The Quinntesssential Questions Podcast with Paul Quinn

Paul Quinn

Discover the captivating career journeys of top professionals on "The Quinntessential Questions Podcast." Hosted by Paul Quinn, each episode dives into the untold stories behind success. Join us for candid conversations, insightful questions, and valuable wisdom from a diverse range of guests. Whether you're a seasoned business professional or just starting out in your career, this podcast offers inspiration and practical advice for navigating your own path to success. Tune in and explore the fascinating world of careers with us!

  1. Sep 9

    #99 Quinntessential Questions with Annabel Spring | Wall Street To Main Street To CEO

    In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Annabel Spring, Chief Executive Officer of Allfunds, one of the world's leading wealth management platforms operating across 66 countries. From walking away from a career in law after passing the bar exam to Wall Street, Harvard Business School, and three decades leading global businesses at Morgan Stanley, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and HSBC, Annabel shares her journey of transformation and the moments that redirected it.She discusses leadership across cultures, what she looks for when hiring senior leaders, and why she believes your value isn't in the expertise you hold but in the questions you're willing to ask. Annabel also opens up about being told at thirteen that she wasn't gifted or talented, the answer she gave in a room full of senior executives that she was certain had ended her career, and leading a company through change while navigating collective grief.Whether you're early in your career and wondering whether a sideways move is a mistake, a senior professional worried that you've plateaued, or a leader trying to balance short-term delivery with long-term vision, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on curiosity, transformation, and caring deeply. Let's explore the career journey of Annabel Spring, Chief Executive Officer of Allfunds.With sincere thanks to the Allfunds MARCOMS team for making this episode possible: Macarena Navalón, Sara Boyes, María Erhardt Ybarra, Blanca Quiralte and Javier Goyeneche Arias.WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81bANNABEL SPRINGLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabelspring/Website: https://allfunds.com/en/LISTEN ON SPOTIFY & APPLESpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785FOLLOW PAUL QUINNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulquinnofficial/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulquinnofficial/FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/Website: https://www.paulquinnofficial.com/episodesCAREER COACHINGWebsite: https://quinntessential-coaching.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_coach/WESTPORT PARTNERS:Website: https://westport-partners.com/TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Introduction(02:32) Who is Annabel Spring(03:24) Growing up in Sydney(04:51) Rowing, sport and leadership(05:39) Told at 13 she wasn't gifted or talented(06:56) Why she walked away from law(08:02) Three skills for finance today(09:26) Houston, oil and gas, and starting with a laugh(10:04) Harvard and the Macquarie scholarship(12:20) Baker Scholar and the Loeb Award(14:01) "I don't love the word network"(15:19) Wall Street to Main Street(19:10) The Morgan Stanley blue paint story(20:23) Commonwealth Bank and a billion dollars of remediation(23:53) The answer that nearly ended her career(26:26) Her first deal: RJR Nabisco and the Oreo(28:45) Advice to her 25-year-old self(30:44) "Your career is a jungle gym"(32:43) How to actually earn a promotion(37:34) Short-term execution vs long-term vision(40:10) What she looks for in senior leaders(42:55) Feedback is a gift(45:18) The move to HSBC(48:44) Farmers vs Hunters: the elite private banker(51:13) The value of the seat(53:28) Inside Allfunds(01:01:42) Energy management and the Lake Zurich swim(01:03:33) "I'm still an introvert"(01:04:42) The Four E's(01:11:08) Rapid fire: books(01:12:44) Imperial College and science for humanity(01:17:37) Final adviceDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.

    #99 Quinntessential Questions with Annabel Spring | Wall Street To Main Street To CEO
  2. Sep 1

    #98 Quinntessential Questions with Oscar Oruche: Born With Cerebral Palsy, He Defied Every Doubter

