Vivian Chong Podcast: Her Bold Moves In Real Estate

In this episode, Gladys Koh shares what it was like to walk away from a high-flying corporate career of more than 30 years and step into real estate as a fresh RES.

She talks honestly about the fears she carried going in, the uncertainty of a commission-only income, the discomfort of putting herself on camera, and what it felt like to go from being the most experienced person in the room to starting from zero again.

She also shares what kept her going through the months with no income, why she quickly realised that semi-retired was never going to work for her, and how her definition of success has shifted completely from what it once was.

Join us for a candid, grounding conversation on second chapters, starting over with courage, and why it is never too late to do something that gives your life purpose.

00:00 to 01:14: Introduction

00:15 to 03:53: Gladys's corporate journey and what life looked like at its peak

03:54 to 05:02: What made her close that chapter and retire early

05:03 to 06:00: How the RES course came about and passing the exam

06:01 to 09:44: How Gladys passed the RES exam in one attempt

09:45 to 12:41: Fear of income with no fixed salary

12:42 to 16:44: Importance of being focused and purposeful in real estate

16:45 to 19:46: Fear of coming to real estate at this age and putting herself out there

19:47 to 21:49: Vivian shares the importance of putting ourselves out there

21:50 to 26:11: For those who want to start but are afraid

26:12 to 27:43 From experienced professional to complete beginner

27:44 to 28:18: The constant challenge in real estate

28:19 to 29:31: Taking ownership of your own career

29:32 to 30:44: Semi-retired mindset but not semi-retired effort

30:45 to : 31:27: Vivian thoughts on working with Gladys

31:28 to 32:41: How life looks now compared to corporate

32:42 to 33:28: How Gladys defines success at this stage of life

33:29 to 33:50: What she would say to someone sitting on the fence

33:51 to 34:21: The end

#realestatecareer #secondchapter #herboldmoves

In this episode, Anthea shares what it was like to step away from a finance career to become a full-time mum, and later return to the working world as a part-time realtor.

She talks about the quiet challenges of restarting after years at home, the balance she tries to hold between motherhood and her own growth, and why real estate gives her both meaning and space to learn at her own pace.

She also opens up about the fulfilment she gets from helping families find a home and build their assets, and how her idea of success has shifted as her priorities changed.

Join us for a warm, grounded conversation on career pauses, motherhood, new seasons, and choosing a path that fits the life you want to build.

00:00 to 2:44: Introduction

2:45 to 5:09: Reason behind Anthea’s decision of becoming a RES Agent

5:10 to 6:32: Focus on Lentor areas

6:33 to 7:27 : Vivian share her strategy in real estate when her children is younger

7:28 to 9:23 : Vivian sharing her thoughts about Anthea as a tagger

9:24 to 10:54 : Challenges in integrating real estate work into your life as a mother

10:54 to 11:37: Teaching point for children

11:38 to 12:12 : What Anthea appreciate most about this career

12:13 to 14:23: Vivian sharing the impact of our career

14:24 to 16:10: Anthea’s thoughts when she became a SAHM

16:11 to 18:09: Struggle between children and career

18:10 to 19:03: Prime of our lives to do what we want to do in life

19:04 to 20:25 : Anthea on how doing real estate now is a foundation for future plans when kids grow older

20:26 to 21:56: Physical vs emotional reliance as kids grow

21:57 to 23:13: Mother vs full time realtor

23:14 to 24:07: How doing real estate as a part timer has worked for Anthea

24:08 to 24:40: Definition of success to Anthea now as a mother

24:41 to 25:09: Vivian share her definition of success as a mother

25:10 to 25:44: Advice to mothers looking to do real estate

25:45 to 26:23: How real estate enriches ourselves

26:24 to 27:54: Hard work and heart work, and option to choose

27:55 to 28:16: End

Maine Soh was once a notorious leader back in her primary school days — bold, outspoken, and always making her presence known. But her principal, Mr Wee, saw something more: potential. She was appointed a “small teacher” to guide her classmates, and that simple act sparked a lifelong passion for teaching and leadership.

Fast forward to today — Maine graduated with a Diploma in Real Estate, ranking in the top 5% of her cohort. She was offered a place in NUS to pursue a degree in Real Estate and began her property career while still in school.

Over the past 16 years, she’s not only been active in personal sales but also took on the role of project-in-charge for multiple mega launches. In 2022, she took another bold step — building and leading her own team.

Join us in this episode, as Vivian sits down with Maine to talk about leadership, growth, and the real journey of building a real estate team from scratch.

0:16 to 0:37 Introduction

0:38 to 2:30 How Maine entered the real estate industry 

2:31 to 4:37 Maine’s 1st life changing moment

4:38 to 7:38 Vivian’s 1st life changing moment

7:39 to 8:29 Life changing lessons similar to real estate career

8:30 to 11:46 Maine’s passion in teaching and how it attracts people to join her 

11:47 to 13:37 What inspires Maine to do team building 

13:38 to 15:23 Vivian shares what inspired her to do team building

15:24 to 15:49 Do Maine find team building difficult?

