Parents in Tech

 Meet Kevin Chan, a proud father of six-year-old twins and Global Partner Solutions Lead. He and his wife moved from Seattle, USA, to Singapore to raise their children closer to their own Southeast Asian roots. With over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, Kevin has a unique perspective on balancing technology and parenting. He's passionate about helping his children build strong connections with their cultural heritage and believes that moving abroad has benefited their family in many ways. Kevin's experiences and insights make him a perfect guest for parents considering a similar move. To get in touch with Kevin Chan, find him on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kevinhpchan Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

Get ready to meet Cynthia Yeo, a powerhouse in the tech industry and a dedicated parent to three beautiful children. With over a decade of experience at Microsoft, Cynthia has climbed the corporate ladder while expertly balancing her career and family life. As the leader of the Enterprise Commercial Team in Microsoft Singapore, Cynthia inspires others with her resilient spirit, which she attributes to her strong and resourceful mother. You'll love her candid and honest stories of overcoming personal challenges and her commitment to helping her children flourish through independence and accountability. Cynthia's journey is a true testament to the power of resilience and determination.   To get in touch with Cynthia Yeo, find her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cynyeo   And the websites available are: microsoft.com (Company) microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics/crm.aspx (Customer Engagement Solutions) microsoft.com/en-gb/dynamics/crm-trust-center.aspx (Dynamics CRM Trust Center) Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

Bryan Chua, a Senior Solutions Architect at Microsoft in Singapore, talks about his family, his views on technology and parenting, and the values he and his wife want to teach their children. Bryan believes in exposing his children to technology and educating them on its benefits, but also setting boundaries and limits on usage. He emphasizes the importance of caring for others and sharing as values he and his wife want to teach their children. This conversation also touches on AI, its impact on the future of work and creativity and provides valuable advice for parents looking to balance their career and family goals. To get in touch with Bryan Yang, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykbryan/?originalSubdomain=sg Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

In this episode, I speak with Seow Khun, a mother of four who embraces a hybrid lifestyle offered by technology as part of her efforts to provide her children with an equitable upbringing. Seow Khun is the Public Sector Lead for Microsoft in Singapore. A mother of four boys who is fervently pursuing a certificate in disability studies and has a strong interest in utilizing technology to assist children with special needs. In this episode, Seow Khun discussed how to provide employees the flexibility to truly control their work and home life balance, and how this is enabled by Microsoft's core principles of respect and honesty. To get in touch with Seow Khun, find her on: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/lumsk   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

My special guests are Daniel and Michelle.   Daniel and Michelle, co-founders of Nimbus Group, an office and home cleaning service provider. They share their experiences working together, building a business, and parenting their nine-year-old daughter. Daniel and Michelle discuss their previous attempts at working together and how they learned to separate their work and personal lives. They also talk about the importance of having clarity on roles and responsibilities and how they have divided their responsibilities to avoid conflict. As the business has grown, they have been able to improve their work-life balance and set boundaries to avoid work talk before 9 am. The couple also shares their approach to parenting, which centers on fostering their child's individuality and intrinsic motivation. They prioritize cultivating their daughter's love for learning and exploring diverse interests, rather than solely focusing on grades and academic success.   To get in touch with Daniel and Michelle, find them on LinkedIn:https://sg.linkedin.com/company/nimbus-for-work Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line. PARENTS IN TECH - MIXPANEL EPISODE SHOW NOTES   Guest: Daniel and Michelle Daniel and Michelle are co-founders of Nimbus Group, a provider of corporate and residential cleaning services. They discuss working together, establishing a business, and raising their nine-year-old daughter, Camellia. Working Together as a Couple Daniel and Michelle have been together for over five years, and they know that a successful relationship requires effort from both parties. They understand that working together as a couple is the key to making their relationship last. From communication to problem-solving, both Daniel and Michelle are willing to put in the necessary effort to ensure that their relationship is strong and healthy. They recognize that it takes two people to make a relationship work, so they strive to be understanding of each other’s needs and compromises when necessary. By working together as a couple, Daniel and Michelle hope to create an environment of mutual respect, trust, and love in their relationship. Separating Work and Personal Life Daniel and Michelle have been struggling to keep their work and personal lives separate. They both find it hard to switch off from work when they get home, which is taking a toll on their relationship. Fortunately, there are methods that can help them achieve a better balance between their professional and personal lives. These include setting boundaries around when they can talk about work, such as avoiding talking about work after dinner or during weekends. They can also try using tools such as time blocking to make sure they stick to their schedule and have dedicated time for both work and leisure activities. Integrating family and relationships  Family and relationships are complex, yet incredibly important aspects of...

The theme for this episode is raising confident and secure children. We examine two books — Raising a Secure Child and Raising Good Humans. Raising a Secure Child, written by Kent Hoffman, Glen Cooper, and Bert Powell John, was published in 2017. This book helps us as parents to understand how our childhood experiences, psychology, and attachment styles affect our parenting, and is packed with practical tips. The book introduces a concept called the "Circle of Security" to frame Attachment Theory ideas. At the top of the circle, children need a secure base from which they can explore the world. At the bottom of the circle, they require a safe haven to return to. Children go around the circle, sometimes very quickly, and it is the job of their parents or caregivers to follow their needs while being "larger, stronger, smarter, and kind" throughout the process. The book is divided into two parts – the first introduces us to the circle and how healthy development happens when parents understand attachment and the importance of security. The second talks about how parents can create and maintain the circle. The second book we are going to talk about is Raising Good Humans, written by Hunter Clarke-Fields. With mindfulness as its focus, this book examines ways in which increasing our awareness of what is occurring inside our bodies can help us be more purposeful and present parents. This book delves into the reasons why it is so difficult to be a good parent, as well as what we can do to effect long-term change. It also offers a peek into a child’s brain that causes difficult behavior. The book is also divided into two parts. In the first part, parents learn how mindfulness can help them lessen their stress response and become more compassionate. Parents can then become conscious of their own stories and figure out what is triggering them. Self-compassion comes after as the most important attitude for positive change. The first section concludes with tools on how to deal with unpleasant emotions. The second part teaches parents communication skills that will result in greater cooperation from their children and an improvement in the relationship. It suggests how we, as parents, help our children solve their own difficulties by listening to them, without resorting to threats. The common principle across these two books is the importance of developing a healthy attachment with our children, in addition to being aware of the triggers and challenges as parents.   So, what will we be discussing in the next few minutes? We will summarize the key takeaways across three key areas: Attachment Security and Support Exploring our core sensitivities as parents   Welcome to the Parents in Tech Book Club! In each episode, we summarize lessons and takeaways from two best-selling parenting books, so you can save time, get your dose of parenting advice and get back to our families and careers.