    In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Oscar Oruche, an undergraduate at the University of Manchester reading East Asian Studies and a member of the Royal Historical Society of the UK. From being told by doubters that he'd never get an interview at Oxford to earning a place at Manchester and a seat at the Royal Historical Society, Oscar shares his journey of transformation and the pact he made with himself at 11 years old to pursue academia above all else. He discusses growing up between Singapore and the UK, the biggest misconceptions people hold about life in a wheelchair, and why disseminating knowledge excites him most about a future in academia. Oscar also opens up about being born with cerebral palsy and shares powerful stories about defying expectations, including becoming a certified level one world rugby coach and coaching for five years despite people's doubts. Whether you're navigating your own doubters, building a multicultural identity, or figuring out how to turn a childhood pact into a life's purpose, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on resilience, self-belief, and never letting a diagnosis define your ceiling. WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b OSCAR ORUCHELinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-oruche-6a718a202/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ooruche/Website: N/A LISTEN ON SPOTIFY & APPLESpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785 FOLLOW PAUL QUINNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulquinnofficial/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulquinnofficial/ FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/Website: https://www.paulquinnofficial.com/episodes CAREER COACHINGWebsite: https://quinntessential-coaching.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_careers/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/ TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Introduction(02:02) Meet Oscar: Manchester, East Asian Studies & the Royal Historical Society(04:36) Born With Cerebral Palsy: Oscar's Origin Story(08:12) The Pact at 11: Choosing Academia Above All(11:24) Doubted at Oxford(14:07) A Word From Quinntessential Coaching(14:21) Growing Up Between Singapore and the UK(16:57) The Biggest Misconception About Being in a Wheelchair(17:49) Studying vs. Learning: Finding Real Purpose(22:11) Travel Stories: Europe, New York & Beyond(26:47) Introvert or Extrovert? The Myers-Briggs Debate(28:21) The Mandarin Journey: Chasing Fluency(51:38) Why Oscar Wants to Pursue a PhD(52:34) A Word From Quinntessential Coaching(52:48) Rapid Fire: Dinner With Three Historical Figures(57:29) Book Recommendations: Orientalism & More(1:01:15) The Quote Oscar Lives By & Productivity Hacks(1:05:33) The Wheelchair Rugby Coach Nobody Expected(1:15:04) Family, Legacy & Final Reflections Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees. #CerebralPalsyAwareness #Resilience #DisabilityInclusion #Manchester #EastAsianStudies #OvercomingAdversity #StudentSuccess #RugbyCoach #QuinntessentialQuestions #PaulQuinn

    #98 Quinntessential Questions with Oscar Oruche: Born With Cerebral Palsy, He Defied Every Doubter
  3. Aug 24

    #97 Quinntessential Questions with Madelin Lock: From Backyard Dribbles to Spain: Betting on Yourself

    On this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, we shine a spotlight on young talent on the rise. Meet Madelin Lock: Singapore's premier young female basketball player, about to leave home for Spain to chase her dream of turning professional.What makes Madelin's story remarkable is that she hasn't just represented Singapore in one sport: she's represented her country in two: basketball and football. At the same time, she's carried the academic rigours of Hwa Chong Institution. Academics, basketball, and football: three demanding worlds, all at once, all at the national level.Host Paul Quinn first met Madelin as his daughter's basketball coach. She became a mentor to his family, and now a dear friend of the show.At just 19, her résumé speaks for itself:🏀 Basketball — Singapore National Team (FIBA U21 3x3 Nations League, FIBA Asia U16 World Cup Qualifiers), NBA Rising Stars International, NBA Basketball Without Borders Asia⚽ Football — Singapore's U17 National Team, Women's Premier League with Lion City Sailors🎓 Starting in September, Madelin heads to Universidad Europa in Valencia, Spain, to pursue a double degree in Business Entrepreneurship and Marketing: a move chosen specifically to help advance her basketball careerIn this conversation, we unpack how she juggled two national sporting careers alongside her studies, the courage behind this leap, and what it takes to go pro.SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Madelin and her family are now open to sponsorship for the first time. If you or your business want to back a genuine rising star, DM us and we'll connect you directly with her and her team.Thank you, Madelin, for everything you've given the Quinn family's basketball journey and for your invaluable friendship. We are so happy for you and so proud of you. 🇸🇬WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81bMADELIN LOCK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mad.elin_21/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelin-lock-515b39392/LISTEN ON SPOTIFY & APPLE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavq Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785FOLLOW PAUL QUINN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulquinnofficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulquinnofficial/FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/ Website: https://www.paulquinnofficial.com/episodesCAREER COACHING Website: https://quinntessential-coaching.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_careers/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (01:21) Who is Maddie Lock(02:09) Growing up Eurasian in Singapore (04:04) From martial arts to tennis, football, and basketball (05:01) Called up to the national football team at 12 (08:38) "There's no such thing as balance" (10:37) Balancing elite sport with school (11:54) The unprecedented path — going pro overseas (13:24) Self-coaching: "80% of the work is done by myself" (14:00) Training alone during COVID's circuit breaker (16:11) Physical conditioning without a private coach (33:20) Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and her basketball idols (34:40) The book that changed her — Relentless by Tim Grover (38:14) Turning her height into an advantage (40:17) Training and recovery on a self-funded budget (41:52) On sponsorship (42:28) What's next: moving to Spain (44:16) Visualising the future — goals and building an academy (48:39) NBA Rising Stars (50:21) Closing thoughtsDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.