15:50 to 17:19: Challenge - not hungry so not driven

17:20 to 17:48 Challenge - Employee mindset

17:49 to 20:12 Challenge - 6 digit income every month

20:13 to 20:40 Challenge - Being resourceful

20:41 to 22:00 Challenge - 随机应变

22:01 to 23:12 Navis is a good place for team building

23:13 to 26:35 Do RES need to spend in order to earn

26:36 to 27:12 Fisherman story

27:13 to 31:17 Handling different characters in the team 

31:18 to 32:19 What can you offer that other team leaders can’t 

32:20 to 36:18 Team leaders not sharing and want to split comm with downlines

36:19 to 37:32 Heart of gratitude 

37:33 to 39:28 Do you feel stagnant after so long in the industry 

39:29 to 40:30 Real estate as a base and how Vivian evolves from here 

40:31 to 40:50 The end

Veronica Tan entered the real estate sector in 2022. She initially joined us as a part-time realtor while holding a full-time position as a Senior Marketing Manager at a logistics company.

In this episode, Veron discusses why she began as a part-timer. Coming from a corporate background, she reveals what motivated her to leave the corporate environment. She also talks about the challenges she encountered at the start, including limited support from family and friends, and navigating the complexities of the real estate industry.

Finally, as someone who has successfully transitioned mid-career into real estate, she offers advice for those considering a similar path.

Join us in this episode to find inspiration in Veron's journey!

0:22 Introduction

0:47 Veron's career before becoming a real estate agent

1:23 Reason Veron started as a part-time agent

2:27 Vivian explains why she felt her opportunity costs were lower when she joined the industry compared to Veron

2:51 Factors that led Veron to leave the corporate world and switch to a real estate career

5:05 Vivian and Veron discuss the work-life balance in the corporate sector

6:40 What attracts Veron to the real estate industry

8:31 Does Veron have any concerns about succeeding in the industry?

10:22 Limited support from family and friends

13:27 Fear of approaching people

15:44 Understanding the industry

17:07 Vivian and Veron share their corporate experiences and why they prefer the real estate industry

19:35 How Veron manages her time in this industry

21:10 The advantages of a mid-career switch to real estate

22:56 Advice for those considering a mid-career change

24:36 Just do it

25:37 How Veron's life has transformed since she became a full-time agent

Follow Vivian on ⁠  / vivianchong.sg

Adi entered the real estate sector in 2023, marking a significant change in her career path.

Prior to this career move, Adi had been out of the corporate workforce for five years. During that time, she focused on pet boarding, assisting pet owners by taking care of their dogs while they were away. This not only provided her with an income but also allowed her to connect with dogs, which she loves dearly.

As an introvert, Adi faced numerous fears and challenges when she began her journey in real estate. These included the anxiety of meeting new people, the pressure to make sales, and the need to assert herself in a competitive market. How did she conquer these obstacles and step out of her comfort zone to become more confident after two years in the industry?

In this episode, Vivian also shared her journey alongside Adi, emphasizing the significant impact their interactions have had on her own growth as a leader.

Join us in this episode to draw inspiration from Adi's journey as an introverted realtor!

0:28: Introduction

0:56: Pet boarding prior to joining the real estate industry

3:01: What makes Adi come into the real estate industry

4:57: Biggest fears when coming to the industry

6:39: Vivian shared how she feel in her interactions with Adi

8:00: Challenges in life and real estate career

10:38: Advice for introverted aspiring realtors

13:57: Breakthroughs as an introvert on the real estate journey

16:58: First paycheck

19:03: How interactions with Adi help Vivian grow as a leader

20:58: Integrity and values as a realtor in the industry 

21:51: Stereotypes about real estate agents 

26:20: How Adi got the lead to close a unit in The Orie

33:20: Real estate is not just a transaction to us

35:00: Real estate is a blank canvas to Vivian

36:18: Adi on Vivian and RealTeam

Follow Vivian on https://www.instagram.com/vivianchong.sg

Evon transitioned from her role as an equity analyst to become a realtor at the end of 2020.

In this episode, she discusses the factors that influenced her decision to leave a stable corporate position for a career in real estate. We discussed the fears she experienced during this transition and the level of support received from her family and friends.

Evon has chosen to specialize in the commercial real estate segment. We explore the challenges she has faced within this niche and whether she would recommend this path to newcomers in the industry. She also provides insights and guidance for individuals contemplating a similar transition from corporate employment to real estate.

Join us in this episode to gain inspiration from Evon’s professional journey.

0:00 Introduction

0:51: Evon's corporate background prior to becoming a real estate agent

2:00 Reasons for leaving a corporate job for real estate

4:44 Fears when deciding whether to join the real estate industry

8:29 Are Introverts suitable to be a realtor?

10:51 Is her family and friends supportive in her decision to becoming a realtor?

14:29 Any regrets in becoming a realtor?

17:11 Why choose to focus on the commercial segment?

19:25: Is it advisable for new agents to focus in the commercial market?

20:42: Respect for real estate as a profession

24:09 Challenges in the commercial market

26:55 Is commercial market dominated by male agents?

28:00 Mentoring agents interested in the commercial segment

29:11 Words for those who are keen to switch from corporate to real estate

32:08 Reasons for deciding to join Navis and Vivian in 2020

Follow Vivian on https://www.instagram.com/vivianchong.sg