The theme for this episode is how children learn. We examine two books – the eponymous How Children Learn by John Holt and The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies. These two books discuss different foundations and methods to help understand how our children acquire and absorb information. How Children Learn by John Holt was first published in 1967, and then revised in 1983. In 2017, a 50th anniversary version was published with a new prologue, although the content remained substantially the same. He wanted to create change by dissociating education from schooling, with the belief that children do not need and, in fact, would be better off without compulsory schooling. He concluded that learning in freedom for children was best. In this book, he describes in detail and with several examples, what natural learning is. Natural learning is when there is no anxiety or fear, pressure or manipulation by the parents. The book helps us understand why it is important to allow children to develop their own mental processes and discusses how children learn to speak, read or pick up other skills like sports, art or math. In addition, the book discusses the importance of games, fantasy and, curiosity on the child’s  mind development. The second book we are going to check out will be The Montessori Toddler, written by Montessori educator Simone Davies. Montessori is a word we as parents hear a lot – from the advertisements of pre-schools to conversations with other parents. This book introduces what the Montessori method is, and talks about the practical parenting strategies that will support a child's development. So what is the Montessori method? Most teachers in traditional education stand up in front of the class and decide what kids need to learn. This is called a "top-down" approach. In the Montessori method, there is a dynamic relationship between the child, the adult, and the environment. In this dynamic, the child is in charge of his or her own learning. The child is then supported by the adult and the environment. The materials for learning are laid out on shelves in sequential order from easiest to hardest. The child works at their own pace with the material, following their interest at that moment. Next, the teacher or parent observes the child, and when it seems he or she has mastered it, the teacher or parent will give them a lesson with the next material. In other words, the kid is in charge of what they learn, how they learn, and how fast they progress. Simone' book describes how educational values utilized in a Montessori classroom can also be used at home. She describes a variety of Montessori activities, that we as parents, can conduct with our children.   I believe that both books complement each other well. The common principle both emphasize is to trust our children in the learning process. Joh Holt’s book provides a foundation and concepts about children's learning, such as the impact of us parents pushing our kids to learn. Simone’ book then comes in with a vast catalog of activities on how we as parents can avoid exerting this pressure. So, what will we be discussing in the next few minutes? We will summarize the key takeaways from each of the 6 topics. Creating a safe space to learn Curiosity Language & Reading Sports, Art, and Experiential Activities Fantasy Other takeaways on learning   Welcome to the Parents in Tech Book Club! In each episode, we summarize lessons and takeaways from two best-selling parenting books, so you can sav...

The theme for this episode of Parents in Tech Book Club is developing and nurturing our children's minds. We examine two books by New York Times bestselling authors Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph. D., in which they deep-dive into the “why” of our children's behavior and the “how” for our kids to reach their full potential. The first book is titled "The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child", and the second is titled "The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind". The first book takes a more practical approach, distinguishing the yes brain from the no brain, and then categorizing yes brain characteristics into four fundamentals: Balanced yes brain Resilient yes brain Insightful yes brain Empathic yes brain The book includes strategies and ideas for implementing these fundamentals. The second book provides a science-based explanation of how a child's brain works, dividing the brain's integration process into five concepts: left and right brain integration, vertical and horizontal integration, memory integration, self-integration, and self-integration with others, as well as providing 12 tactics based on these concepts. So, what will we be discussing in the next few minutes? We will summarize the key takeaways from each of the six topics. Understanding the child's brain Balance Resilience Insight Empathy Memory   Welcome to the Parents in Tech Book Club! In each episode, we summarize lessons and takeaways from two best-selling parenting books, so you can save time, get your dose of parenting advice and get back to our families and careers.

The theme for this episode of Parents in Tech Book Club is communicating with children. We look at two best-selling parenting books. The first book was first published in 1982 and has been called “the parenting bible” by many media outlets such as The Boston Globe. This book is none other than "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk" by Adele Faber and Elaine Malzish. Fast forward 3 decades, the daughter of one of the authors, Adele, was inspired by her mum and wrote her own book, which is the second book we will talk about today - "How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7." by Julie King and Joanna Faber. Joanna is the daughter of Adele, and more than 300,000 copies of her book has been sold to-date.  The two books complement each other very well, and when read in conjunction, they provide fantastic tools to help improve a parent-child relationship. They are very similar in content because they follow the same philosophy, although Joanna and Julie in their book provide more tools targeting kids with special needs. Both have sample dialogues, role-playing exercises, and cartoons that are both funny and insightful – if you are interested to practice the advice you have heard on this podcast, definitely do check the books out.   So, what will we talk about in this episode? Both Adele and Joanna's books focus on helping us as parents to communicate with our children. We will summarize the key takeaways across 8 topics. Here goes: Helping children deal with their feelings Engaging cooperation Alternatives to Punishment and Tools for Resolving Conflict Problem Solving Encouraging Autonomy Praising Freeing children from playing roles When our child is suffering with autism or sensory issues   Welcome to the Parents in Tech Book Club! In each episode, we summarize lessons and takeaways from two best-selling parenting books, so you can save time, get your dose of parenting advice and get back to our families and careers.

