Asian Business Owners - A.B.O.

If talking about your offer makes you uncomfortable, you're not alone.In this episode, we cover:- Why selling feels awkward for founders- The mindset shift that makes selling feel natural- How to talk about your offer through problems, not promisesTimestamps:(0:23) Share problems, not solutions(0:58) Talk about decisions, not features(1:26) Invite instead of pushingFollow me on LinkedIn and Instagram for more tips and behind-the-scenes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year everyone! I'm thrilled to be back for a new season of Asian Business Owners.This week, meet Mehroo, coach and founder of Mums at Play. Mehroo shares her journey from Miss India and corporate career in India to navigating motherhood, career pivots and starting her own coaching business in Hong Kong.In this episode, you’ll hear:How to navigate identity shifts and transitionsStrategies to overcome imposter syndrome and limiting beliefsThe importance of mental fitness, consistency and persistence in businessI love stories of reinvention and I can tell you this one is fascinating. Enjoy!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction to Asian Business Owners Podcast(00:32) Meet Mehroo: Coach and Founder(02:02) Mehroo's Journey: From Miss India to Motherhood(04:30) Navigating Career Transitions and Motherhood(08:22) Starting a Blog and a Community(10:55) This or That Questions(12:27) Creating the Mums at Play Community(17:32) Adapting During COVID: Reinvention and Coaching(20:31) Defining the Role of a Coach(20:38) The Journey to Becoming a Coach(22:42) Addressing Imposter Syndrome(27:48) The Importance of Mental Fitness(34:29) Upcoming Projects and Initiatives(37:10) Final Thoughts and Advice for Business Owners👉 To find out more:Reboot Your Business event - 23.01.2026Mums at PlayMehroo on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’re posting consistently and you're getting views and likes but no or very few leads or enquiries. Why does nothing happen?In this Quick Wins episode, let's break down why content often fails to convert even when it looks “good”. We’ll cover:• Why content without direction kills conversions• The biggest messaging mistake founders make• Why clarity beats persuasionConversion doesn't mean being pushy or salesy. You simply need to help people connect the dots.Timestamps:(0:32) No direction = no conversions(1:12) The outcomes mistake(1:33) Connect the dotsFollow me on LinkedIn and Instagram for more tips and behind-the-scenes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever come across big roadblocks in your career or founder's journey?In this special medley episode of Asian Business Owners, listen to founders who faced major setbacks:Gianne — when a business shuts down and a pivot followsAlan Law — burnout, wellness and redefining successCarmen — stepping away to reset, reflect and evolveTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction to Asian Business Owners Podcast(00:29) Overcoming Setbacks: A Special Episode(01:03) The CBD Business Shutdown: A Personal Story(02:51) Building a Support Network for CBD Entrepreneurs(04:45) From CBD to Lexi Media: A New Beginning(07:04) Allen Law's Journey: From Burnout to Wellness(11:04) Founding Seveno Capital: Investing in Wellness(12:16) The Bali Reset: Embracing Authenticity(19:56) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsListen to the entire episodes:GianneAllenCarmenFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year! To kick off this new year, (re)listen to these two Quick Wins episodes that focus on making your marketing clearer, lighter and more effective.What it covers:Creating content that actually worksUnderstand your audienceBalance content formatsBut also:How to use Instagram Stories as a sales toolCreate time-sensitive offersSpark conversations and build trustStart the year focused, sharp and aligned.For more content, follow me on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the beginning of a new year, are you secretly dreaming of switching careers, changing life, reinventing yourself?In this special medley episode of Asian Business Owners, listen to stories of reinvention from founders who chose alignment over comfort.What's covered:Jessie Li — from banking to building influenceCarmen — leaving corporate life in Paris to rebuild a career in Hong KongRenaud-Louis — from Rolex to entrepreneurshipTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction to Asian Business Owners Podcast(01:10) Reinvention Stories: From Banking to Influence with Jessie (04:23) Personal Branding and Influencer Marketing(08:09) From Corporate Life to Entrepreneurship in Hong Kong with Carmen(14:11) Rolex to Retail: A Journey of Humility and Family Business with Renaud-Louis(19:06) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsListen to the entire episodes:JessieCarmenRenaud-LouisFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Quick Wins episode, revisit two powerful lessons many founders miss when it comes to marketing.1/ Let's break down how to collaborate with KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) without a big budget2/ Let's uncover the most common social media mistakes that hurt your growth Short, practical, easy to apply: don't miss this special episode, especially if you're reconsidering your marketing strategy for 2026.For more content, follow me on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the year comes to an end, I wanted to pause and revisit the advice that stayed with me the most.I've put together this special medley episode of Asian Business Owners, you'll hear some grounding and inspiring pieces of advice by business owners I invited on the podcast.Hit play and listen to them as you slow down, reflect and close the year. To listen to the whole episodes with the guests, tap the links below.