“People were shocked when I told them that there was a time during Covid, before we founded Green Rebel, where we had a cash reserve that could last us only a week,” says Green Rebel and Burgreens co-founder and CEO Helga Angelina Tjahjadi, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Chong Seow Wei, the double plant-based business entrepreneu…

"The first generation builds the family business, second generation consolidates it, third one destroys it,” says Nepalese business mogul and philanthropist Binod Chaudhary on Crazy Smart Asia. With his son and successor Nirvana, he spoke to Tatler Asia president Tamara Lamunière about navigating relationships as a business family, how to have thos…

“I washed my face with a bar of soap,” says Charlotte Cho, the founder of K-beauty marketplace Soko Glam and skincare brand Then I Met You, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, the OG K-beauty entrepreneur explains how to centre your work in the Korean art of “Jeong”, the VC trap founders must beware of and secrets from…

“In F&B, we love to torture ourselves. But with the pain comes the joy of serving people, seeing people smile while eating their food,” says Chin Ren Yi, the co-founder of MyBurgerLab, a popular burger chain in Malaysia known for its local flavours and charcoal buns, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, the entrepreneur…

“Maybe your concept of entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be those of Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk,” says Louise Mabulo, the founder of The Cacao Project, a restorative agroforestry initiative, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, the entrepreneur, farmer and chef shares how she went from Masterchef Junior to TED Talk sp…

This week, we pick out five inspiring quotes from the seventh season of Crazy Smart Asia to help you build a better world, better business or better you. Listen for a quickfire highlights reel of crazy-smart perspectives from our guests—from a record-breaking powerlifter to a heel-wearing Japanese monk. If you enjoyed these short clips, why not go …

“I never really thought cooking was my thing,” says culinary anthropologist Nithiya Laila, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, Laila shares how she’s built a business around communal eating, how the produce we grow and eat tells the story of who we are and the surprising reason she played truant at school. Hosted on Ac…

“I really believe in the power of small steps. That discipline has been key in achieving certain things in my life,” says Christine-Amour Levar, the Singapore-based founder of NGOs Women on a Mission and Her Planet Earth, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, the avid mountaineer shares how her divorce reconnected her wi…

“I might be homosexual, but it does not matter. Anybody can be enlightened,” says Japanese author, Buddhist monk and LGBTQ+ icon Kodo Nishimura, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, Nishimura shares his journey growing up queer in a temple, how to build your uniqueness into a brand and why he’s got love for Sailor Moon,…

“If you want to be first rate at your work, it can't be all that you are,” says Rachel Lim, the co-founder of multimillion-dollar fashion brand Love Bonito, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Chong Seow Wei, Lim shares how she’s built Singapore’s fastest-growing fashion brand, why timing is everything when it comes to having difficul…

“If your creativity is not solving a problem, it’s not creative,” says world-renowned chef André Chiang, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with restaurateur Syed Asim Hussain of Black Sheep and food and travel editor Johannes Pong, he shares the less glamorous realities of running a restaurant empire, why creativity is an essential tool for inno…

“Being that stubborn and committed to a cause can take you really far,” says three-time record-breaking powerlifter Farhanna Farid, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Chong Seow Wei, Farhanna shares the moment she discovered her knack for powerlifting, why her ultimate goal is to be a competitive “silver lifter” at 70 years old and h…

“There's a growing interest for investors to put their money where their heart is,” says Dorothy Lam, the co-founder and chief catalyst officer of Dream Impact, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Chong Seow Wei, Lam shares why building a community isn’t as easy as it looks, how she went from NYC art student to impact investing founde…

"I have to train my mind just as much as my body, because it's like a muscle, it needs to be prepared for the competition," says Nicol David, a record-breaking squash champion, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Sean Fitzpatrick, David shares the visualisation techniques she uses to secure gold medals, why the mind is just as much a …

This week, we’ve picked out five inspiring quotes from the latest season of Crazy Smart Asia to help you build a better world, a better business, or even just a better you. Listen for a quickfire highlights reel of crazy-smart perspectives from our guests, with Tatler Gen.T’s Chong Seow Wei. If you enjoyed these short clips, why not go back and lis…

“To build a great business, you need to tackle a problem,” says YouTube co-founder Steve Chen in conversation with fellow tech legend Patrick Grove, co-founder and CEO of Catcha Group, on Crazy Smart Asia. The duo speak with 14-year-old youth tech advocate and AI researcher, Zara Khanna, about the disruptor’s blueprint, why they’d take an A-plus hu…

Technology can democratise personal well-being, says sextech advisor and investor Maaike Steinebach and sex coach, sexologist and educator at Sarasense, Sara Tang, on Tatler Gen.T’s Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Unsensible’s co-founder Karis Cheng, the pair share their mission to make the world more sex-positive, the growing popularity of …