    #97 Quinntessential Questions with Madelin Lock: From Backyard Dribbles to Spain: Betting on Yourself
  4. Aug 18

    #96 Quinntessential Questions with Ned Phillips | Talent Isn't Real: 37 Years of Sales Wisdom with Ned Phillips

    In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Ned Phillips, Founder of The Sales Movement and former Founder & CEO of Bambu. From cold-calling door to door in a commission-only insurance job to raising $22 million for a wealthtech startup that worked with HSBC, Standard Chartered and Franklin Templeton, Ned shares his transformation journey and the moment his company liquidated after eight years. He discusses why "talent" isn't real, why sales scripts only work until you throw them away, why content is the new cold call, and why energy and resilience matter more than raw ability. Ned also opens up about watching Bambu fail and rebuilding his career and identity from there, sharing powerful lessons on listening, personal branding, and closing without selling. Whether you're a founder wondering if you should keep going, a salesperson who hates the word "sales," or anyone who's had to rebuild after a public failure, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on resilience, reinvention, and what it actually takes to sell for 37 years straight. WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b NED PHILLIPS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ned-phillips/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nedphillips2/ Website: https://thesalesmovement.co/ LISTEN ON YOUTUBE, APPLE & SPOTIFY YouTube: https://youtube.com/@quinntessentialquestions Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavq FOLLOW PAUL QUINN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntaipan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-quinn-wp1/ FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/ Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/ CAREER COACHING Website: https://quinntessentialca.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Introduction 1:15 Catching up before the show 1:44 Ned's 37 years in B2B sales across Asia 3:08 How Ned and Paul actually connected 5:03 Why "sales" is a dirty word in private banking 5:47 The story behind Ned's move to Singapore 8:29 Do sales scripts actually work? 13:14 Be interested, not interesting 15:17 Ned's sales methodology 22:58 The 18K "stockbroker" job that was actually a boiler room 27:42 Selling horse manure over the phone 31:02 Building Bambu: from $400K to a $22M raise 39:45 Meeting Jack Ma and building tech for Kevin O'Leary 43:51 When Bambu liquidated - and why banks still run on its code 46:33 Why talent isn't real 57:59 Why content is the new cold call 1:19:08 What drives Ned today Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.

    #96 Quinntessential Questions with Ned Phillips | Talent Isn't Real: 37 Years of Sales Wisdom with Ned Phillips
  5. Aug 11

    #95 Quinntessential Questions with Mark Nacey | Start Before You're Ready: On Steel, Fire and Business

    In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Mark Nacey, operations manager at a manufacturing company, volunteer lieutenant with the Country Fire Service, and founder of Dropz, a chauffeur business in South Australia's Barossa Valley. From starting his boilermaker apprenticeship without knowing what a grinder was, to hand-cutting a 1.2 tonne steel sculpture over nine months, Mark shares a working life built on saying yes first and working it out afterwards. He discusses learning a trade, backing yourself without a safety net, and why the fear of looking foolish stops more people than failure ever does. Mark also opens up about the wake-up call that reset his priorities, the night he and his wife Cath decided over a bottle of red to start a business from scratch, and what happened when he swapped watching bushfires on television for fighting them. Whether you are working a job you have outgrown, sitting on an idea you have not moved on, or wondering whether it is too late to start something new, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on craftsmanship, courage and having a go. Let's explore the working life of a tradesman, firefighter and business owner. WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b MARK NACEY LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-nacey-5897b0120/ LISTEN ON YOUTUBE, APPLE & SPOTIFY YouTube: https://youtube.com/@quinntessentialquestions Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavq FOLLOW PAUL QUINN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntaipan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-quinn-wp1/ FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/ Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/ CAREER COACHING Website: https://quinntessentialca.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/ TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (02:02) The Barossa red he brought: Z Wines and a world's best Shiraz (04:19) Born in Rotorua, New Zealand (04:58) Moving to Papua New Guinea at eleven (07:24) Queensland, high school and sprinting (10:20) Starting his trade: "What's a grinder?" (11:34) The steel sculpture that took nine months (15:04) London, Old Scotland Yard and Dagenham (17:41) Darwin and a chocolate shop (18:25) Oil and gas and the $100,000 goal (29:56) Meeting Cath and learning red wine (32:21) The Gentleman's Table (38:18) Experiences over things (40:57) How Mark met Kath (46:05) Dropz: starting a chauffeur business over a bottle of red (52:32) Thirteen weeks in and booked out (59:59) The US opportunity: thirteen flights in ten days (01:10:21) Country Fire Service and going up the ranks (01:12:11) Advice for anyone thinking about starting something Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.

