From the wilds of Oregon to the chaos of Bangkok, see how Mark Wolf  is bringing the best of a bespoke real-estate service from the US to Asia and at the same time setting up venture capital clubs.

What’s your story?
I grew up poor in the state of Oregon USA.  Graduated with honors from the University of Oregon in FInance, Real Estate, and Architecture. I started my career in real estate lending (commercial). I lived 20 plus years in the growing city of high-tech, Bellevue, Washington. I owned many real estate-related companies and did many developments including industrial, shopping centers, office buildings, luxury housing, storage, etc. I was also involved in a venture club with well-known entrepreneurs and recently started a similar club in Bangkok. I have travelled to Asia for about 15 years; and I moved to Bangkok one year ago. In January this year, I opened a new full-service real estate company.

What excites you most about your industry?
It provides a great opportunity to innovate and be different.  It is results-oriented and customer service driven.  It has integrity.  I want to change the way real estate is done in South East Asia.

What’s your connection to Asia?
I came for the culture, opportunity, food, climate, and people.  I stayed because I was recently married and I enjoy the people and I believe the future is now.

Mark best For Envelope

Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Bangkok.  It is organized chaos.  It’s like the Wild West to me.  It provides many opportunities.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
One of my college professors said… “Most people look; you see…”  I always wonder “why?” and I never accept “no”. I always exceed expectations.

Who inspires you?
Sir Richard Branson, Elon Musk, Phil Knight; Ron Van Auker; my sensei; Mother Theresa, David Lyman; Ronald Reagan

What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
I am a father (again)

If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I have loved my life. I would not change anything. If I died tomorrow I would die happy. I don’t believe in luck (you make your own luck). I believe our lives have a meaning and helping family and friends and creating value on earth is meaningful.

How do you unwind?
I don’t need to unwind.  I am peaceful and I give thanks every day for the chances and opportunities I have been given.  I walk to work every morning and feel blessed for all I have.  I have a loving wife, beautiful kids, many friends, and I see happiness everywhere.

Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
I don’t care for tourists. I don’t like sex-pats. Anywhere that is quiet and private I enjoy. But I also like to return to the chaos of the city.

Everyone in business should read this book:
Lyman’s Laws for Lawyers (and everyone else too); Dr. Seuss books

Shameless plug for your business:
I don’t need a plug; we will prove our worth by our actions and our customers belief in us.  If we are honest and ethical, moral, creative, innovative, work hard, persevere, and genuinely care – we will become respected and worthy.

How can people connect with you?
People can always find the best. We want to be the best. Our main website is www.RoyalAsiaCompany.com. My club is BangkokVC.com

This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:

CallumConnects

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.

Take the ‘Key Person of Influence’ scorecard <http://www.keypersonofinfluence.com/scorecard/>

Connect with Callum here:
twitter.com/laingcallum
linkedin.com/in/callumlaing
Get his free ‘Asia Snapshot’ report from www.callumlaing.com

Contributor

Recently Published

Key Takeaway: Venture capital-backed startups, such as Anduril Industries, are transforming the defense sector by securing multi-million dollar contracts from the US Department of Defense and the UK Ministry of Defence. This surge in AI-driven defense technologies is driven by a relentless appetite for risk and innovation, with venture capital firms playing a pivotal role […]
Key Takeaway: Attosecond science, a field that earned the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2023, uses ultra-short laser pulses to observe and manipulate matter on timescales previously thought impossible. This breakthrough has implications across various sectors, including computing, renewable energy, medicine, and beyond. Attosecond science harnesses the energy of laser light to emit rapidly moving […]

Top Picks

Key Takeaway: Researchers are using genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) to study the complexities of microbial life, offering innovative solutions to climate change and space challenges. GEMs simulate the vast network of metabolic pathways within living organisms, allowing scientists to test and predict microbial behavior across diverse environments. They provide a detailed framework for understanding organisms’ […]
Key Takeaway: The “Wirkin” bag, a $78 imitation of Hermès’ Birkin bag, has gained popularity on TikTok, attracting millions of users. The bag, a clever portmanteau of “Walmart” and “Birkin,” allows everyday consumers to partake in high-end fashion without the exorbitant cost. The trend reflects a broader shift in societal values, where symbols of wealth […]
Key Takeaway: In 2022, scientists achieved the “experiment of the century” at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, marking the first time a fusion reaction produced more energy than consumed. This achievement has attracted billions of dollars in private investment, particularly in the United States, to advance fusion technology. However, a myriad of engineering challenges remain before […]
Key Takeaway: The demand for data centers is increasing, but they come with a significant environmental cost. Space-based data centers could be a potential solution, as they can be deployed and scaled with unprecedented speed to meet the surge in data demand. Companies like Lumen Orbit and Ascend are exploring extraterrestrial solutions, leveraging solar energy […]
Key Takeaway: As the new year begins, it’s important to challenge consumer myths and adopt a more conscious approach to consumption. The fallacy of “more is better” is a myth that materialistic consumption leads to diminished personal happiness and societal wellbeing. Low-consumption lifestyles can bring personal fulfillment and environmental benefits. The myth of “new equals […]

Trending

I highly recommend reading the McKinsey Global Institute’s new report, “Reskilling China: Transforming The World’s Largest Workforce Into Lifelong Learners”, which focuses on the country’s biggest employment challenge, re-training its workforce and the adoption of practices such as lifelong learning to address the growing digital transformation of its productive fabric. How to transform the country […]

Join our Newsletter

Get our monthly recap with the latest news, articles and resources.

Login

Welcome to Empirics

We are glad you have decided to join our mission of gathering the collective knowledge of Asia!
Join Empirics