Growing up with a liver transplant, training for the Ironman triathlon, and sharing what life is like as a stay-at-home dad in tech. I talked to Cliff Tam on how he decided to become a nurturing hands-on dad to spend more meaningful time with his family.   At a very young age, Cliff was diagnosed with cancer and went through a successful liver transplant. Despite growing up immuno-compromised, he went on to become an Ironman triathlete and gave up his career in tech and in Christian ministry to be present with his children.    Cliff, who was born and raised in Canada, is now based in Singapore. He enjoys each moment with his family. He is a father of two daughters, aged 3 and 5, and married to his beautiful wife, Rachel. He is clear with his priorities - making his kids feel loved and secured. Putting his daughters through homeschool allows him to have a closer bond with them. We also speak about how it is easier to complete the Ironman triathlon than it is to be a parent.    To get in touch with Cliff Tam, find him at clifftam.com.    Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

The importance of rest, how parenting requires high self-awareness and discipline, and being firm with setting rules. I talk to Nathaddeus Tan about his experience with paternity leave, managing his emotions around his children, and the parenting styles between him and his wife.   Nathaddeus is Regional Sales Manager at Zscaler. When I recorded this episode with Nat, he was a Territory Sales Manager at SalesForce for almost 5 years, and has consistently been one of the top performers in his team. At Salesforce, he was selected for the prestigious Salesforce Leadership Accelerate Programme designed to groom future leaders. Nat is father to two young children, aged 3 and 1   Nat talks to us about how he married his childhood sweetheart, and how being a father was always one of his aspirations. He shares the expected and unexpected which he encountered throughout the journey of fatherhood, and how he views “work-life balance”. For him, parenting has been a demanding but thoroughly enjoyable adventure, and taking breaks from work is how he creates time for himself and his family.    To get in touch with Nathaddeus, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaddeus/   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

On managing finances and being tactical in leveraging free resources, protecting the romance in marriage, and involving himself with the family, Joshua Foo shares his Parent in Tech stories as a father to two girls and two boys, aged 19, 16, 15, and 11.   Joshua Foo is the Regional Director at Chainalysis. Prior to joining Chainalysis, he spent 18 years in the IT and cyber security space, managing infrastructure at security teams and the Singapore government before moving to the private sector as the Sales Director for FireEye, RSE, and Cardboard Black VMware.   In this episode, Joshua wisely reveals his personal experiences and rational observations to other Parents in Tech. He narrates their financial management in this expensive parenting culture, the importance of date nights every once in a while, and how to have a meaningful and intentional relationship with kids.   He also shares perceptive and enlightening parenting advice, especially for those who are struggling with, or are planning to have, 2 or more children in this technological-driven world.   To get in touch with Joshua Foo, find him on LinkedIn:https://sg.linkedin.com/in/joshua-foo-a49bb776

On explaining how tech works to kids with simple words and techniques, addressing favoritism with rationality, and balancing gender roles with his wife at home, Eric shares his Parent in Tech stories as a father to two boys, aged 6 and 3.   Eric Chan is the Lead Product Manager at Grab. Eric started his career as the Design Engineer at Dyson before working in product roles at Razer, Igloo Home, and Property Guru. He’s a passion explorer at night and recently started a video podcast, Your Grit Story, featuring the stories of founders, leaders, and change-makers who live by passion and perseverance.   In this episode, Eric narrates his parenting experiences, including his practical strategies and soft approaches as a father in tech, while emphasizing the importance of sharing the responsibility of household chores equally with his wife. He also shares insightful tips on how to be intentionally involved, not only with kids but also with one’s spouse.   To get in touch with Eric Chan, find him on LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/ericchanjq https://sg.linkedin.com/company/yourgritstory

Having a newborn during quarantine, imposing a sleep training system for the kids and overcoming work slumps. In this episode on Parents in Tech, I speak with Yao Hong on parenting during quarantine.   Yao Hong Ch’ng is the Head of Engineering at January Capital. Previously, Yao Hong was one of the early employees at StashAway where he built the company’s flagship product from day zero. He managed product engineering launching in five different regions over four years and headed the business intelligence and data engineering efforts.    When asked about the one key lesson he learned as a parent in tech, Yao Hong Ch’ng emphasises the art of letting go, especially on the things we can’t control. There are no perfect parents in the world and not everything goes according to plan.  To get in touch with Yao Hong Ch’ng, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaohongchng/ Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

Rejecting the status quo, drawing clearer boundaries, and finding the right balance in managing children’s relationship with technology. I talk to Shadab Taiyabi about how he and his wife adapted to COVID and created quality time, and shielded their kids from the perils of technology.    Shadab is the Head of FinTech and Innovation, APAC at Schroders. He is the President of the Singapore FinTech Association, a member of the Digital Innovation Committee at the Investment Management Association of Singapore, and the Head of Community at the FinTech Nation. Shadab is a father to two children: a daughter, age eight, and a son, age four.  In this episode, Shadab shares how he and his wife minimizes sibling rivalry even before their second child was born, ensures boundaries are set between work and home during the COVID situation, and finds the right balance in kids’ relationship with technology. To get in touch with Shadab, find him on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadab-taiyabi/   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

Diving into the deep end of family planning, finding the right parenting footing with your spouse, and applying the concepts of integration and setting boundaries, Sriram shares both his and his wife’s experiences with their two girls, aged two and a half and 9 months old.    Sriram is the Director for Sales Strategy and Operations at Salesforce. He leads a multi-faceted team spanning sales strategy, sales operations, and go-to-market strategy. Before Salesforce, he began his career at McKinsey before joining Dell as the Director of Global Operations Strategy and Digital Transformation, and finally Salesforce.   In this episode, Sriram shares his parenthood journey, and how he is supported by the people around him. He also talks about parenting mindsets as having more empathy and patience, and also describes parenting as a team activity rather than a ‘helping’ one.    He also shares personal anecdotes on his transition to fatherhood, particularly on learning how to compartmentalise, how to integrate both family life and work together, and how to set boundaries.    To get in touch with Sriram Ved, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sriram-ved/

The flexibility that work-from-home offers, teaching computational thinking to kids at an early age, and the importance of family. I talk to Steven Tong on how he navigates through work, personal, and family life.    Steven Tong has more than two decades of experience in technology - starting from a solutions architect and IT consultant, to investor at SG Innovate and StartupBootcamp and now, leading innovation as Head of SAP.io Foundry in Singapore.  He is a genuine, warm, and welcoming person who is a father to a nine-year-old daughter and a husband to his entrepreneur-couples therapist wife.   Steven talks about the importance of finding a company that values work-life balance. His previous work experiences allowed him to work on a flexible schedule. This gave him the freedom to work around his own schedule and have time for family despite the hustle. As much as work is important, family must always come first. He also wants to teach his daughter the value of family and to empathize with others.   Steven also shares the early stages of her fatherhood journey. His daughter was born prematurely, and it was very challenging for him and his wife. Fast forward to now, he is starting to introduce his daughter to the world of tech. He teaches her coding for the benefit of computational thinking, which he believes is helpful in daily life. He shares, “When we teach our kids, we learn from them too.”   To get in touch with Steven Tong, find him on LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/steventong.    Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.  

