Burmese doing (doctors / young professionals etc)? Both domestically and abroad?

40:40 - Did you ever feel discriminated as an overseas Burmese minority?
Future Plans, Startup Chat & Conclusion
43:05 - Brandon's future plans? Taking risks, startups, & returning to Myanmar?

46:11 - What is Thailand's startup scene like?

50:45 - What would Brandon do if the situation in Myanmar improves?

52:00 - Some chitchat. The background to BordersLess, why I set up a YouTube channel/podcast. Conclusion
58 min
May 12, 2022The Opportunities in Cambodia: Ratana Phurik-Callebaut (Cambodian Private Sector & Investment Specialist)
Today's guest is Ratana Phurik-Callebaut, a Cambodian private sector & investment specialist and the founder of the Cambodia Community of Investment Professionals (affiliated with the CFA Institute). Born in Cambodia, Ratana lost her parents in the civil war and left for France at the age of 2 to stay with her extended family.
After a successful banking career in Europe (France & Switzerland), she decided to move back to Cambodia and has remained there for the last 18 years. Listen to this episode to get an insight into why Ratana left her comfortable life to move back to Cambodia and why others should consider moving there too.
Show Notes: https://bordersless.com/business/opportunities-cambodia-ratana-phurik-callebaut/
Timestamps & Topics:
About Ratana
2:34 - Ratana's introduction

4:30 - Why Ratana moved from Cambodia to France

6:25 - Ratana's childhood experience living in France as a Cambodian

8:40 - Ratana's career journey in Europe

10:40 - Ratana's thoughts on the glass & bamboo ceiling in her career

14:32 - Why did Ratana decide to move back to Cambodia?
Life & Careers in Cambodia
19:00 - How did Ratana adjust to life in Cambodia? Language & communication difficulties?

23:50 - Are many Overseas Cambodians coming back to Cambodia?

26:47 - Ratana's career progression in Cambodia

32:10 - Career in Europe vs Career in Cambodia?

33:05 - Cambodia 18 years ago vs now
Why Cambodia?
38:05 - The business & investment opportunities in Cambodia? The positives & negatives

43:20 - Who is investing in Cambodia and what are they investing in?

45:40 - Expats in Cambodia? Is there a standard career path for foreigners?

49:15 - Does Ratana plan to move back to Europe? Or stay in Cambodia?

50:15 - How can foreigners network in Cambodia?

51:30 - Is entrepreneurship popular among foreigners or locals?

55:10 - What to expect when doing business in Cambodia as a foreigner?

1:00:23: Life in Cambodia as an expat? What to expect living in Cambodia as a foreigner.

1:03:00 - Covid situation in Cambodia? How has it been managed?

1:06:10 - What is exciting Ratana about Cambodia over the next 5-10 years?
Conclusion
1:09:30 - What is Ratana focusing on at the moment in Cambodia?

1:13:30 - Life & career advice for young people. Final words and conclusion
1 hr 19 min
March 17, 2022More Opportunities in Asia? Asian-American Entrepreneurship with Rosaline Chow Koo (Founder & CEO of CXA Group)
Today's podcast guest is Rosaline Chow Koo, the Founder & CEO of Asia's leading InsurTech startup, CXA Group. We chat about the advantages & disadvantages of navigating business in Asia as an Asian American serial entrepreneur.
Rosaline grew up in a poor and chaotic environment, developing survival skills and becoming street smart (especially during events like the L.A. Watts riots). This adversity early on in life is what ultimately contributed to the success she has now, giving her the resilience and motivation to push through when times are tough.
Listen to this podcast episode to hear how Rosaline built the biggest InsurTech startup in Asia, why she thinks there are more opportunities in Asia than the US, and advice for aspiring female leaders on how to navigate the glass & bamboo ceilings.
Timestamps & Topics
0:00 - Preview

1:30 - Rosaline's introduction & upbringing in the States.

7:20 - Rosaline's career & entrepreneurial journey from the US to Asia

13:00 - What exactly is CXA Group? Why did she found it?

16:21 - Cultural differences when doing business in Asia. More opportunities in Asia?

23:05 - How did she navigate the barriers as a female Asian founder?

26:20 - Other advice for young people facing the bamboo & glass ceilings?

28:15 - Was Rosaline a born entrepreneur? What is her passion?

32:50 - Culture shocks when living in Singapore. Life in Asia & challenges when expanding CXA to other countries.