"We have no time to doubt ourselves," says Malaysian biofuels industry trailblazer, Vinesh Sinha, the founder and CEO of FatHopes Energy on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's former regional head Lee Williamson, Sinha shares how one Top Gear episode inspired him to get started, how he’s scaling a circular economy business using a 90/10 …

“If you don't show fear, truly, honestly; they back up,” says Mahbouba Seraj, a women’s rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Tatler Gen.T’s Tamara Lamuniere, Seraj shares why she refuses to leave Afghanistan, what happens when you’re forced to fight for what you believe in, and why we must let up …

“What is success? For me, it's something that we can truly enjoy during our lives,” says Juan Pablo Escobar, now known as Sebastián Marroquín, the son of the notorious politician, criminal and cartel leader, Pablo Escobar, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Marroquín shares how to step out of your father’s shadow to r…

“When you’re sleep deprived and you have a bad diet, you’re half dead,” says the tech billionaire biohacking his body and mind in pursuit of immortality, Blueprint founder Bryan Johnson, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Johnson shares why being an unhealthy entrepreneur is holding you back, how his anti-ageing regim…

This week, we’ve picked out five inspiring quotes from the latest episodes of Crazy Smart Asia to help you build a better world, a better business, or even just a better you. Listen for a quickfire highlights reel of crazy-smart perspectives from our guests, with Tatler Gen.T’s Lee Williamson. If you enjoyed these short clips, why not go back and l…

“Anywhere on earth can be your classroom, as long as it fits your lifestyle,” says Tommie Lo, the founder of AI-powered education platform Preface, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Lo shares how growing up on a boat as a fisherman’s son decentralised his views on education, why he chose waiting tables in a Chinese r…

“Climate change is not an immediate entrepreneurial target,” says Max Song, ex-coder and founder and CEO of Carbonbase, on Crazy Smart Asia. From gaining his first gig couch-surfing post-Burning Man in California, to living on the streets of Paris, Max tells Gen.T’s Lee Williamson why running a company’s like surfing, how an internship with Nasa in…

"Mothers are the best business leaders because they don’t have the luxury of time," says Sarah Chen-Spellings, the co-founder of Beyond the Billion, a consortium of venture capital funds focused on getting US$1 billion into the pockets of female founders, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Lee Williamson, Chen-Spellings shares how sh…

“If we don’t do this, I don’t think anyone else can do it,” says Angeline Tham, the co-founder and CEO of Angkas, the on-demand motorcycle taxi app revolutionising how people get around in the gridlocked city of Manila, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Angeline shares insights on how to successfully run a business w…

“What's unexpected is the idea that two young students, two nobodies, can essentially transform a country's democracy,” say Qyira Yusri and Tharma Pillai, co-founders of Malaysian advocacy group Undi18, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Yusri and Pillai share the anatomy of a winning political campaign, why young Mal…

This week, we’ve picked out five inspiring quotes from the last eight episodes of Crazy Smart Asia to help you build a better world, a better business, or even just a better you. Listen for a quickfire highlights reel of crazy-smart perspectives from our guests, with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson. If you enjoyed these short clips, why not go back and list…

“Validation is just a cherry on top,” says Victoria Tang-Owen, the creative director and serial entrepreneur behind Thirty30 Creative and Victoria Tang Studio, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Tang-Owen shares insights on how to hone a unique creative outlook that will stand you apart from the crowd, the secret to s…

“Don’t take the shortcut, never start walking the grey line,” says Joel Neoh, a four-time exited founder and titan of the Malaysian entrepreneurial scene, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Neoh shares a comprehensive guide on how to be a kick-ass entrepreneur: why having the entrepreneurial x-factor is about being a …

“Think about your energy and your mental health like any other resource,” says Neurum Health founder Megan Lam, who is revolutionising the path to personalised mental healthcare, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Lam shares her own journey with mental health, how she dealt with discriminatory investors looking to sla…

Singapore’s only queer, transgender street artist, Sam Lo, shares how they’ve defied binary societal expectations and broken out the box to be one of Singapore’s stand-out creatives. From stickers to graffiti to murals, Sam, who was once subbed “Sticker Lady”, is a multi-talented artist who has overcome the odds to become one of Asia’s biggest up a…

“Women have not hit their peak in comedy yet,” says Singaporean comedian Sharul Channa, who is obliterating Asia's comedy boy's club, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Channa shares her insights on the transferable skills between comedy and entrepreneurship, the reality of dealing with harassment and discrimination a…

