Motivating by Example

    Karen Contet Karen Contet discusses her role in two startups that motivates and encourages others by her example, ’Women Who Code HK and W Hub’, insights into what it takes to switch industries and career path, her approach to maintaining a rich balance to all aspects of life, and advice to just starting out entrepreneurs. Show Notes: Introduction: (0:01 – 0:43) Neville J McKenzie introduces the podcast and the guest, Karen Contet Mentions the purpose of the podcast and encourages listeners to visit the website and leave comments Background and Startups: (0:46 – 2:24) Karen Farzam introduces herself as the co-founder of W Hub and Women Who Code Hong Kong Talks about the purpose of W Hub as a startup profile-driven platform showcasing startups and helping them find synergy with other startups Discusses the challenges and growth of the tech startup scene in Hong Kong over the past five years Shares her motivation for transitioning from a career in finance to the startup ecosystem Teaching and Events: (2:25 – 3:34) Karen talks about teaching front-end web development at General Assembly Mentions organising events and job fairs to bridge the gap between startups and talent Highlights the importance of showcasing startup missions and values to attract the right talent Discusses her involvement in Women Who Code and their efforts to encourage more women to join the tech industry Learning to Code and Balance: (3:36 – 6:01) Karen shares her journey of learning to code and building the W Hub website Talks about the logical nature of coding and the supportive coding community Discusses the importance of work-life balance and the challenges of being an entrepreneur with a family Mentions the need to unplug and the role of sports in achieving balance Starting a Startup and Advice: (6:03 – 8:19) Karen talks about the importance of having a supportive co-founder and listening to different perspectives Shares her experience of facing skepticism and the need to prove doubters wrong Emphasises the value of hard work, connecting with the right people, and leveraging word-of mouth for startup success Gives advice to aspiring entrepreneurs to challenge their ideas, focus on execution, and launch their Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Expansion and Contact: (8:21 – 17:09) Karen discusses the expansion plans of W Hub to other countries in Asia Mentions the importance of having local people to understand country-specific challenges Talks about attracting people to be involved through networking, media presence, and word-of-mouth Provides her contact information and encourages people to get in touch Conclusion: (17:12 – 18:57) Neville J McKenzie thanks Karen for the interview and wishes her success Mentions the website and encourages listeners to visit for more information Ends with closing remarks and outro music