38:50 - Rosaline's future plans & career advice for young people
44 min
March 04, 2022 Entrepreneurship & Podcasting in the Philippines: Ron Baetiong (Podcast Network Asia & Hustleshare Podcast)
Ron Baetiong: From Call Center to Serial Entrepreneur
After hearing so many positive things about the Philippines’ tech ecosystem in a prior episode, I asked Ron Baetiong to come on the show to share his experiences as a serial entrepreneur in the Philippines and what’s changed in the startup ecosystem over the last 10-15 years.

Starting his career off in a Filipino call centre, Ron quickly realised his dreams of buying his mom a house was not realistic. So, he started to pursue entrepreneurship, and after many ups & downs, he was finally able to find success and fulfil his dreams.

Today, Ron is the founder of Podcast Network Asia and the host of the Hustleshare Podcast (the #1 Business Podcast in the Philippines). In this episode, he shares his perspectives on the exciting startup ecosystem in the Philippines and his journey as a serial entrepreneur.

We also chat about Ron’s journey as a podcaster, how podcasting has become a serious business in Southeast Asia (especially in the Philippines & Indonesia) and advice for aspiring podcasters!

Also check out Ron’s new tool to help podcasters save time when editing: https://www.podmachine.co/

Timestamps
If you’re interested in the startup scene in the Philippines, the ecosystem’s biggest names are gathering this March 9 & 10 at Build, the first-ever annual startup festival co-organized by Sinigang Valley and Esquire Philippines.

Find out more here: https://www.esquiremag.ph/money/movers/build-a-startup-festival-2022-a00203-20220217-lfrm

Episode Topics & Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction
1:31 – Start of the interview / Ron’s Introduction & entrepreneurial journey
7:25 – Was Ron born to be an entrepreneur or did he stumble across it?
10:55 – Did your family & friends say you were crazy for starting a business?
11:56 – After Ron’s 1st startup failed, why did he keep going and how he eventually found success.
22:07 – How has the podcasting market changed in the Philippines over the last 5 years? What podcast topics do well in Southeast Asia?
27:33 – Why Ron started Podcast Network Asia (PNA). The challenges he came across when he started podcasting. What is PNA?
33:05 – Advice of aspiring podcasters.
36:30 – Why did Ron expand to Indonesia? What are the challenges of expanding internationally? What are Ron’s future plans?
41:55 – How has the Philippine startup ecosystem changed over the last 10-15 years?
45:11 – Is entrepreneurship becoming more popular in the Philippines? Advice for young people interested in entrepreneurship?
49:25 – What’s exciting Ron about the Philippines? Conclusion.
54 min
November 30, 2021Asian Australian Mental Health: Asami Koike (Founder of Shapes and Sounds)
Asami is the founder of Shapes and Sounds, the leading voice for Asian-Australian mental health and wellbeing, seeking to normalise conversations about mental health in the community.
As a registered music therapist, she noticed that many Asian-Australians were falling between the gaps in the Australian mental health system and so she started Shapes & Shapes in 2019 to normalise conversations around racism & cultural expectations in the community and also provide specific resources (like a list of Asian Australian mental health practitioners for those seeking someone who can understand their own cultural background and upbringing).
Shapes and Sounds Links & Resources:
Shapes and Sounds Website

Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List

Talking Mental Health with Your Family

How to Claim your Medicare Rebate for Psychological Services

Being Asian Australian
Timestamps & Topics:
2:10 - Asami’s introduction, moving from Japan to Australia, realising the lack of cultural understanding in the mental health industry

6:55 - What is Shapes & Sounds and the resources available on their website?

7:54 - Asami’s thoughts on mental health in Japan

9:20 - Growing up as a Japanese Australian & thoughts on Japanese Culture

11:05 - Defining mental illness & causes. Asian Australians suffering in silence

14:00 - Why are Asian Australians less likely to seek help? Lack of cultural understanding in the Australian healthcare system, the impact of culture on mental health and why Asami created a list of Asian-Australian mental health practitioners.

17:11 - When to reach out for help? The importance of seeking help regardless

18:52 - Common barriers when trying to find help / what’s holding people back from seeking help?

20:18 - Women vs Men when seeking help

21:30 - Specific issues related to Asian-Australian. Scarcity mindset + trauma. Is it generational?