    #95 Quinntessential Questions with Mark Nacey | Start Before You're Ready: On Steel, Fire and Business
  6. Aug 4

    #94 Quinntessential Questions with ⁠Lim Yao Xiang | Why Your Mind Is the Strongest Muscle You Have

    In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Lim Yao Xiang, athlete, coach, teacher, and co-founder of Grid Yard. From learning to swim at nine years old to representing Singapore across three different sports at the SEA Games, Yao Xiang shares his remarkable reinvention story and the five-year mental block that nearly derailed everything.He discusses the psychology of fear in elite sport, the transferability of discipline across swimming, fin swimming and water polo, and why being athletic is a concept, not a person. Yao Xiang also opens up about the brutal realities of self-funded athletic pursuits in Singapore and shares hard-won lessons on longevity, mind-body connection, and building a gym business from the ground up with his brother.Whether you're an athlete navigating a career pivot, a professional chasing peak performance, or someone who wants to move and feel better for the long haul, this conversation delivers honest, grounded wisdom on resilience, reinvention, and what it really takes to keep showing up. Let's explore the world of an elite multi-sport athlete turned coach and entrepreneur.WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81bLIM YAO XIANG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lim-yaoxiang-774582bb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limyaoxiang/ Website: https://www.grityard.com/LISTEN ON SPOTIFY & APPLE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785FOLLOW PAUL QUINNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulquinnofficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulquinnofficial/FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/ Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/CAREER COACHING Website: https://quinntessential-coaching.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_careers/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (2:30) How Sport Found Him — Growing Up in Singapore (4:08) National Youth Setup in Two Years (5:08) The Five-Year Mental Block (8:06) Discovering Fin Swimming — First Place in 24 Hours (8:49) SEA Games Gold & The Water Polo Pivot (11:47) Teaching at Raffles Institution * (17:14) Leaving Teaching — The Entrepreneurial Decision (20:08) Building Grid Yard with His Brother (30:40) Longevity & Training After 40 (33:16) Mind-Body Connection & Intentional Training (40:49) The Reality of Self-Funded Athletics in Singapore (46:07) How to Win Sponsorships as an Athlete (49:18) When the Door Opens, Walk Through It (52:22) Which Athletes Would You Train With in Their Heyday? (55:24) The Best Athletes Think About the Goal Once (56:43) The Work Is Done in the Shadows (1:02:18) Grid Yard — Building a Business on GritDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.#Singapore #EliteAthlete #SportsPerformance #MindsetCoach #Finswimming #SEAGames #AthleteLife #Longevity #GridYard #PaulQuinn

    #94 Quinntessential Questions with ⁠Lim Yao Xiang | Why Your Mind Is the Strongest Muscle You Have
  7. Jul 28

    #93 Quinntessential Questions with Rupert Thomson | Branding's Most Underrated Skill Is "Stupidity"