“I feel like Asia is ready, man,” says Singaporean-Tamil rapper Yung Raja, talking about Southeast Asia’s ascent to hip-hop’s global stage, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Yung Raja shares his journey to become Asia’s first true hip-hop superstar, what he really thought about that infamous Jimmy Fallon incident, an…

“Building a sustainable business is at the core of entrepreneurship,” says self-confessed “cool nerd” Ankit Suri, co-founder of Planto, a personal finance app that has over 500,000 monthly users, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Suri shares how he faces every challenge with an action-oriented mindset, why sustainabl…

“There's so much that life has to offer. There are ups and downs, [...] but the downs are essential to your growth,” says introverted Scorpio Nadine Lustre, Filippina musician and actor on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, we revisit this significant conversation from December 2021 where Lustre shares her experiences wi…

This week, we’ve picked out five inspiring quotes from the last eight episodes of Crazy Smart Asia to help you build a better world, a better business, or even just a better you. Listen for a quickfire highlights reel of crazy-smart perspectives from our guests, with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson. If you enjoyed these short clips, why not go back and list…

“Life is all about attitude. We can’t all be as athletic as Ronaldo, or as smart as Einstein, but we just have to be the best level of who we are today,” says investor Patrick Tsang, chairman of Tsangs Group, an innovation-focused global family office, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Tsang shares how growing up Asi…

“We’re at the dawn of the battery revolution,” says “awkward extrovert” and accidental entrepreneur Brandon Ng, the Brunei-born co-founder and CEO of Ampd Energy, a Hong Kong energy storage company that’s committed to making the construction industry emission-free. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Ng shares what’s next for battery techn…

“We're not just making something we think is cool,” says robotics whiz turned custodian of the oceans Sidhant Gupta, co-founder of Clearbot, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Gupta, whose company designs and manufacturers battery-powered autonomous boats, shares why all businesses should be social impact businesses, …

“Find the passions you love, and work on it daily”, says Steven Wongsoredjo, the co-founder and CEO of Indonesian social commerce startup Super, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Lee Williamson, tune in to learn why social commerce is such a huge opportunity in Southeast Asia’s rural communities, the secret to Super’s US$106 million celebri…

“It burned me inside that no one cared what I did,” says self-confessed “expat brat” Erman Akinci, co-founder and managing partner at Emissary Capital, a boutique investment firm based in Kuala Lumpur, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Akinci—who is also co-founder of Common Ground, one of Southeast Asia’s biggest co…

“Our work involves spiritual, mental and physical fortitude; [...] you have to be strong,” says Billie Dumaliang, who, along with her sister Ann, is a co-founder of Masungi Georeserve Foundation, a model for privately led conservation, sustainable reforestation and geotourism in the Philippines. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, the Duma…

“I exceeded all expectations from everyone, including myself,” says self-confessed “late bloomer” Keith Rumjahn, co-founder and CEO of OliveX, a fitness-focused technology company he took from inception to IPO in just three years on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Rumjahn shares how he’s riding out the Web3 wobble, ho…

“I don't really take advice from people that haven't done what I'm trying to do,” says Austen Chu, co-founder and CEO of Wristcheck, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Chu shares how he deals with age discrimination in the watch industry, why being relentless in pursuit of your goals is the key to achieving your dream…

Wednesday 12th April Crazy Smart Asia is back weekly with an unexpected story from Asia’s brightest disruptors. Gen.T’s Lee Williamson explains more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gen.T's podcast Crazy Smart Asia explores the unexpected stories of Asia's disruptors. We'll be back in November with a full third season of Crazy Smart Asia. But until then, as a teaser to the full third season, we wanted to share with you a fascinating conversation Gen.T hosted recently on climate change and how the actions we take as individuals…

Gen.T’s podcast Crazy Smart Asia explores the unexpected stories of Asia’s disruptors. We’ll be back in the new year with Season Three, but in the interim we have a special one-off conversation we wanted to share with you. Gen.T has been collaborating with Tod’s this year, specifically the brand’s No_Code line, a new hybrid footwear concept for the…

Gen.T’s podcast Crazy Smart Asia explores the unexpected stories of Asia’s disruptors. One in four people will struggle with depression and other mental health issues at some point in their lives. For entrepreneurs, that number doubles to one in two. As we approach the third year of the pandemic, with the added stress, uncertainty and loss we’ve al…

Gen.T’s podcast Crazy Smart Asia explores the unexpected stories of Asia’s disruptors. In 2020, serial entrepreneur Danny Yeung was hitting his stride with his startup Prenetics, seeing success with its consumer-facing genetic testing brand, Circle DNA. And then Covid hit. Realising he had the labs, the talent and the tenacity to help, Danny quickl…