Grace is another of those women that if you are doing interesting stuff in Asia at some point people will start asking you if you know her.
What’s your story?
I’m somewhat of a multi-hyphenate and a changepreneur, working with within the entrepreneurial, social innovation and creative space. I co-founded The Change School where we run multi-disciplinary programmes for individuals in transition at different stages of their lifes. We align values and life choices and pop-up in different locations around the region. In addition I co-founded Secret {W} Business – a community and network of women entrepreneurs and changemakers, now across 6 cities in the S.E.Asian region, in addition I Co-organise SheSays Singapore and CreativeMornings Singapore.
What excites you most about your industry?
I cover various industries but my primary focus with The Change School is education and what I’m most excited about in that industry is re-defining what education and life-long learning is based on the human lifecycle and the future of global citizenship.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I am a Third Culture Kid, born to Indonesian and Australian parents, I was born in Jakarta, Indonesia and lived in Asia for most of my life. I came back in 2009 to set up my first business at that time Agent Grace.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Tough call but I love Jakarta, Singapore and Bali….slightly biased here as I find Singapore a great melting pot of cultures – mixing eastern and western cultures, great to do business. I love Jakarta for its chaos but abundance of opportunities and Bali for the growing entrepreneurial and creative scene and it’s beauty.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
I don’t believe there’s one piece of advice that is the best – it’s about connecting the dots from different pieces of advice and coming up with one that suits you and where you want to go.
Who inspires you?
People that are doing what they love to do and making a difference.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
After running a couple of our programmes I’ve realised that once you’re confident enough in yourself, given some guidance and able to realise your potential and align yourself with your values and life choices you’re able to soar higher than ever imagined! Confidence is the key to unlocking other doors.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I wouldn’t have done it differently, everything has happened for a reason in the right direction, it’s all about timing.
How do you unwind?
I usually take a few days to myself at home or away in Bali and sitting by the beach, reading and connecting with myself.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Bali for me is where I go to relax and unwind because it’s close enough and is pretty much my second home.
Everyone in business should read this book:
Making Ideas Happen – Scott Belsky
Shameless plug for your business:
We’ve just opened applications for our Third Culture Kid Summit happening in March 2015 and 7 new programmes for 2015 so check out thechangeschool.com
How can people connect with you?
@Agent_Grace or [email protected]
This interview was part of the Callum Connects column found on The Asian Entrepreneur
Callum Laing has started, built, bought and sold half a dozen businesses in a range of industries across two continents. He is the owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 11 countries and he is also the CEO of Entrevo Asia, a company that runs 40 week Growth Accelerator programs.
Connect with Callum here:
twitter.com/laingcallum
linkedin.com/in/callumlaing
Get his free ‘Asia Snapshot’ report from www.callumlaing.com
Take the ‘Key Person of Influence’ scorecard <http://www.keypersonofinfluence.com/scorecard/>