    In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Rupert Thomson, founder of Set Maker. From a first job in a windowless call centre to founding Artistic Director at Summerhall in Edinburgh and four years programming performance and dance at London's Southbank Centre, Rupert shares his transformation journey and the decision to leave a world he had already mastered and start again on the other side of the planet. He discusses verbal branding, creative leadership, career reinvention, and why he believes the most underrated skill in branding today is stupidity. Rupert also opens up about the frustration with expensive developers that led him to build his own no code platform, and how a conversation with comedian Kumar became the emotional heart of a National Heritage Board commission in Little India. Whether you are considering a career change into tech, building a creative team, or working out how to make your brand stand out, this conversation offers hard won wisdom on creative leadership and the power of language. WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b RUPERT THOMSONLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupert-thomson-43504314/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/setmakerhq/Website: [SET MAKER URL — NEEDED] LISTEN ON YOUTUBE, APPLE & SPOTIFYYouTube: https://youtube.com/@quinntessentialquestionsApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavq FOLLOW PAUL QUINNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntaipan/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-quinn-wp1/ FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/ CAREER COACHINGWebsite: https://quinntessentialca.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/ TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Introduction(01:42) Meet Rupert Thomson(02:02) Manchester, Edinburgh and the Festivals That Shaped Him(04:21) How the Arts Found Him at 14(07:03) English Literature, a Gap Year and Reading Tolstoy in Mongolia(10:37) A First Job in a Call Centre With No Windows(11:19) Becoming a Magazine Editor Within Months(11:56) Southbank Centre and the Legacy of the Festival of Britain(14:35) Theatre, Riverside Studios and a Seven Hour Play(17:28) The Decision to Move to Singapore(18:04) Bringing Reed Words to Asia(19:50) The Onboarding Process Every Company Should Copy(22:22) Building a Network From Scratch in a New Country(26:28) The Genesis of Set Maker(27:30) The Frustration With Coders That Started It All(28:52) Building the Platform and Finding the Right Developers(35:42) The Two Revenue Strands Behind the Business(36:56) Kumar, Little India and the Story That Built an Experience(42:31) Race, Identity and Being a Minority in Singapore(50:19) Primal Scream, Shallow Grave and Meeting Sean Connery(52:03) Why Stupidity Is the Most Underrated Skill in Branding(53:24) The Three Qualities He Looks For When Hiring Creatives(59:50) What Business Leaders Can Learn From the Arts(1:05:55) What Actually Kills Creativity in Organisations(1:09:44) Vision vs Execution(1:10:20) Where AI Helps and Where It Doesn't(1:11:21) Raising a Pre-Seed Round Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.

    #93 Quinntessential Questions with Rupert Thomson | Branding's Most Underrated Skill Is "Stupidity"
  8. Jul 21

    #92 Quinntessential Questions with Paul Foster | Facing Death, Grief and the Breathwork That Healed Him

    In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Paul Foster, Singapore-based host, actor, and wellness advocate. From his early days in modeling and the 2000s reality show "The Big Unknown" to becoming one of Asia's most recognisable faces, Paul shares his transformation journey and the moment that changed everything: losing his father to cancer at just 18. He discusses grief, breathwork, and two decades of building homes across Asia, and why true healing means going deep into shadow work. Paul also opens up about the heart scare that nearly killed him, the breathwork session where he felt his late father in the room, and shares powerful stories about purpose, service, and backing yourself when no one else does. Whether you're navigating loss, searching for purpose beyond your career, or curious about the wellness and breathwork space, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on grief, healing, and living with intention. Let's explore the journey of Paul Foster. WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b PAUL FOSTER LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-foster-707b5a31/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulfosterrr/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulfosterrr/ LISTEN ON SPOTIFY & APPLE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavq Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785 FOLLOW PAUL QUINN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulquinnofficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulquinnofficial/ FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/ Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/ CAREER COACHING Website: https://quinntessential-coaching.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_careers/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/ TIMESTAMPS: (0:00) Introduction (3:33) The 100 pushup challenge (4:46) Mum's pioneer generation story (7:18) Eurasian heritage and mixed identity (8:10) Dad's oil and gas career and OPEC (14:46) National Service and University of Melbourne (15:05) Breaking into entertainment - The Big Unknown (30:01) Losing his father at 18 (36:45) First acting gigs - Red Thread and Polo Boys (43:59) The hosting craft - staying authentic on stage (1:02:37) Discovering breathwork (1:05:11) The heart scare that nearly killed him (1:13:35) Buried grief by helping others (1:15:10) The session where he felt his dad (1:22:06) Habitat for Humanity - 20 years of builds (1:23:20) Building in Cambodia - Siem Reap (1:24:47) Wellness summit and upcoming projects (1:27:46) Shadow work and going deep Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees. #PaulFoster #Breathwork #GriefHealing #WellnessJourney #HabitatForHumanity #Singapore #ShadowWork #MensMentalHealth #PaulQuinn #QuinntessentialQuestions

    #92 Quinntessential Questions with Paul Foster | Facing Death, Grief and the Breathwork That Healed Him

About

Discover the captivating career journeys of top professionals on "The Quinntessential Questions Podcast." Hosted by Paul Quinn, each episode dives into the untold stories behind success. Join us for candid conversations, insightful questions, and valuable wisdom from a diverse range of guests. Whether you're a seasoned business professional or just starting out in your career, this podcast offers inspiration and practical advice for navigating your own path to success. Tune in and explore the fascinating world of careers with us!