Ep 118: The Uncharismatic Leader We All NEED | Chen Chow Yeoh (Co-Founder, Fave & KFit)

Not everyone has to be a Steve Jobs.


The charismatic, big picture, visionary leader that everyone
gravitates towards.


We also have (and need) those who execute.


Who double down on the nitty gritty and ensure that things
actually get done. And well


Which brings me to today's STIMY guest: Chen Chow
Yeoh.


Speak to anyone in the Southeast Asian startup scene and they'll
likely have heard of Chen Chow and have a tremendous amount of
respect for him.


He's an OG in the space:


Co-Founder of Fave - one of the fastest growing fintech
platform in Southeast Asia

Co-Founder of KFit.com - which revolutionised how people
approached fitness in Asia Pacific

Regional Operations Director in APAC & COO (Malaysia) for
Groupon



But he never had a plan.


Chen Chow:


Was one of the top 8 people who scored the worst in his English
exams at Cornell University;


Didn't get a promotion at Accenture (and cried about it ️)


Landed his role at Jobstreet by chance


Was rendered obsolete in Groupon when he joined - he was hired
for a sales role but by the time he finished serving notice at
his previous company, that role was obsolete!


But:


At Accenture, he did eventually get that promotion. By buckling
down & putting in the work.


He did odd jobs at Groupon & within 3 weeks of joining, was
promoted to COO!


He worked with Joel Neoh to turn Groupon Taiwan from a $1 million
loss making monster to $8k in profits in 8 months!


He has never formally applied for any jobs - people always go to
him


But he is not like his charismatic, visionary counterpart.


He just does the work.


Great work, in fact.


And this, is his story.


So are you ready?


Let's go


Highlights:


2:04 Catching the 5am bus

2:56 Going to Cornell University

6:59 Failing to get a job promotion

8:13 A coincidental offer from Jobstreet

12:16 Joel Neoh

13:47 Why take the leap to Groupon

15:38 Never formally applied for a job!

17:36 From random jobs to COO?!

21:57 Inferiority or imposter syndrome?

24:54 Don't ask for more?!

27:29 How to turn a $1 million loss making business into $8k
profit in 8 months in Taiwan

35:29 Co-Founding KFit

39:35 Raising $1 million from friends & family?!

41:11 Landing Pieter Kemps from Sequoia as an investor!

50:47 Turning KFit into Fave

54:05 Laying off 50% of staff but still being good friends
with them

59:30 How to bring 2 company cultures together during an
acquisition

1:01:36 China

1:11:55 What are Chen Chow's strongest features?

1:12:33 Will Chen Chow stay even though Joel has left?

1:14:04 A competitor Chen Chow really admires






Show notes: www.sothisismywhy.com/118


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