Taking turns to parent and bond with their newborn, facing challenges with a calm and discerning mindset, and being aware of one’s self and the people around us.   Aditya is the Head of Growth and Partnerships for Southeast Asia and India at HubSpot. Before this, he led the international expansion of Practo, a B2B startup in India, and was the country manager for Singapore. He is passionate on topics including sales and marketing tech stacks, low no-code platforms, and farm-to-table initiatives. Recently, in August 2021, Aditya welcomed his daughter into the world, along with his wife, Priya.    In this episode, Aditya shares how moving to Singapore was a timely and good decision for his family in the wake of COVID-19. His parenting dynamic, his teamwork with his wife Priya are some of the valuable lessons he has learned as a parent in tech.   Listen in to know about his views on family bonding time, advice on how to help the wife during pregnancy, balancing time between work and his two girls, and raising a newborn.   To get in touch with Aditya, find him on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/toadityakumar/    Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

  Letting children learn through hands-on experiences, collaborating with their peers, and allowing them to always ask “why.” In this episode, I speak with John Tan about the importance of helping children keep their spark and drive to learn.   John Tan is a father to five children, an education entrepreneur, and the CEO and Founder of Saturday Kids (for ages 5 to 16) and Doyobi (for ages 8 to 12). Both are coding schools in Singapore, and a product of John’s advocacy of inspiring kids to become curious self-directed learners. In the year 2019, he was recognized as an Obama leader in Asia Pacific.   John also explains how children must be given the opportunity to express themselves and be provided avenues for them to discover and develop who they are as early as they can.    To get in touch with John Tan, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealjohntan/ Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

Providing a balanced and flexible working environment that allows employees to fulfill their duties at work and at home leads to producing quality work. In this special collaboration with Sleek, I talk to BanWei Chua about how he balances work and family life through the flexible working environment that Sleek provides to parents like him. BanWei Chua started as a developer and senior manager before becoming the Deputy Chief Technology Officer in Sleek. He is a parent to a boy and a girl, ages nine and seven. In this episode, he discusses the importance of setting priorities at work and at home as a parent, and how Sleek allowed him to be a hands-on father, learning and applying his role at work and being a leader. He also talks about sharing and adapting his parenting style in his working environment.  To get in touch with BanWei Chua, find him on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ban-wei-chua   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.   This podcast series was produced in collaboration with Sleek. Enjoy an immediate SGD $100 off or $500 HKD off any Sleek services with the promo code AF370570

Allowing employees to meet their full potential at work by providing a healthy working environment where personal time is respected. The capabilities of women at work are acknowledged and nourished. In this special collaboration with Sleek, I talk to Pauline Sim about how she faces her adversaries at work and at home, how she handles her time, and how the work culture at Sleek enabled her to become a leader. Pauline Sim worked in the banking industry for 18 years before becoming the head of the FinTech and Partnerships team in Sleek. She is a mother to two boys and a girl, ages thirteen, ten, and nine. In this episode, she discusses the importance of providing employees with a healthy working environment and allowing them to divide their time between work and life outside work. She also talks about the quality of work they produce, giving the right working hours, and how women in the tech industry make an empathetic leader that encourages the whole team. To get in touch with Pauline Sim, find on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulinesim/   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.   This podcast series was produced in collaboration with Sleek. Enjoy an immediate SGD $100 off or $500 HKD off any Sleek services with the promo code AF370570

Switching careers in her 30s, caring for the people at Sleek and taking care of yourself before caring for others. In this special collaboration series with Sleek, I talk to Aisyiah Mohd about her journey of being a parent in tech despite having a non-tech background beforehand.   Aisyiah Mohd is the Head of People and Culture at Sleek. Aisyiah is a proud mom of two teenage kids who keep her young at heart, age 19 and 15. In this episode, she discussed the story of how she left her stable job, stayed at home to care for her children, and then went back to work as an “accidental leader.” She also shared how her maternal instincts led her to care for their people during the COVID-19 pandemic when everyone felt anxious about the sudden WFH setup. To get in touch with Aisyiah Mohd, find her on LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/aishamohd   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line. This podcast series was produced in collaboration with Sleek. Enjoy an immediate SGD $100 off or $500 HKD off any Sleek services with the promo code AF370570

Being a parent and also a founder perhaps can be challenging to others and might find it hard to manage their time. In this episode, I speak with Julien Labruyere about the importance of balancing professional life and time with family, especially with children and how it is different to raise kids in an Asian culture.    Julien Labruyere is a father to 2 children. He is an entrepreneur and the co-founder of Sleek (https://www.sleek.com), a one-stop solution for entrepreneurs, SMEs and investors to register new businesses from anywhere and effortlessly manage their accounting, payroll, tax compliance, business accounts and governance through a simple online platform with first-class support. Julien dives into the values and disciplines that he practises inside his business and also he is imparting to his two kids. Julien also shares his parenting style, blending in his French culture with living in Singapore.   To balance work and life responsibilities, Julien makes sure that he is setting boundaries from being a CEO to his company and being the father to his kids. He also shares how he is trying to be present and make time with his family as well as being empathetic to his employees who also are parents and soon to become parents.To get in touch with Julien Labruyere, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julienlabruyere/   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.   This podcast series was produced in collaboration with Sleek. Enjoy an immediate SGD $100 off or $500 HKD off any Sleek services with the promo code AF370570

