Entrepreneurs in Action AsiaBizStories - Neville J. Mckenzie

CJ Tan







CJ Tan is a regular member of the Brunel Alumni Association. He has extensive experience in manufacturing and quality management, including start-ups and high-volume production. He is skilled in building quality systems and ensuring the safety of employees and the environment. CJ has led initiatives to improve quality  company wide and worked closely with manufacturing partners to maintain quality standards. He actively engaged with customers to support their engineering and quality initiatives.



“It is true you know you always been treated as a bad guy in the the company a stopper in a company right and then when the quality is not right we tend to be more aggressive and stop the production from going on”



He has worked in QA for some of the biggest names in the Semiconductor industry. CJ’s last role as a quality director ended in 2016. After taking some time out he started a fresh new career as a realtor (CJ Tan, Realtor). His motto is “Customer Comes First”.



“semiconductor Manufacturing in Singapore there is less and less uh jobs or rather demand for the kind of skill set that I have you know there are jobs out in the market but outside for the kind of skill set that I have”



CJ Tan is the second in this series to have graduated from the Henley Brunel MBA Program.



Contacts and Links Mentioned:



CJ Tan on LinkedIn

CJ Tan ERA Realtor on Facebook

Brunel Alumni Association Webpage

Stanley Mak







Stanley Mak is a regular member of the Brunel Alumni Association Experienced entrepreneur with a rich history of working in the marketing and communications industry. Skilled in Inbound Marketing, Digital Marketing and Integrated Marketing Communications. With an MBA from the Henley Brunel MBA Program.



Originally from Hong Kong he moved with his then employer to Singapore in 1986. Eventually the desire to build his marketing own company took over. Today he leads iSmart Communications. He has successful navigated the innovations that have radically changed marketing and has an insatiable appetite for innovations to come.



“and then in the second and third year the business really boomed then I said wow Hallelujah never look back then during the.com boom period I I saw the opportunity of the internet”



He was also Vice-president of the Hong Kong – Singapore Business Association. He was the original president of the Henley Brunel MBA Alumni Association which which has now been renamed to the Henley Alumni Association and no longer affiliated to Brunel University.



 “some people even say that why don't you become president forever I said no no no I don't want I'm not Lee Kuan Yew I don't want to be become a president for life”



His outside interests include being a keen language learner based on his professional languages use and recreational travel.



Contacts and Links Mentioned:



Stanley Mak



iSmart Communications.



Brunel Alumni Association

Chris Pardey







Chris Pardey is the Brunel Alumni Association Representative in Singapore. Chris grew up and was educated in the UK. He has spent over 40 years working in the commodities industry. Spending 20 years with one company, working in the UK, Switzerland and Germany.



His move to Singapore saw him eventually being in the right place at the right time co-investing in a company and taking the role of CEO/Director.



“the banks like to spread their risk em and so it's you know so it I think our Peak we were we were borrowing around 350 million dollars”



After cashing in, again, at the right time, he is currently Head of Agribusiness at R1 International PTE LTD.



From the beginning he has been a sports enthusiast starting as Captain of the Brunel University Football team and member of the Cricket Team, he now makes time to watch sports of all kinds. He links his work, love of sport, Brunel Alumni Association and current students to his charity work as Trustee with the Bali Sports Federation.



“So it’s basically been my initiative with Brunel but it's partly what the University alumni is looking to achieve in terms of providing work experience opportunities for students ”



As Well As:



0:02:05 Chris Pardey introduces himself.

0:02:10 Over 40 years of experience in the commodity business and living in Singapore since 2005.

0:02:21 His passionate for sports and involvement in charitable activities in Indonesia.

0:02:31 Becoming the Brunel alumni representative in Singapore.

0:03:13 Chose an international career for job opportunities and to experience Asia.

0:03:40 Passionate about football and cricket, ran a football team in Singapore.

0:05:09 President of Brunel Alumni Association.

0:05:35 Creating the association and the connection to Brunel's 50th anniversary and his reason.

0:09:44 His commitment to the Bali Sports Foundation, and the provision of sports opportunities for disadvantaged individuals in Bali.

0:10:38 Creating the link between Brunel and BSF.

0:11:20 The role for Brunel students within BSF from 2016, and the two years due to COVID-19.

0:12:16 The commitment BSF places on students for the charity and helping disabled individuals in Indonesia.

0:18:35 Chris’s after university, selected based on his involvement in sports.

0:18:57 His Work for 20 years in Geneva, Germany, and the UK, before he moved to Singapore.

0:19:01 Investing in RCMA with two colleagues, a commodity business and taking the role of CEO then selling in 2018 to a Chinese company.

