148 - Navigating Board Directorships and Self-Employment: A Conversation with Wong Su-Yen

Wong Su-Yen is a distinguished international leader who serves as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman in various global public, private, and not-for-profit organisations.

She has held directorial roles in Australia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, and the United States, spanning industries such as telecommunications, media, professional services, agriculture, real estate, education, and FinTech/HRtech.

As the founder and CEO of Bronze Phoenix, Su-Yen helps organisations navigate transformation at the intersection of technology, strategy, and people.

She is an Adjunct Professor of Leadership at the National University of Singapore Business School and a member of the Executive Education Faculty at Duke University. Su-Yen is a sought-after keynote speaker who addresses topics such as the future of work, global leadership, diversity, and governance.

Her insights have been featured in prominent media outlets like CNBC, Channel News Asia, The Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg. She holds a B.A. in music and computer science from Linfield University and an M.B.A. from the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina.

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Who is Wong Su-yen?

01:24 Su-Yen's Career Journey: From Music to Marketing

02:00 Transition to Consulting and Leadership

02:45 The Decision to Pursue Board Roles

04:17 Balancing Parallel Careers

07:09 The Reality of Board Directorship

11:38 First Board Role and Challenges

13:54 Responsibilities and Risks of Board Membership

19:06 Managing Multiple Board Roles

22:19 Diversifying into Speaking and Teaching

23:56 Balancing Multiple Domains

24:44 Discovering Your Superpowers

27:04 The Importance of Trying New Things

29:38 Challenges and Advantages of Self-Employment

30:21 Building a Supportive Community

34:26 Preparing for Self-Employment

40:00 Managing Time as a Solopreneur

43:03 The Value of Hiring Support

44:29 Concluding Thoughts and Upcoming Events

Su-Yen website: www.suyenwong.com

Su-Yen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suyenwong/

Voices of Reinvention event: http://www.bronzephoenix.com/remarkablereinventorscommunity/voices-of-reinvention