Giving kids the freedom to choose what they want, the art of experimentation on parenting techniques and setting clear boundaries between work and life. I talk to Zi Xin on how to manage time and energy for work, family, and hobbies.    Born and bred in Singapore, Zi Xin enjoys using technology to solve problems. He loves and lives to eat, but hates to queue - leading him to co-found Appic Technologies while in university. Appic Technologies was acquired by Chope in 2014, and since then Zi Xin has worked in product management leadership roles.   Zi Xin is a father of a three-year-old boy, Arthur. In his free time, he loves to scout for food with his wife, which they both truly enjoy. Parenting for Zi Xin is a learning experience, and he shares how he is not afraid of taking risks because he can always improve and learn from it.  From sleep training to letting his kid decide what to wear, Zi Xin prefers to teach their son independence from a young age.   As a parent in tech, Zi Xin also tries to experiment around his approach towards parenting. He loves to try out ways to improve the status quo, and learn from what did not work out. His principles help him in his parenting which is evident in the way he teaches empathy and courage to his son.    To get in touch with Zi Xin, find him on LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/chongzixin   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

Getting to know his wife through a magazine, convincing a fussy eater child to eat her meal, and creating a schedule to manage working from home. I talk to Gaurav Jain about raising his family in Singapore, while making work-from-home work with two kids.   Gaurav Jain is the Director of Engineering at Autodesk. Throughout his career, he has also started several side projects such as an online social platform for creative professionals and edutech mobile apps and games. He met his wife while browsing a magazine of potential partners, which turned out to be one of the best decisions in his life. She later became the mother of his two kids, aged 11 and 6. The first was born in India while the second was born in Singapore - two blessings they never expected, but now relish.    Gaurav shares one of the challenges of raising kids - fussy eating. To address this, he researched a variety of parenting techniques and experimented through trial-and-error. He recounted how starving his elder child for a day in an attempt to make her hungry and eat did not pan out as planned.   As a parent in tech, he also talks about the benefits and challenges of working from home as the lines often get blurred. To create a sense of balance between the two under one roof, he creates a strict schedule of work time and family time.    To get in touch with Gaurav Jain, find him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravunc/   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

Aligning priorities on family, fitness and work, migrating from England to Singapore and breaking parenting stereotypes, especially around dads. I talk to Sammy Elazab on having a well-balanced work, personal, and family life.   In this episode, we speak to Sammy, Senior Sales Manager and Head of Online Sales Organisation - Southeast Asia at LinkedIn. Sammy and his wife moved to Singapore a decade ago with the intent of staying for 2 years, but fell in love with the sunny island and stayed on. He is on a mission to make the days of others better by helping them understand their inner strength. Earlier this year, he became an Associate Certified Coach by the ICF. Sammy is the father of 3 children all aged 5 and under.   Sammy shares that despite having three young kids at the peak of his career, it has never occurred to him that family and parenthood might set him back on his career ambitions. He is grateful to have his children grow up together with a small age gap, so they can connect and bond with each other better.    Sammy’s road to fitness also started during quarantine season, and since then, has built a regular fitness regime with the help of a personal trainer to keep him consistent and accountable. Despite the hustle at work, he makes sure that he spends time with family, and to make every moment with them count.   To get in touch with Sammy Elazab, find him on LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/sammyelazab   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

Raising children in a digital age, having more patience as a dad and prioritizing family over work. I talk to Lennard Lim on loving and raising two kids, and how family goes beyond bloodlines..    Lennard is a Product Manager of Trust and Safety at TikTok. He has more than a decade of product management experience at Yahoo, Singtel, BBC and most recently, GovTech, and a strong believer in making use of analytics for strategy and design. Lennard is a father of two, a son aged 11 and a daughter of their own aged 2.5 years old.    Lennard is an engaged father who takes the effort to prepare breakfast for his children daily, despite having domestic help. He met his wife 14 years ago when they were both Product Managers at Yahoo! so we also talk about how the tech landscape has radically changed since then. As a parent in tech, Lennard shares with us a picture of his kids’ relationship with social media and also discusses how parenthood helps him be more patient and consider challenges from different perspectives. .    To connect with Lennard, you may find him on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lennard-lim-2b339920/   Don’t forget to head over to parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of Parents in Tech or drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you!

In this special collaboration series with Workato, we talk to parents to find out how they create work-life integration and balance their career ambitions with family aspirations.   In this episode, I speak with Amanda Lau, Campus Recruiting Program Manager at Workato. She has more than a deacade of HR experience, helping people and organisations succeed through coaching, relationship building and HR program design. On top of that, she is also a mother to two children, aged four and seven.   As a recruiting program manager, she shares how Workato helps employees achieve work-life balance through open communication and utilizing productivity tools among other initiatives. Aside from taking care of their own employees, she also shares how she raises her kids as a parent in tech, and how she overcame the struggles of being a mom to two young kids during the height of the pandemic.   To get in touch with Amanda Lau, find her on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandalauyl/ Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

In this special collaboration series with Workato, we talk to parents to find out how they create work- life integration and balance their career ambitions with family aspirations.   In this episode, I speak with Steven, Senior Manager of Business Technology Operations at Workato. Steven is father to three children, ages four, nine, and 13.    Steven shares the importance of coordinating with his wife to come up with routines to manage their work and home duties. He also discussed how Workato offered learning opportunities and technological support to adapt to post-pandemic ways of working.   To get in touch with Steven Hoon, find him on LinkedIn:  https://sg.linkedin.com/in/stevenhoon Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

Nurturing an open and inclusive work environment, encouraging employees to use their parental leave, and respecting everyone's hours. In this special collaboration with Workato, I talk to Choon Yen about how she is able to balance her time with work and family through the policies and initiatives that Workato has for working parents like herself.    Choon Yen is the Head of People Operations and Systems in the Asia Pacific and Japan at Workato. She is a mother to a two-year-old and her husband works as a mindfulness coach and a data manager at a non-profit.   In this episode, she talks about her role in Workato, and how they have cultivated an environment with empathy and understanding. She also mentioned Workato’s generous maternity and paternity leave; how higher-ups encourage their employees to take a break and prioritize spending time with their families; and how through openly communicating, they are able to respect each other’s time and boundaries.   To get in touch with Choon Yen, find her on LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/choonyen   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

The creation of a safe space, encouraging environment, and getting rid of the stigma.  From Work to Home is a special collaboration series with Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform for businesses. I speak with Rahal Kansara on how she creates work-life integration and balances her career ambitions with family aspirations. Rahal is from Stripe's APAC recruiting team who focuses on core business recruiting, particularly in risk and financial recruitment.  She aims to provide a safe working environment for parent candidates coming to Stripe, as she, herself, is also a mother to her child, aged 9.  In this episode, she shares that there is no stigma on being a parent candidate at Stripe, as long honesty and openness exist between the employer and employee. With the goal to make candidates believe in their ability, Rahal encourages open dialogues and discussions within the company. These initiatives help their employees become great parents and tech leaders all at once.    To get in touch with Rahal Kansara, find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahalkansara/ Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

