Atypical Asia with Debbie Yong

From launching a restaurant "in the middle of nowhere" as an MBA experiment to running an $80-million business today — this is Joseph Ong’s story.Joseph is the founder of 1-Group, a leading hospitality group in Singapore and Malaysia with 30+ dining and lifestyle concepts, including iconic destinations like 1-Altitude, 1-Arden and The Alkaff Mansion. But his story didn’t start there.Joseph grew up in a one-room HDB rental flat, a public housing category reserved for Singapore’s most disadvantaged families.In this episode of Atypical Asia, Joseph joins host Debbie Yong to unpack how he broke out of the poverty cycle to build — and sustain — a hospitality business at scale and what it really takes to survive in one of Asia’s most fickle industries, including:[00:55] Growing up in a one-room HDB rental flat — and the value of education[05:12] Early signs of his unconventional approach to business and leadership[09:17] Starting an F&B business as an MBA “experiment”[12:47] Being an outsider in the hospitality industry[16:35] Creating a destination in the middle of nowhere[21:00] “Remote entrepreneurship”: designing a business as a side hustle[25:13] “Collective leadership”: delegation, trust, and where leaders often get it wrong[34:15] 1-Group’s biggest failure, and what it taught him[37:17] How 1-Group approaches brand building and venue planning[43:37] Staying competitive in a famously fickle industry[46:23] Singapore’s night economy[52:43] Advice for first-time restaurant entrepreneurs[54:20] Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals (BHAGs)[55:54] The future of Asia’s restaurant industryIf you're a founder, business operator or community leader thinking deeply about leadership, innovation, and how Asia builds for the long term, you'll want to tune in.About Atypical Asia Atypical Asia is a podcast about unconventional leaders, innovative business rebels, and the human stories shaping modern Asia — beyond the stereotypes.Subscribe for more conversations. New episodes fortnightly.#AtypicalAsia #LeadershipInAsia #AsianFounders #BusinessInAsia #Innovation #BrandBuilding #Hospitality

Asia’s most interesting leaders don’t fit the mould.Atypical Asia is a podcast about the rebels and rulebreakers building, leading, and re-imagining modern Asia — beyond the tired tropes and stereotypes.I’m Debbie Yong — former journalist, brand strategist, and lifelong question-asker — and in this series, I sit down with founders, executives, and changemakers to explore the human stories behind leadership, innovation, and ambition across the region.If you’re curious about:– what leadership really looks like behind the scenes– how Asian founders and leaders navigate power, identity, and growth– and why the “atypical” path often leads to the most meaningful workYou’re in the right place.New episodes drop every fortnight.Subscribe to follow our journey.