Juggling motherhood and business. Emi, has created a mobile, global event platform. And she stills finds time to be amazed by her kids’ developmental skills!
What’s your story?
I am a co-founder and Head of Asia of Peatix.com, a mobile-first global event platform with a mission to empower organisers to build communities around unique interests or experiences. After having worked for big corporate brands such as McKinsey, Amazon, and Disney, three ex-colleagues and I started a company, which later became Peatix Inc. in 2011. Now I juggle being a mom of two kids, and running Peatix’s Southeast Asia business.
What excites you most about your industry?
Internet technology is like utility and natural resources combined. With our imagination, we can create services that can radically improve people’s lives. With ever decreasing costs in starting internet powered businesses, we have a chance to make a greater impact in our society as startups, than ever before.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I would like to think I am from Asia (being Japanese)! When I was a management consultant, I was involved with a project which enabled me to work in China, Taiwan, and many Southeast Asian countries. Now with Peatix, I have been building our business in Southeast Asia for the past two years.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
For business, Singapore is the easiest place to get started, due to foreign investment friendly government rules / infrastructure as well as local communities’ openness to new ideas.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
My father once said that “if people you respect ask you to do something, do not say no. They are taking risks by asking you, and you should do your best to honor them.” This advice has helped me build trusted relationships with people I enjoy working with over the years.
Who inspires you?
Most people and nature inspire me in different ways. As an optimist, I try to find strengths in everyone and beauty in our surroundings. What’s important is to synthesize the different inspiration I find from daily life and to try to come up with new ideas that can take us to the next level.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
My son who was reading only short essays and comics is reading over 300 page novels in one day. Kids’ learning curves blow me away. He has inspired me to read more!
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I would have tried to start companies in my 20’s, without being so concerned about building up experience from established companies!
How do you unwind?
Play with my kids, go for a run, have a long bath, and hang out with friends over good food and wine. And when I can discipline myself, being away from the smartphone and internet for half a day is very relaxing.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
We had a short family vacation on Nikoi Island, which is a private island (off Bintan) with pristine beaches. What was great for a family with young kids was that their staff were all very friendly to kids, and they even had a special kids club where they create toys from wood! Best of all, the bungalow with natural breeze coming in, was such a special experience that you cannot replicate in cities!
Everyone in business should read this book:
Zero to One by Peter Thiel
The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen
Shameless plug for your business:
Peatix makes it super easy for anyone to host events, whether you have free RSVPs or paid tickets. You can create a mobile optimised event page in minutes, and with our ticketing platform promotional features, we help bring more guests to your events. Best of all, with no service fees or upfront registration fees, it only costs when you sell paid tickets. Our payment processing fees are very competitively priced at 2.9% plus 99 cents/order for all paid ticket sales for events in Singapore. You can also use Peatix to ticket events in 11 other Asian countries including Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
How can people connect with you?
The best way is to reach me via e-mail at [email protected].
LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/emitakemura
Twitter handle?
@tokyopingu
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This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:
Callum Laing invests and buys small businesses in a range of industries around Asia. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is the founder & owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 12 countries. He is a Director of, amongst others, Key Person of Influence. A 40 week training program for business owners and executives.
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