0:19:46 Getting lucky and diversifying into other products and services

0:20:33 His current role working for another Chinese company.

0:21:58 The risk involved in taking on the role of CEO and learning along the way.

0:23:44 Why the business needed to deal with the 12 different banks.

0:24:52 Asking for money from the banks, relationships and not being nervous.

0:27:20 The reasons for selling and the outcomes for everyone involves.

0:28:17 Being able to walk away from the business.

0:28:40 Thanks to Chris for a great chat

0:28:42 If you have interest in the Brunel Alumni Association, are a Brunel student looking to get involved with the Bali Sports Foundation reach out to Chris on LinkedIn or visit the webpage.



Contacts and Links Mentioned:



Brunel Alumni Association



Bali Sports Federation



Yaya San kahaya Mutiara Ubud

Ben Clark







Ben Clark in 2010 whilst on a break from training for the London Olympics as a swimmer dove into the sea and broke his neck changing his life forever.



Despite having 75% of his body paralysed he was determined to not let it defeat him and set out to live his life to the full.



That thinking led him to Adapt To Perform which Ben started as a way to help himself and others get fit and healthy no matter their circumstances, a first of kind!



"also make sure they've got the right equipment and the right trainer on the door and so that if somebody comes along they're not just “umming and ahing” what to do they are there to be like oh welcome we've got a we've got a program this guy knows how to show you around the gym tell you what you can do Etc…"



Adapt To Perform is now the world's largest resource of adapted fitness helping over 10,000 individuals all over the world live their life to the fullest. Ben does this all through content creation via both the Adapt To Perform website and social media. Which now reaches places he didn’t expect or plan for



"but I realized quickly that it went out to multiple places in the world and it was helping people that were in very very different situations to myself despite having the same disability so they would be maybe in India Indonesia even in parts of Africa or in the Middle East ??"



This conversation is the third of a new venture with the Brunel Alumni Association (Singapore).



The format is based on Entrepreneurs in Action and we are looking to evolve it into a stand alone podcast series focused on Brunel Alumni based in Singapore



Send your ideas and suggestions to me on LinkedIn, or in person at the next Brunel Alumni Association meetup in Singapore



one final thing at around five minutes 40 seconds I asked Ben about the accident, he does go into some details so if you are of a sensitive nature please skip forward to around seven minutes 45 seconds where I ask him about his recovery. Due to possible editing changes please visit the website for more accurate details



so now without further delay let's begin



As Well As:



00:00 Introduction



02:35 Ben’s life before his accident



03:41 The event and sport Ben trained for



05:01 Was Ben the kind of athlete that needed to be pushed or did he push himself?



05:41 the accident: what happened and the effect it had after thinking his life was over



06:39 What saved his life?



07:43 After the accident and the obvious changes, rehab, the new challenges and swimming



09:31 The next swimming goal to make the Great Britain Paralympic Swimming Team 2012?



09:56 How the Stable Disability rule was missed.



11:07 The low point in around 2015?



12:57 Re-evaluation based not on role but higher values and becoming a coach?



13:30 The thought process behind becoming a coach, and success or failure?



15:41 Taking the discovery that there was an empty niche and the desire to progress with it further



17:48 Origin of the name of the company Adapt to Perform?



18:39  Funding Adapt To Perform



20:11 The biggest challenge for Adapt To Perform?



22:44 The surprise after the start of Adapt To Perform?



24:35 The future of Adapt To Perform



27:56 Ben’s and Adapt to Perform’s involvement with with Brunel University?



29:13 Posting the Bali trip on your YouTube channel?



29:59 How people can contact you?



31:09 Next episode Chris Pardey who is the Singapore Alumni Association president and Trustee of the Bali Sports Federation BSF



Contacts:

Mario Ferraro







Mario Ferraro is a thought leader in the area of Global Talent Management and an active member of the Brunel Alumni Association, Singapore



He moved to Singapore in 1998



But his unusual journey began in 1987. At the age of 18 one week after graduating from secondary school he moved on his own from Italy to the UK. Mario had no job and spoke very little English. His early jobs were for basic survival and during his commute he began reading books on physics. His interest grew, and In 1987 he enrolled to study a degree in physics at Brunel University. Mario’s first job after graduating required him to use his physic knowledge but a gradual shift towards the people within organisations occurred.



"Because you know you will have the best idea in the world If you don't have the people to execute it in the right place, at the right cost, at the right time. It’s just not going to happen. The world is full of great ideas which were never properly implemented…"



However, his physics training was and still is an important part of the approach Mario takes in his role.



