Ask My Leader EP 2: From Textbook to Food Empire: A Journey of Trust, Resilience, and Success| Mr. Tan Wang Cheow - Founder of Food Empire

In Episode Two of the series 'Ask My Leader', we interview Mr. Tan, the founder of Food Empire. Throughout the episode, Mr. Tan shares his experiences and insights that have led him to his current position as the chairman of a leading company with international brands that are household names in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and parts of Central Asia, holding market shares as high as 75% in some countries. He talks about the importance of building relationships, never losing hope, being proactive in spotting opportunities, and establishing trust. He also provides anecdotes from his entrepreneurial journey, from starting his career in an accounting firm to becoming the founder of a company listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Despite facing major global crisis like the Asian financial crisis, the Lehman Brothers crisis, the 2014 Russian conflict, and the recent 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Tan's resilience and belief in his brand helped him and his company overcome the obstacles.00:00 Introduction to Ask My Leader Episode Two01:18 Introducing the Guest: Mr. Tan from Food Empire01:33 Mr. Tan's Early Career and Challenges02:05 The Essence of Sales and Business03:08 Mr. Tan's School Days and Early Ventures07:52 The Importance of Optimism and Persistence14:12 Mr. Tan's Approach to Work-Life Balance14:28 Mr. Tan's Journey into the Computer Business17:06 Expansion into Eastern Europe and Russia19:52 Building a Network of Friends and Entrepreneurs20:46 Venturing into the Commonwealth Independent States21:52 The Start of a New Business22:24 Transitioning from Trading to Branding23:05 Expanding the Business Geographically23:36 The Struggle for Work-Life Balance24:23 Overcoming Financial Challenges25:48 Switching Industries and Learning from Mistakes27:32 Building Trust in Business29:17 The Power of a Household Brand33:14 Philanthropy and Giving Back to the Community34:30 Overcoming Challenges During the Financial Crisis36:32 Navigating Supply Chain Issues during COVID38:23 Final Thoughts and Advice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.