148 - Navigating Board Directorships and Self-Employment: A Conversation with Wong Su-Yen

Wong Su-Yen is a distinguished international leader who serves as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman in various global public, private, and not-for-profit organisations. She has held directorial roles in Australia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, and the United States, spanning industries such as telecommunications, media, professional services, agriculture, real estate, education, and FinTech/HRtech. As the founder and CEO of Bronze Phoenix, Su-Yen helps organisations navigate transformation at the intersection of technology, strategy, and people. She is an Adjunct Professor of Leadership at the National University of Singapore Business School and a member of the Executive Education Faculty at Duke University. Su-Yen is a sought-after keynote speaker who addresses topics such as the future of work, global leadership, diversity, and governance. Her insights have been featured in prominent media outlets like CNBC, Channel News Asia, The Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg. She holds a B.A. in music and computer science from Linfield University and an M.B.A. from the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina. This episode is brought to you by Deel, the all-in-one platform simplifying global team management with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance solutions, trusted by over 35,000 businesses worldwide. Learn more at ⁠deel.com/adriantan⁠. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Who is Wong Su-yen? 01:24 Su-Yen's Career Journey: From Music to Marketing 02:00 Transition to Consulting and Leadership 02:45 The Decision to Pursue Board Roles 04:17 Balancing Parallel Careers 07:09 The Reality of Board Directorship 11:38 First Board Role and Challenges 13:54 Responsibilities and Risks of Board Membership 19:06 Managing Multiple Board Roles 22:19 Diversifying into Speaking and Teaching 23:56 Balancing Multiple Domains 24:44 Discovering Your Superpowers 27:04 The Importance of Trying New Things 29:38 Challenges and Advantages of Self-Employment 30:21 Building a Supportive Community 34:26 Preparing for Self-Employment 40:00 Managing Time as a Solopreneur 43:03 The Value of Hiring Support 44:29 Concluding Thoughts and Upcoming Events Su-Yen website: www.suyenwong.com Su-Yen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suyenwong/ Voices of Reinvention event: http://www.bronzephoenix.com/remarkablereinventorscommunity/voices-of-reinvention Get full access to Will That Work? at www.adriantan.com.sg/subscribe