Episodes
-
After a poor experience with an accountant, Adrien turned his frustration into a profitable business to solve a problem many business owners face: admin and paperwork.
Adrien founded Sleek in 2017 in Singapore, got a $25 million fundraise in 2021, expanded the business in Hong Kong, the UK and Australia, serving 16,000 clients.
EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get a $500 discount on any services Sleek offers (for new & existing customers). Read more below.
Listen to our deep chat about the ability to balance what he called "artistic chaos" and organised milestones and business plans. We also talked about how personal life influences our business philosophy and about the importance of knowing how to handle conflict.
EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get a $500 discount on any services Sleek offers (for new & existing customers). Visit: https://sleek.com/hk?ref=yzqzzdk
Use the code AF329612
Contact them: [email protected]
To find out more:Sleek website - https://sleek.com/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/sleekcorp/
ABO Podcast is also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abopod
-
Is an artist also a business owner? Should art be seen as a profitable business?
Listen to Claudia Chanhoi, an artist between London and Hong Kong. She explores and challenges societal norms around sexuality and body image through cheeky illustrations.
We chatted about the blend of art and business, her first solo exhibition, the commercial projects she's involved in and whether luck exists or not.
Tune in for an authentic conversation that'll get you inspired.
To find out more:Claudia's website - https://www.claudiachanhoi.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/brainxeyes/
Speaker at TEDx - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhVKsznJfgs&t=0s
ABO Podcast is also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abopod
-
Missing episodes?
-
[In collaboration with InvestHK and StartMeUp HK]
DON'T MISS the StartMeUp Festival in Hong Kong, from 21 to 25 October.
What's it like to expand a startup in Hong Kong? What are the opportunities to seize, is it expanding to the Great Bay Area? How to make the most of a unique global financial hub?
Deep dive into Hong Kong's startup ecosystem with Jayne Chan, Head of StartMeUp HK at InvestHK. Understand how InvestHK helps startup founders set up, scale and expand in Hong Kong. Explore innovative startups, inspiring founders stories and post-Covid business strategies.
DON'T MISS the StartMeUp Festival in Hong Kong, from 21 to 25 October.
Thank you to Munday Studio!
To find out more:InvestHK - https://www.investhk.gov.hk/en/StartMeUp Festival - https://www.startmeup.hk/
ABO Podcast is also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abopod
-
How can small businesses access funding? What strategies to follow? And what's considered a small business?
Jenny and Wilson are the founders of FundFluent, an online platform that assists small businesses in securing funding, including grants and loans.
They share how they've helped businesses access over $35 million since they started FundFluent in 2020. Sharpening your pitch and increasing sales are not the only elements that'll help you access funding.
Listen to Jenny and Wilson's precious insights to navigate the complex world of entrepreneurship.
To find out more:
FundFluent - https://www.fundfluent.io/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fundfluent/ABO Podcast is also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abopod
-
Your family expects from you to get a stable corporate job or be a doctor or banker? This episode is for you.
Jennifer Ong left a 'perfect-on-paper' job to take a bumpy road: entrepreneurship.
Listen to Jennifer's story and the bold choices she made to eventually found Ctrl Alt Career, a career coaching programme.
You might consider exploring and redefining your career path too!
To find out more:
Ctrl Alt Career - https://www.ongjennifer.com/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ongjennifer/
Spotify - https://shorturl.at/RsODKABO Podcast is also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abopod
-
How to navigate success in APAC as a Western company?
Marco Galimberti, CEO of Venchi APAC, looks back on his journey that started in Italy and brought him to Hong Kong, where he thrives to expand Venchi's presence.
With Marco, we reflected on the challenges that go with a premium confectionery brand having multiple points of sale across many countries.
Adaptability, cultural diversity, specific market strategies are all elements that contribute to Venchi's success in Asia.
To find out more:
Venchi - https://venchi.com.hk/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/venchi_hk/
ABO Podcast is also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abopod
-
How to make bakery shops a must-go place with endless lines of customers every day?
That’s what I asked Gregoire Michaud, the founder of Bakehouse, artisanal bakery in Hong Kong.