26:20 - Self-internalised racism

28:50 - Impact of Asia-Australia relations (Japan & China). Media narrative. Opportunities for Asian-Diaspora communities

33:00 - Impact of media, more positive Asian stories (rise of Kpop & Asian stories)

39:00 - Gaslighting of Asian Australians

42:40 - Following a non-traditional career path vs thoughts on taking a safe path and following your passions. What to do if you're not feeling better after seeking help.
54 min
November 15, 2021The Philippines Opportunity: Franco Varona (Managing Partner at Foxmont Capital Partners | Philippine Venture Capital)
In this podcast episode, Franco Varona, a Filipino Venture Capitalist, explains why the Philippines is one of the fastest-growing startup ecosystems in the region and the opportunities this presents for entrepreneurs. Born in Canada, we also chat about why Franco moved back to the Philippines and also why other overseas entrepreneurial Filipinos are returning.
As the Managing Partner of Foxmont Capital Partners, the first independent Venture Capital (VC) firm in the Philippines, Franco has had a varied career, most notably being a founding member at MyTeksi Phillippines (now named Grab). This opportunity to get on board one of the most exciting startups in the region supercharged his career into what it is today, something that might not have been possible if he stayed in the States.
As passionate advocates of the Philippines startup ecosystem, Foxmont's investment thesis is this: “We invest in Filipino-focused or Filipino-founded early-stage technology startups that have proven that they can scale effectively and lead the Philippine digital evolution. We believe that if a Filipino startup can succeed in the Philippines, it can succeed anywhere.”
Show Notes: https://bordersless.com/business/philippines-opportunity-franco-varona-foxmont/
Episode Topics & Timestamps
1:33 – Franco’s introduction.

2:45 – born & raised in Canada, why did Franco move back to the Philippines?

6:10 – is Franco seeing more overseas Filipinos moving back? Reverse Brain Drain?

10:45 – Franco's journey from the US to the Philippines and how he kicked off his entrepreneurial journey, how he joined MyTeksi (now Grab).

16:30 – Franco's thoughts on the Philippine startup ecosystem today vs 10 years ago. Examples of how the pandemic has supercharged digitalisation in the country.

21:40 – Franco's stories about his early days at Grab Philippines.

23:20 – starting Foxmont Capital Partners and why the Philippines presents a great opportunity for investors & startups.

31:40 – experiences setting up the 1st fund with his co-founders/partners.

35:45 – why Foxmont’s 1st investment went to Kumu (building meaningful connections among the Filipino diaspora community).

43:40 – the Venture Capital landscape in the Philippines, Corporate VC vs Independent VCs.

47:40 – What is Sinigang Valley?

51:20 – what sectors and verticals are Franco excited about?

55:10 –advice for young professionals / entrepreneurs navigating their careers.

57:45 – how to find out more about Franco & Foxmont.
1 hr
November 03, 2021Finding Meaningful Connections in Vietnam: Denise Sandquist (CEO & Co-founder of Fika)
Today’s guest is Denise Sandquist, the founder of Fika, a female-focused AI social & dating app in Asia. Born in Vietnam and adopted to Sweden, Denise is truly a global citizen, speaking 6 languages and having lived in multiple countries.

Episode Themes
Fresh of a $1.6m raise, we chat about why Denise came back to Vietnam to start Fika

Advice for Vietnamese adoptees looking to find their biological parents

Why Fika is more than just a dating app

Female leadership in Vietnam

Opportunities for overseas Vietnamese looking to come back to Vietnam.
Find out more about Fika here: https://keepfika.com/

Timestamps & topics:
Introduction
0:00 – episode introduction

2:16 – Denise’s introduction, life journey, finding her biological mother, starting Fika

6:47 – experiences growing up in Sweden as a Vietnamese adoptee

11:25 – advice for Vietnamese adoptees looking to find their biological parents in Vietnam

On Fika
14:00 – what is Fika? Not just a dating app? On Gen Zs being connected and increasing loneliness.

18:20 – focus on user safety in Asia, manually verifying profiles, AI & data, future plans

27:30 – how did Fika get traction in a crowded dating app market?

29:45 – was Fika self-funded / bootstrapped? Did you have any doubts throughout?

33:45 – the COVID situation in Vietnam. Has it had impact on Fika / dating?

37:20 – Denise’s fund-raising journey

Fun Questions
42:20 – Denise’s career journey / did she always want to be an entrepreneur?

45:30 – Denise’s thoughts on female leaders in Vietnam and empowering women

54:00 – Dating in Sweden vs Vietnam

56:00 – How does Denise manage her stress? Thoughts on work-life balance

59:30 – has Denise found anyone on Fika yet?

1:01:16 – advice and opportunities for Việt Kiều looking to come back to Vietnam. What is holding them back? What advantages do they have?

1:06:53 – advice for young people that are feeling lost in life. On taking risks in life.

1:11:00 – where to follow Denise & how to connect.
1 hr 13 min

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The Borderless Podcast explores global Asian diaspora stories and perspectives from East & SE Asia, highlighting multicultural individuals who have taken a different path in their careers and…

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