When I think of how my physics interest and my physics background has help me throughout this, is I have found so many parallels and so many similarities between the laws of physics and what I observe in individuals in organisations and in societies in general.



So now without further delay let's begin



As Well As



Introduction

Early life in UK, basic jobs interest in physics, interview and starting at Brunel

Curiosity and how things work, a Basic under standing of Physics, a developing interest,

Education in Italy and his specialisation

First job in the UK with a tailor, factory then hotel, experience the UK and avoiding the Italian community.

Panic answering the phone in English leading to increased confidence

Early locations in UK and saving money to complete degree

The goal to survive in the UK

The evolution of Mario's career from physicist to human capital

How his first job move after graduating came about

How the move to Singapore occurred and the role

Building and maintaining continuous career improvement

Mario's role and purpose as employee number one for his current company

Naming and describing his role in detail as an "Integrator"

How Mario deals with conflicts in large organisations and the connection to individuals personal lives

Equations that describe human behaviour

Dealing with culture shock using physic's law of refraction to explain and deal with top performers failing in a new environment

The mistaken assumptions that can be made when English speakers move to Singapore

Mario's thoughts on his career progression over time and adapting when people no longer move physically and have to work remotely.

The different approaches countries have taken post covid and allowing foreign employees to cross borders.

Benefiting from the global talent pool

Benefit of being part of the Brunel University Alumni Association (Singapore)

Advice to current Brunel University Students

Meeting at the next session



Mario Ferraro



ITX



Brunel University

Laurence Barrett





Laurence Barrett is a pioneering aviation engineer, entrepreneur and active member of the Brunel University Alumni Association. He has worked and lived in Singapore since 2014. His career in aerospace started as a systems engineer in 2002 in September 2012 he started an MBA in Aviation at Brunel University after making the challenging decision to leave a successful career as an engineer. After graduating He moved to Singapore working as a self-employed Aviation Business Specialist. Then in May 2015 he made the daunting decision to found his own aviation company Barrett Aerospace.

"And I do actively employ people that are passionate about the jobs that they do. So much so that I would even create the job around the person"

I sat down with Laurence in his engineering workshop for a conversation that covered his path from engineer, then founder, a few of the exciting developments that are occurring in the aerospace industry and the role that Brunel has played in his career and business development.

"The MBA taught me a lot but I think the real world teaches you a lot more, and when you have something that’s a deadline that’s looming”

This conversation is part of a new venture with the Brunel Alumni Association (Singapore).

The format is based on my Entrepreneurs in Action series and we are looking to evolve it into a stand alone podcast series focused on Brunel Alumni based in Singapore. Send your ideas and suggestions to me on LinkedIn.

So now without further delay let's begin

As well as:

0:02:00 Leaving school with less than exemplary A-level results getting him into Polytechnic or RAF, or A-level repeat

0:02:58 Followed by 15 years in industry with Multinational companies

0:03:31 Learning how companies work by changing roles every 3 to 4 years

0:04:39 The role that overwhelmed him and revealed what he was not good at

0:05:05 supply supply relationship/analyst or engineer and the opportunities presented

0:07:14 Decision process of the next career move that led to quitting and a full-time MBA at Brunel University

0:09:12 Consulting wife, family and friends

0:10:48 Learning as a mature student and why choose Brunel University

0:12:33 Thinking about career options after the MBA

0:13:40 The realisation of the goal of doing something financially successful in the commercial aerospace industry

0:15:41 The Human-Powered Aircraft the Merlion Project

0:15:56 A bad joke by the host that's cleverly sidestepped by Laurence

0:16:04 Back to the serious business of human powered flight

0:18:47 Barrett Aerospace’s journey from drones to other aircraft and the effects of covid

0:19:53 electronic aircraft and electronic flight cooperation with Eviation and Deadlines

0:21:01 The importance building a network over time in an industry that enables working with other people and collaborating

0:21:27 project on time and on budget, the Alice Aircraft, July 2019 Paris

0:21:56 Eventually not just an engineer but the CEO and Founder

0:22:32 Creating jobs and roles around passionate, determined and driven people to create innovation

0:23:32 The real world need to bring engineering and return on investment together to the Human-Powered Aircraft Merlion Project

0:25:37 Working with other companies and start-ups that use crowdfunding and other non-traditional finance

0:26:24 how can and does the Singapore Alumni Association help?

0:31:08 Barrett Aerospace looking for engineering students for industrial placements

0:32:35 Finally we can be both contacted via LinkedIn

A reminder if you're a Brunel Alumni or a current student and you wish to

contact Laurence Barrett or myself Neville J Mckenzie you can do so through LinkedIn

Links:

https://www.barrettaerospace.com/