Getting uncomfortable and challenged in a new environment, seeking help in times of need, and setting boundaries between work and family.  From Work to Home is a special collaboration series with Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform for businesses. I speak with Meenakshi Dhingra on how Stripe creates work-life integration and balances their career ambitions with family aspirations. Meenakshi is Stripe’s Global Community Support and Operations Lead for APAC. She is also a mother to 2 children, aged 13 and 9.Meenakshi expounds on her experiences, particularly in dealing with sacrifices for the sake of family, implementing work-life integration with her husband, and moving past the challenges life gives — as a family.To get in touch with Meenakshi, find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meenakshi-dhingra-31926a23/   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

The preparation it takes to take on a new job and a new life in a different country, facing and overcoming the challenges of raising a family upon just moving, and setting time for yourself.    From Work to Home is a special collaboration series with Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform for businesses. I talk to Vivian about her career with Stripe, her experience of moving to Singapore from the States, and how she has learned to be able to balance her work with her duties as a mother. Vivian is an Engineering Manager at Stripe’s APAC Banking team. She is a mother of 2 lovely daughters, aged 3 and 6.   Vivian talks to us about how she met her husband in the US, in the States’ Bay Area. They got married, and started their careers in tech space there. When her husband decided to go back to China to start a business, she knew that staying in the States would prove to be difficult and so she moved to Singapore with her two very young children.   To get in touch with Vivian, find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivianxx/    Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

Developing a supportive culture, coping with work from home adjustments, and embracing flexibility with Lisa Harris   From Work to Home is a special collaboration series with Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform for businesses. I speak with Lisa Harris about how Stripe’s policies and activities actively support working parents like her. Lisa is from Stripe’s People Partner team at APAC. She is a mother of 2 beautiful children, Mikayla, age 10, and Parker, age 8. Lisa shares how Stripe cultivates the value of support and patience, proving how conducive their workplace is to building a successful career while maintaining quality time with their children and spouses.    To get in touch with Lisa Harris, find her on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-harris-b714931/ Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

The journey of raising a child with special needs, overcoming the anxieties of being a first-time dad in a difficult situation, and learning how to show more support for one’s spouse. In this special episode, I speak with Jonathan Seow about the challenges and lessons he learned as a father of two.   Jonathan is the Chief Financial Officer at Moleac and a board member at Down Syndrome Association of Singapore. Jonathan has an illustrious career starting as CIMB before rising the ranks in the biopharmaceutical space. He's also an active advocate and supporter for families with children diagnosed with Down Syndrome.   Jonathan’s eldest son Nathan was diagnosed when he was still in his mother’s womb. Despite the medical advice and snide remarks by the gynecologist, who said that their kid would turn out to be “gross”, Jonathan and his wife decided to keep Nathan. Now, he's in a loving home environment with the help of a better gynecologist and a community that helps them learn how to become better at parenting children with down syndrome. My conversation with Jonathan was inspiring and I hope it is for you too.  The Down Syndrome Association of Singapore (DSA) is also hosting the Mystique Charity Gala Dinner on Saturday, 24 September 2022. This event will mark DSA’s first in-person event since 2019, which aims to raise $300,000 to continue the association’s mission to serve persons with Down syndrome and their families with quality programs and services. Support this cause with a donation of any amount, or purchasing a seat / table for Mystique here: https://give.asia/campaign/dsa-mystique-xvi-charity-dinner Donations will be eligible for a tax deduction of 250% To get in touch with Jonathan Seow, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-seow/ Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

Establishing family support and parenthood communities, being upfront on the topic of parenthood, and learning the love languages of your wife and kids.    From Work to Home is a special collaboration series with Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform for businesses. I speak with Chek Lim on how Stripe creates work-life integration and balances their career ambitions with family aspirations. Chek is from Stripe’s Customer Success & Payments Optimisation APAC team. He is father to 3 beautiful children, aged 7, 6 and 4. Chek also shares how Stripe is a family-friendly company, and how it continuously helps him and his wife to raise their kids through strong parenthood communities. To get in touch with Chek Lim, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chekrepublic/ Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

Coping with pandemic changes, breaking parenting stereotypes, and taking a break with Sandeep Nair   From Work to Home is a collaboration series with Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform for businesses. I speak with Sandeep Nair about how important flexibility and crisis management skills are to parenting. Sandeep is from Stripe’s Customer Success and Payment optimization team at APAC. He is a father to three beautiful children, aged 5 and twins aged 2.    Sandeep shares how beneficial working at Stripe is especially during his adjustment period as a working parent in the pandemic, and making sure that he and his wife still have space for quality time and restful breaks.    To get in touch with Sandeep Nair, find him on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanairvt/ Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

Finding the right balance between career and family, building relationships with your children and spouse, and teaching children the value of discipline, patience, and humility. I talk to Praveen about his experiences as a dad with two boys aged two and five. Praveen Velu is Strategic Partnerships Lead at Meta. Praveen started his career in financial broadcast journalism during the Global Financial Crisis with companies including CNBC and Yahoo. He then led network development at The Walt Disney Company in APAC, before co-founding Evie.AI, an AI personal assistant that schedules meetings. This is one of the must-have tools I myself use in my day job as a venture capitalist. Praveen’s management philosophy begins and ends with people, and he is a father of two boys aged 2 and 5. Praveen shares several anecdotes and helpful insights to fellow parents in tech. He talks about implementing discipline in his children’s lives, while adopting a more inclusive, more open approach compared to the parenting he experienced in their childhood. He also shares how weekends are dedicated to quality family time, and how he is grateful to have a strong support system from his family and his neighbors in the estate he and his family stay in. To get in touch with Praveen, find him on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/praveenvelu/