From wholesale bakery to popular retail shops, Gregoire shares the pivotal moments that shaped his business, the secret to creating an exceptional customer experience and the ambitious expansion plans, he and his partner Fred have, in Asia Pacific and beyond.
Don’t miss the precious pieces of advice from Gregoire on trust and risks at the end of the episode.
Enjoy!
To find out more:
Bakehouse - https://www.bakehouse.hk/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bakehousehk/
ABO Podcast is also on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@abopod
-
The test is simple: either your restaurant is successful or you shut it down only a few months after opening it.
In this episode, understand how Christian Talpo, CEO of Pirata Group, manages to reach sustainable success for the 26 restaurants of the group.
What's the secret sauce to remain a significant F&B (Food & Beverage) actor for more than 10 years? How to keep innovating while maintaining a high quality service?
Listen now to find out.
To find out more:
Pirata Group - https://piratagroup.hk/
ABO Podcast is also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABOpod
-
Joyce wasn't meant to be an entrepreneur, she was pursuing a career in architecture and everything changed when her daughter had a skin condition.
In this episode, listen to how Joyce's powerful story and genuine communication make NakedLab thrive in a very competitive industry.
You'll also get to hear about how to deal with imposter syndrome, how to expand to new markets and adjust the strategy accordingly. How to embrace pain, deal with cashflow and above all stay true to your why and keep things simple.
Happy listening!
To find out more:
Naked Lab - https://nakedlab.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nakedlab_official/
-
Don't miss these two MAJOR UPDATES about HKBO podcast!
To support us, don't forget to leave us 5 stars and follow us on:
Spotify - https://shorturl.at/5hzGj
IG - https://www.instagram.com/abo.pod/
YouTube - www.youtube.com/@ABOpod
-
I hope your summer is going well, whether you're on holiday or not. This Summer Edition episode is a bit special as it's the first solo episode I do, so please, let me know if you like it!
In the previous episode, I shared with you all the best tips from some entrepreneurs I interviewed in Season 2 of HKBO. In this episode, I share the 3 lessons I learned from running my marketing agency and podcast.
I hope you'll like it, please share with me the lessons you learned, you can DM on Instagram @abo.pod. And to support me, don't forget to leave me 5 stars!
Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/abo.pod/
-
It's summer time, whether you're on holiday or not, this is the occasion to slow down and reset.
I've prepared for you a special episode with the best tips from entrepreneurs, what helped them thrive, how they overcome challenges and what they focus on.
I hope these pieces of advice will help you run your projects and business. And if you have more tips to share with me, DM me on Instagram @abo.pod. And don't forget to leave me 5 stars if you like my podcast!
Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/abo.pod/
-
Entrepreneurship is a path with unexpected turnarounds. A flourishing business doesn't prevent you from facing hardships and reassessments.
15 years after launching Honeycombers, Chris Edwards founded Launchpad, a supportive community for entrepreneurs. After a difficult year post Covid, she met a mindset coach and this sparked an idea in her: giving back and sharing through a community.
Now leading two businesses and a podcast, Chris manages to take care of her mental health by setting boundaries to stay balanced and to find joy in anything that she does.
Don't miss Chris's pieces of advice at the end of the episode.
And if you want to join Launchpad AND support me at the same time, sign up here: https://thelaunchpad.group?fpr=carmen75
To find out more:
Honeycombers - https://thehoneycombers.com/hong-kong/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/honeycombers/
Launchpad - https://thelaunchpad.group/
-
What brings 11,000 women together?
That's what I asked Sarah Vee, the founder of Women of Hong Kong, free-membership community of women in Hong Kong.
She shares with me how it all started, that time when she managed to put together a paid event and fill 220 seats in 3 weeks and how she handles imposter syndrome.
Building this community of support is more than running a business, this became Sarah's life passion and is no longer about her but about the thousands of women counting on the network.
Listen to this honest and inspiring conversation with Sarah sharing her journey and what she learned along the way.
To find out more:
Women of HK - https://www.womenofhongkong.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/womenofhongkong/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/womenofhongkong/
-
How to build a successful brand with limited funds? How to expand to new markets? What humility brings to your business?