(00:00) Introduction and Welcome(00:31) Reflecting on the Year(01:03) Gabriella Montandon: Why Fun Matters(03:22) Allen Law: Stress, Purpose & Sustainability(04:27) Gianne Chan: Gratitude & Personal Happiness(05:32) ConclusionListen to the entire episodes:GianneAllenGabriellaFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the year comes to an end, I’ve curated a Best of Quick Wins 2025 episode with some useful and practical tips shared this year on Asian Business Owners.In this episode, we cover three areas many founders struggle with:Building a strong personal brand using LinkedInUsing virtual assistants (VAs) to save time and focus on what really mattersExploring funding options beyond venture capitalFor more content, follow me on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025 didn’t come with a big breakthrough moment.Instead, it quietly taught me lessons that reshaped how I think about business, creativity and myself as a founder.In this solo episode of Asian Business Owners, I reflect on:Figuring things out as I go (even if I want control)Listening to that inner voice when something feels “off”Being okay with being misunderstoodThese lessons didn’t arrive loudly but they made me more confident, more aligned and more resilient.I hope these lessons will help you too and I'd love to know what you learned this year. Tell me on IG (@abo.pod) or LinkedIn (link below).Timestamps:(00:00) Welcome To Asian Business Owners(00:32) Reflecting on 2025: Key Lessons Learned(01:25) Lesson 1(05:05) Lesson 2(07:37) Lesson 3(09:29) ConclusionFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cold emailing makes you uncomfortable? You’re not alone.In this new Quick Wins episode, I walk you through 3 practical ways to attract new clients organically without sending a single cold email.We’ll break down:• How to pick ONE platform and own it• How to partner with complementary businesses & influencers• Why events still work and how to use them to your advantagePlus, a bonus pro tip that instantly makes your brand more relatable and memorable.Content:(00:15) You Hate Cold Emailing?(00:43) #1 Pick One Platform(01:29) #2 Partner With Local Businesses(02:10) #3 Host Events(02:39) #4 Paid Ads & SEO(03:20) Bonus Pro Tip To Make Your Brand Relatable(03:41) Final Tips & ConclusionFollow me on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo episode, I share about my bandwidth limit and what happens when I ignore it.What are the early signals your brain sends when it needs a break?I talk through my own recent experience of pushing too far, what it taught me and how I created the space I needed to reset.You’ll hear:– The difference between being tired and being mentally overloaded– Practical ways to recharge quickly– Why recovery is actually a business skill– How to stay grounded while juggling multiple rolesTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction to Asian Business Owners Podcast(00:28) Personal Struggles and Realisations(01:11) Signs You Need a Break(01:52) Lessons Learned from Exhaustion(04:02) Creating Space for Recovery(05:16) Practical Tips to Recharge(07:41) Final Thoughts 08:29 Closing Remarks and Call to ActionFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to get repeat customers who love your brand?This Quick Wins episode is here to help. Learn how to:Personalise your customer experience from day oneLaunch a simple but effective loyalty programmeStay top-of-mind with consistent social engagementGrow your online community, not just traffic and build an engaged audience with brand ambassadors.Content:(00:00) Introduction to ABO Quick Wins(00:39) Personalise Your Customer Experience(01:33) Create a Simple Loyalty Programme(02:16) Engage Customers on Social Media(02:50) Conclusion and Final TipsFollow me on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to leave a stable corporate career and finally bet on yourself?In this episode of Asian Business Owners, I sit down with Renaud-Louis, founder of Amplitude, a Hong Kong watch atelier born from 18 years of experience at Rolex and a lifelong passion for craftsmanship.Renaud-Louis shares the pivotal moments that pushed him from corporate comfort to entrepreneurship.What you’ll hear:The honest realities behind starting a retail business: choosing the right location, handling customers, managing cash flowNavigating a major identity shiftThe emotional and financial risks with the support of his familyTimestamps:（00:00）Introduction to Asian Business Owners（00:33）Meet Renaud-Louis: From Rolex to Entrepreneurship（01:36）Early Career and Passion for Horology（03:50）Journey to Hong Kong（06:12）Balancing Rugby and Watch Repairing（10:02）Climbing the Ranks at Rolex（14:57）This or That Questions（15:48）The Pivot Moment: Founding Amplitude（19:10）Finding the Perfect Shop Location（20:43）Setting Up the Shop and Initial Challenges（22:58）The Importance of Customer Relationships（23:36）Learning from Mistakes and Managing Cash Flow（24:28）Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship（25:36）Family Support and Humility in Business（26:18）Teaching Kids the Value of Hard Work（28:00）Creating a Community of Watch Lovers（30:06）The Art and Craft of Watchmaking（33:46）Future Goals and Aspirations（37:03）Final Thoughts and Advice for Business Owners👉 To find out more about Amplitude:The websiteOn Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You don’t have a big marketing budget? No problem.Listen to this Quick Wins episode where I cover:How to use user-generated content for social proofFree tools for creating pro-level contentHow to collaborate with your local community to grow