Moving with a young family and living in different parts of the world, being an optimist at work as well as in parenting, and the fungibility of skills as a parent and an angel investor. I talk to Jachin Cheng on his take on parenting and investing.   Jachin Cheng is a Senior Product Manager at Google Pay and Google AI. He was born and raised in the US before joining Google in 2007. His 15-year career with them has brought him across Israel, the UK, Switzerland, and finally Singapore. His globe-trotting career, along with his wife and three children, aged 10, 7, and 3 has shaped his views on parenting. Jachin is also an angel investor.   Working in different countries means getting to experience diverse cultures. Jachin points out how the differences in parenting styles were an eye-opener and inspiration on how to parent as a first time father. A nomadic lifestyle started to get challenging with 3 children, so the decision to plant roots in Singapore helped.    One of the lessons Jachin applies both at work and at home is optimism. He relishes seeing the good in people and in ideas, then working hard to make it happen.   To get in touch with Jachin Cheng find him on LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/jachin   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

Preparing for unexpected fatherhood was the beginning of Eric’s parenthood journey, as the career-oriented product manager shares how he had to pivot from a mindset focused on himself, to the life of an actively involved husband and father. Eric talks about how he balances his zeal for career growth with a passion for parenting and supporting his wife. He highlights the importance of setting boundaries to create time for his family, share the workload, and instill good behavior in his growing daughter. In doing this, Eric encourages other dads to take small steps towards being an engaged parent.    Eric is the Director of Product Management at Ninja Van, with over a decade of experience in Product Management. Born and raised in Malaysia, he is an active parent of a 5-year old girl and he believes in using technology to enable people to do great things.  Although having a kid was unexpected, Eric is grateful for his daughter who has been a blessing and brought a new perspective.    Sharing the strategies he used to adapt to family life, Eric notes the challenges as well as tools from work to interact better at home and vice versa. The value of patience was one of these as Eric discusses the “terrible 2s” and his views on punishment. In all of this, rest is critical; "The first advice I would give to new parents is first to give yourself a break, you don't have to get everything 100% right the first time”. Setting boundaries is another tool he uses to foster balance at work and at home. Lastly, Eric advises parents to keep up with technology trends to protect their families.  To get in touch with Eric, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericwhy/  Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

Encouraging kids, especially with twins, to think critically, using a routine to allocate time between work and family, and finding meaning. I talk to Mark about banned words in their house (“can’t”), achieving work-life balance, and spending quality time with family.   Mark Leadercramer is the Head of Enterprise Sales and Cryptocurrency for Stripe in Southeast Asia. Mark started his career in media and advertising before spending a decade building and leading Mintel, a market intelligence firm in Asia Pacific. Mark is passionate about coaching and building high-performing teams and is a father of three: the twins Harrison and Emily, age six, and a newborn named Sophia.   In this episode, Mark talks to us about his move from London to Australia. He then met his wife Justine on his first night out in Sydney. At the time of our recording, their 10-year anniversary was coming up. The couple welcomed kids the same time Mark got a new job, and he talks about the challenges he and Justine went through, and how they conquered them together.   From the importance of family values, tackling pregnancy, splitting the work between him and his wife, and the importance of communicating with his family, Mark shares the wisdom he has gained as a parent in tech.   To get in touch with Mark, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-leadercramer-25899b15/?originalSubdomain=sg    Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

Creating a space that encourages deep work for you and your peers, energy management as an introvert, and embracing adversity as a parent. I talk to Samuel Hall as he shares the wisdom and enlightenment he has collated over the years as a high-performing parent.   Samuel Hall is the CEO of Rainmaking Asia Pacific Venture Studio. Samuel was born and raised in the UK and started his career as a lawyer before moving to Singapore and building his career across multiple startups and new ventures. In 2016, he found that the Rainmaking APAC venture studio had also launched startup bootcamp, a startup accelerator across Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea. Samuel has two daughters, aged three and one.    As a present dad to his two daughters, prioritizing his time for family time and work time is vital. Samuel has allocated time for his deep work where he concentrates on his tasks at work and finds time to really think and get inspired. When it’s his wife’s time to do her deep work, it‘s his time to take care of his daughters. This has been a system for their family at home and being cognizant to each other’s time and space for deep work is essential.    Samuel is admittedly an introvert disguised as an extrovert, so after numerous hours of dealing with teams and other individuals for work, it can get draining for him. Energy management has played a role in helping him allocate energy for both work and his family to ensure that he has enough for both.    As a parent in tech, you will go through many changes and challenges in your life. You will face a number of adversities but you can acknowledge that there is a sense of winning in losing. You learn from your losses and this will help you in your path towards success. Embracing adversity must be a constant thing in life as it shows that we are progressing and moving forward.    To get in touch with Samuel Hall, find him on LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/sam-a-hall   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

Taking a career risk switching from public to private sector with a young child, becoming a nurturing father and leader at work while building strong networks. I talk to Royce Wee on his views on work-life balance and the importance of being a loving father.    Royce Wee is Head of Global Public Policy at the Alibaba Group. Royce is a lawyer by training, and his foray into technology began as Deputy General Counsel at the Infocomm Media Development Authority. Since then, he has held leadership roles in the intersections between tech, law and policy at organisations including the Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information.    The switch from the public sector to the private sector was an exciting journey for Royce. Shifting from public service to a Chinese tech MNC was definitely challenging but he has no regrets - the opportunity has broadened his exposure, especially to the Chinese market.    When asked what’s the most important thing he learned while being a parent, Royce says it’s the need to be more patient and nurturing to his daughter. He is also able to apply this at work as he tries to be more understanding to his teams while making sure quality standards are met. Growing his network has also been a key responsibility in his work. He has a healthy and genuine way of approaching this as he invests in getting to know people, rather than treat the process as a transaction. Royce has truly developed to become more courageous and compassionate as a result of being a parent in tech.    To get in touch with Royce Wee, find him on LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/roycewee   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

Building a company as parent entrepreneurs, prioritization in decision making, and the role of technology in parenting. In this special episode of Parents in Tech, I speak with David and Linh Smooke on what it is like to be husband-and-wife entrepreneurs, maintain a routine to balance work and family, and manage their child’s exposure to technology.   David and Linh are the Co-Founders of HackerNoon, the leading hacker and developer publication on the internet that features more than 25,000 curious and insightful contributing writers. They are also the parents of a five-year-old daughter, Norah, and a soon-to-be-born son. At the time of our recording, Linh is 33 weeks pregnant and is due in 40 days.   In this episode, we take a look into how David and Linh grew HackerNoon into the media powerhouse it is today, while raising their firstborn daughter Norah. The couple moved from San Francisco to Colorado, as Linh took time off to focus on her first pregnancy before joining David to build HackerNoon. With the impending arrival of their son, both of them also share anecdotes of parenting ups and downs. As parents in tech, they also discuss their expectations and worries, as well as tips and tricks they have learned along the way.   To get in touch with David and Linh, find them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarkkent/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/linhdaosmooke/    Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.