These are all questions we go through in this episode with Maura Thompson, founder of Sassy Media Group, digital media company across Hong Kong and Singapore.
Maura defines herself as an accidental entrepreneur, her humility and deep care for the people she works with made her stay true to her roots while embracing changes and reaching more and more milestones with Sassy Media Group.
Listen to Maura's vision of entrepreneurship and get inspired by the lessons she learned throughout her experience.
To find out more:
Sassy HK - https://www.sassyhongkong.com/
Sassy Mama HK - https://www.sassymamahk.com/
Sassy Mama SP - https://www.sassymamasg.com/
IG - https://www.instagram.com/sassyhongkong/
-
What do you know about gaming and esports?
In this episode, I chatted with Sean Zhang, the founder of Talon ESports, a professional esports organisation and gaming & lifestyle platform.
From computer science to banking to e-sports, Sean made two career switches before becoming an entrepreneur. He shares how he started his own business, how the entrepreneurial journey of his father influenced him, what he foresees for the future of esports and the evolution of it in Asia.
Listen to this inspiring conversation and dive deep in the fascinating world of gaming and esports.
To find out more:
Talon - https://www.talon.gg/
Talon's X - @talon_esports
Sean's LinkedIn - https://hk.linkedin.com/in/xiao-sean-zhang-29639462
-
On top of being the factory of the world, having the resources, the manpower & productivity, Asia is also a place with heritage, culture, design and art. What about the influence of Asian craftsmanship and design? How to shed light on it?
This is Krizia's ambition with Vermillion, Asia's first B2B e-commerce marketplace for crafted lifestyle luxury.
Vermillion curates designs from Asian artists and creators, caring to represent Asian countries, women-owned businesses, socially-driven companies.
With Krizia, we talked about the strong values of Vermillion and the responsibility businesses have in terms of the values they convey.
To find out more:
Vermillion - https://www.vermillionlifestyle.com/
Vermillion's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vermillion.lifestyle/
-
What's the role of Data in the decision-making process? How to collect Data, keep it and use it? To what extent can we rely on it? How to balance it with what we call our "gut feeling"?
In this special episode, listen to a Panel Discussion with Florian Gaudel, founder of Standard Insights, an AI-powered Market Research company and Jacopo Pesavento, co-founder of Branding Records, Global Creative Agency.
Let me know if you like this format and if I should do more panel discussion episodes. Happy listening and don't forget to give me 5 stars!
To find out more:
Standard Insights - https://standard-insights.com/
Branding Records - https://www.brandingrecords.com/
Florian's LinkedIn - https://hk.linkedin.com/in/floriangaudel/en
Jacopo's LinkedIn - https://hk.linkedin.com/in/jacopo-pesavento-2339ba20
-
Have you ever bought a preowned item? It's a sustainable way of consuming.
How has the image of shopping second-hand evolved over the years? What about the specificities of the Hong Kong market towards sustainability?
These are some of the questions we discussed with Sarah Fung, founder of HULA, second-hand luxury fashion company that makes fashion sustainable.
Sarah shares the lessons she learned as an entrepreneur, how she grew her business and how she apprehended the challenge of bringing sustainability to the Hong Kong fashion scene.
To find out more:
HULA - https://thehula.com/
HULA's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joinhula
Shop location: 56-58 Hollywood Rd, Central
Warehouse location: 404, Berkshire House, 25 Westlands Rd, Quarry Bay
-
You work in Marketing, Comms or Technology in APAC or Middle East? Maybe MCG Talent helped you find your job.
I sat down with Adam Michael Toctan, co-founder of this award-winning recruitment agency and we chatted about the evolution of the power dynamics between candidates and companies and the effect of AI-powered tools on recruiters.
Adam also shared how MCG Talent was born and how to successfully manage to work with a business partner and leverage the complementarity of two personalities and skillsets.
Don't miss the tips from Adam to carry on with your entrepreneur journey.
To find out more:
MCG Talent - https://www.mcgtalent.io/
Adam's LinkedIn - https://hk.linkedin.com/in/adammichaeltoctan
MCG Talent's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mcgtalent/
- Show more