trustThis is perfect for early-stage founders, small teams and solopreneurs looking to grow with creativity, not only with cash.Content:(00:00) Introduction to ABO Quick Wins(00:14) Marketing Budget Challenges(00:40) Hack #1: Leverage User-Generated Content(01:38) Hack #2: Use Free Tools for Content Creation(02:25) Hack #3: Collaborate with Local Communities(03:00) ConclusionFollow me on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bit of naivety might be the reason you became an entrepreneur and the reason you’ve kept going.In today’s solo episode, I explore why I needed a certain naive spirit to jump into the unknown, take risks, build something from scratch and keep moving when everything feels uncertain.I share the realities I didn’t know when I started: the pressure, the mental load, the instability, the silent phases where nothing moves. And how naivety helped me see things with fresh eyes, stay connected to my vision and push through the hardest chapters of entrepreneurship.You’ll hear about:What naivety looks like as a founderHow naivety keeps you going when results are invisibleBalancing naive belief with real strategy and discernmentYou might need a little more naivety than you think. Timestamps:(00:00) Welcome to Asian Business Owners(00:31) Why naivety matters more than we admit(03:59) Seeing opportunities with fresh eyes(05:15) Staying motivated when nothing moves(06:56) Naivety vs. discernment(07:50) The value of staying naive as you get more experience(09:10) Final thoughtsFollow the journey:The Mental Load of Doing Everything💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You want to grow without the cost of full-time staff?In this Quick Wins episode, learn how to:Hire freelancers for one-off, high-skill tasksRun lean email marketing campaigns with specialistsBuild a go-to virtual team you can reuseThese tips are ideal for founders in Asia (or elsewhere) who want to scale fast and smart with limited costs.Content:(00:00) Introduction to ABO Quick Wins(00:15) The Challenge of Scaling in Fast-Paced Markets(00:38) Strategy 1: Hiring Freelancers for Specialised Tasks(01:20) Strategy 2: Leveraging Freelancers for Email Marketing(02:07) Strategy 3: Building a Virtual Team with Freelancers(02:44) Conclusion Follow me on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re building a business alone, you know this feeling:the pressure, the responsibility, the constant mental load that never really switches off.In this solo episode of Asian Business Owners, I talk about what the mental load actually feels like when you’re the one making every decision, solving every problem and keeping things moving even on the days where you feel like slowing down.Here’s what I cover: • What the mental load looks like behind-the-scenes • How constant responsibility affects my mind and energy • Why overthinking shows up so strongly when you’re the only one in charge • Practical strategies I use to cope with the pressure • How to reframe responsibility so it empowers me instead of draining meYou may be tired, overwhelmed, determined: I know you're doing your best. Keep going, we're all in this together, building our dreams and reaching our goals. Timestamps:(00:00) — Introduction to Asian Business Owners Podcast(00:32) — The Mental Load of Entrepreneurship(02:18) — Daily Responsibilities and Pressures(03:49) — Effects of Mental Load(06:27) — Managing and Coping Strategies(11:56) — Conclusion and Final ThoughtsFollow the journey:💬 abo.pod📲 Find me on LinkedIn🎧 Subscribe to Asian Business Owners wherever you listen to it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creating content for Asian audiences requires nuance and real understanding.In this Quick Wins episode, you’ll learn how to:Speak to cultural preferences with clarityMix educational and emotional content that resonatesStay consistent using a content calendarUse these tips to grow your business' presence online and let me know how it goes.Content:(00:00) Introduction to ABO Quick Wins(00:40) Understanding Your Audience(01:24) Balancing Educational and Emotional Content(02:06) Consistency with a Content Calendar(02:56) Conclusion and Final TipsFollow me on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens after a decade building a career to realise it doesn’t feel like you anymore?In this episode, Jessie Li — entrepreneur and content creator with over half a million followers — talks about reinvention. She left a stable career that ended up with burnout, to build her own businesses in the lifestyle, fashion and luxury space.Jessie opens up about:Walking away from a path everyone else approved ofBuilding influence through authenticity, not algorithmsManaging multiple ventures while protecting your mental healthIf you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to build a brand that feels true to who you are — this conversation will remind you that reinvention isn’t just possible; it’s necessary.Content:(00:00) — Introduction to Asian Business Owners Podcast(00:32) — Meet Jessie Li: From Finance to Influencer(01:36) — The Journey to Instagram Fame(04:14) — Turning Influence into a Business(05:38) — Crafting a Personal Brand(07:24) — Expanding Beyond Influencing(16:36) — Navigating Social Media and Public Perception(17:55) — This or That with Jessie Li(18:34) — Balancing Time and Priorities(19:23) — The Journey of Relief X(23:06) — Personal Branding vs. Influencing(25:25) — Overcoming the Fear of Online Presence(29:00) — Staying Authentic in the Luxury Fashion World(32:23) — Marketing Insights for Business Owners(34:45) — Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts👉 To find out more about Jessie:On InstagramOn LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.