Transitioning to the new reality of being a mother, learning how to parent from your parents, and balancing career and parenting ambitions with your husband. Gladys shares with us her experience as a first-time mother who also aspires to have a thriving career.   Gladys Kee works in Client Services at The Trade Desk, an advertising technology company. She is also my wife and the mother of our 15-month old daughter, Gabby.   In this season finale, we discuss the lessons we learnt in our first year as new parents, as well as the sacrifices and the joys of seeing our child grow. Gladys reflects on the influences her upbringing has on her choices as a mother and talks about how to balance her career ambitions with mine. She shares that flexibility is key to parenting  as well as working in tech: both children and tech are constantly evolving, so you need to stay open to be able to recognize different stages and adapt to them. To get in touch with Gladys, find her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gladys-kee/     Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you!  

The physical and emotional effects of a miscarriage, advocating for paternity leave to become a norm, and having an empathetic and vulnerable leadership style. I talk to Sandra Ernst about being a working mum and responding to the challenges of pregnancy and motherhood.    Sandra Ernst has been working in C-level roles in fintech since 2016. Prior, she worked in finance roles across Central Europe and Malaysia. Now, she is a COO at Igloo, an insurtech company in Southeast Asia. Sandra opens up about the miscarriage she suffered from a few years back and how she bounced back. Today, she's a proud mom of a daughter, aged 21 months old.   Opening up to share with others about her miscarriage was tough on Sandra, as she originally believed in carrying a work-only personality. However, that changed when she decided to talk about her miscarriage at the workplace - what she calls “one of the best decisions”. The conversation was an encouragement to her colleagues, as much as they were an encouragement to her, enabling a more empathetic and vulnerable leadership style to take form.     Sandra believes that paternity leaves should become a norm. Working dads should be free to take paternity leave without fear of penalization or being questioned - it is after all, a step towards an equal footing between men and women in the workplace.    To get in touch with Sandra Ernst, find her on LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/sandraernst.    Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

The impact of childhood experiences on parenting styles and career decisions, the importance of being a role model for your children, and the place of women in the workforce. We talk with Lynette about her thoughts on bringing up children in a technology-saturated world.    Lynette Tan is Chief Executive and Board Member of Singapore Space & Technology Limited as well as co-founder and Executive Director of the Singapore Space & Technology Association. She has been featured by Fortune and CNBC for driving some of the world’s most innovative space startups. In 2020, she was appointed Karman Fellow, an award provided to individuals who have made outstanding achievements in space.   We discuss how she inspires her children to pursue their ambitions. As a parent in tech, Lynette advocates for teaching children human values to ensure that technology is used to serve human needs. She also shares with us her insights on how subconscious biases drive women away from the workforce and the changes she perceives in those trends.   To get in touch with Lynette, find her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tan-lynette/  Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you! 

Changing jobs in the first year as a mother, cultivating values in children, and experimenting with a Japanese baby schooling method. Cynthia recounts her adventures since she became a mother less than a year ago.   Cynthia Siantar is Go-To-Market Leader at Bank Jago, Indonesia’s first fully digital bank. With more than 10 years of background in banking, start-ups, and fintech, Cynthia held key positions in ING Bank and Oriente, and in 2014 she co-founded Call Levels, a finance market monitoring solution.   Cynthia walks us through her thought process of switching jobs shortly after giving birth, and shares the importance of finding passion and inspiration outside motherhood. She shares with us her insights into Heguru, a Japanese teaching method that stimulates the brain with activities that foster creativity, memory, and social skills. We also discuss the importance of nurturing positive values, such as the virtues of diligence and solidarity. To get in touch with Cynthia, find her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiasiantar/  Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you!  

Giving and receiving feedback, empathizing with the perspectives of others, and fighting the guilt of putting yourself first. Samantha relates the motherhood experiences that have made her grow as a person and as a professional - from calendar management and prioritization, to conflict management and task delegation.    Samantha Pearlson is General Manager of South-East Asia Client Services at The Trade Desk, an advertising technology platform. She has long-standing experience in advertising and media, and a solid reputation as a leader in ad-tech. Recently, she was appointed Identity Council Member at the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Southeast Asia and India.   Samantha walks us through the process of discovering her son had ADHD and tells us how keeping a long-term perspective helps her handle the cultural pressure of being a present mother, while maintaining her individuality. We discuss the importance of building a feedback culture in the workplace to develop resilience as well as dealing with the reflection of yourself that children provide. When managing differences in parenting with her husband, she signals understanding each other’s perspective as the means to find a common ground. To get in touch with Samantha, find her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sampearlson/  Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you! 

Managing expectations placed by society on mothers, pursuing passions despite a busy work and family schedule, and carving out time for yourself. Xin Wei shares with us her experience mothering two young children, and how she learnt to be physically and mentally present no matter how busy work gets.   Ngiam Xin Wei is Managing Director of Deliveries at Grab, the iconic Southeast Asia technology company that recently went public. Xin Wei is a veteran Grabber who joined in 2015. Prior to her current role in deliveries, she held key leadership positions including head of GrabHitch, the social ridesharing service, and the Head of Economics and Marketplace. Recently, Xin Wei was recognized as Prestige 40 under 40 and Singapore 100 Women in Tech.   We discuss the stresses new mothers suffer from, such as expectations on breastfeeding and making excessive sacrifices for the sake of caregiving. Xin Wei believes that breastfeeding, as with parenting decisions, is about choosing what fits you and your child. She also shares how, in the long run, keeping your passion aflame has a valuable influence on children. That’s why she sets aside time for other activities, like exercise, learning something new through podcasts, or building her wine collection. To get in touch with Xin Wei, find her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/xwngiam   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you!