A background in marketing and PR gave Marjorie Poon the insight to realise there was a need for customised communication services and she determined to provide them.
What’s your story?
My name is Marjorie Poon, and I’m the Co-Founder and Operations Director of an integrated communications agency in Singapore – DIFY Pte. Ltd. I have worked mostly in start-ups such as Love, Bonito prior to starting my own agency with my partner Roy Kek.
DIFY was founded when Roy and I discovered a gap in the industry for customised communication services for emerging markets such as Blockchain and Esports. We have varied experience in marketing, events and public relations in our own portfolios. As we were starting our own agency, the lines between PR, digital marketing and campaigns were becoming blurred. Hence, we had the idea of starting an agency that covers the various services that would allow our clients to communicate with their target audience effectively.
What excites you most about your industry?
I think the most exciting thing about working in an agency is that we get to work with different clients and it isn’t always the same kind of challenge. What outsiders wouldn’t know about us is the amount of hours we put in beyond a normal 9-5 job – when there are events we can stay up into the wee hours to ensure the set up is as the clients envisioned and we still appear first the next day (event d-day) to make sure the show runs smoothly. Or if there is a comms crisis, we would put down everything in hand (no matter the time of day) to ensure that we respond to our client’s needs.
What is your connection to Asia?
DIFY has built quite a strong presence in Southeast Asia in terms of the Blockchain industry and we have partners in Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and more whom we work with.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
As I’m stationed in Singapore most of the time due to my role, I haven’t been able to travel to many cities in Asia for work. However, my team has been to Taiwan and they seemed to have a good time there. Taipei is one of my favourite cities and I hope to go to Taiwan for business soon.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
The best piece of advice came from my partner, Roy. There are no talentless people, there are only misplaced talents. This was such important advice because for a very long time, I had doubted myself and in turn, I may have cast those doubts on my own people. However, when he told me that, it was a lightbulb moment as it made me rethink how I could direct myself and in turn, become a better leader for the rest of my team.
Who inspires you?
My colleagues, especially my partners. The grit and tenacity that my partners (Roy Kek and Samuel Chen) have shown me throughout the Covid-19 pandemic inspires me to continue putting my best foot forward and not to give up no matter what happens.
What have you learnt recently that blew you away?
One of the most popular animes: Naruto. As childish as it may sound, I actually learned a lot from watching Naruto. The values of never giving up, staying true to yourself despite the circumstances, to give your best shot as though it’s your last and more…… The anime has fueled me with energy and inspired me to do the same in life!
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I honestly don’t think there’s anything significant that I can do differently. I believe that everything happens for a reason and the people I’ve met and the things that have happened made me who I am today. If I were to do any of it differently, I wouldn’t be the same person that I am.
How do you unwind?
Watching shows and reading. Shows and books widen my imagination and show me different perspectives in the world; I love to draw inspiration from, and be motivated by, them.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
It has to be Taiwan. I love everything about the country, from their food, to their people, the culture – I feel as though it’s my second home whenever I’m there!
Everyone in business should read this book:
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
I have not read this book but I have attended a workshop that teaches these seven habits and how we can instill them in our lives. I found the workshop extremely useful and highly recommend fellow entrepreneurs to find out more about these habits.
Shameless plug for your business:
As our name might suggest, DIFY (read: defy) embodies the spirit of going beyond the norms and we believe that our client’s successes are our stories to tell. We believe that the effort and time we put in is our investment to scale our client’s business to the next level. We are not just another agency, we are the partners of your business.
How can people connect with you?
Email: [email protected]
Social Media Links?
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjoriep/
Instagram: @marjoriepoon
