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EP20 Daniel Cheng: The Business Of Creative Industries

Recently selected as Campaign Asia’s 40 Under 40, Daniel Cheng has been a pioneer in Shanghai’s advertising scene for the past 15 years. In 2013, upon leaving his brand management role at LVMH, Daniel started Metric Design Studio (MDS). Today, MDS has served over 200 clients, including the likes of fashion powerhouses MaxMara to luxury hospitality chains Shangri-La Hotels, to the pharmaceutical giant Bayer. In 2021, Daniel co-founded Mimosa Productions, a production studio focused on Asian-led content, which produced two projects that placed as finalists at the Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) IP Accelerator in 2022 and 2023. Daniel holds an MBA with Merit from Imperial College Business School in London, a BSc from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a Fulbright Scholarship. Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:48) Early Career and Move to China (00:09:28) Founding A Creative Agency (00:23:41) MDS Collective And Pivot To Tourism (00:54:17) Trends in Chinese Tourism (01:07:35) The Future of Filmmaking and AI (01:18:58) Closing Question - Kindest Thing Someone Has Done Disclaimer: This podcast is an independent personal project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any employer or organization. All views expressed are solely those of the host and guests. The content is for information and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, tax, or professional advice. The host, guests, and associated parties assume no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

EP19 Tony Clemente: Quitting the Job Everyone Wanted, To Build the Life I Needed

One of the most memorable early guests on the show, Tony Clemente returns after 2 years to continue his story. Once a veteran Wall Street director who commanded authority in the corporate world, Tony ultimately walked away at the height of his career. Burned out and disillusioned with "the matrix", he traded prestige and security for the challenge of building something of his own. Today, he runs multiple businesses of his own including a successful boutique tax consultancy, helping Americans abroad navigating complex financial realities. In this episode, Tony reveals what finally pushed him out, the harsh truths of corporate burnout, and the lessons learned from rebuilding life and career on his own terms. If you are an American living abroad in need of tax solutions, you can reach Tony here: 🌐 americatax.com [https://americatax.com/] 📧 anthonydclemente@yahoo.com Disclaimer: This podcast is an independent personal project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any employer or organization. All views expressed are solely those of the host and guests. The content is for information and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, tax, or professional advice. The host, guests, and associated parties assume no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

EP18 YH Hwang: Ex-MBB Consultant Decodes the Good, Bad and Ugly of Consulting

What do McKinsey, Bain and BCG (MBB) consultants actually do? In this episode, YH Hwang takes us inside the world of management consulting: from navigating on-campus recruiting at Cornell to cracking case interviews and tackling high-stakes client projects. We talk candidly about the grind, the culture, and what life as a young consultant is really like behind the LinkedIn polish. YH is a Cornell University graduate and former MBB consultant, where he spent four years advising Fortune 500 clients across strategy, project management, and due diligence in New York and Hong Kong. He later transitioned into corporate development at a Hong Kong conglomerate and is now an MBA candidate at London Business School. With experience spanning the Ivy League, Wall Street consulting culture, and Asia’s corporate landscape, YH brings a rare global perspective on ambition and career building. Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:04:59) From Shanghai High School To Ivy League (00:21:39) On-Campus Recruiting (00:32:19) The Target Schools Recruiting Process (00:38:21) Hacking Into Hackathon (00:46:36) Landing Full-Time Job at MBB (00:52:01) Decoding Consulting (00:53:49) McKinsey vs Bain vs BCG (01:01:42) Consulting Pricing & Business Model (01:04:15) The Consulting Learning Curve (01:07:10) The Most Defining Project (01:12:28) Most Stressful Moments (01:26:53) Principles To Life & Careers Disclaimer: This podcast is an independent personal project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any employer or organization. All views expressed are solely those of the host and guests. The content is for information and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, tax, or professional advice. The host, guests, and associated parties assume no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

EP17 Dr. Pushpanathan Sundram: ASEAN At A Crossroads

One of Asia’s foremost minds in regional policy, trade, and diplomacy, Dr. Pushpanathan Sundram was the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN from 2009 to 2011, overseeing the ASEAN Economic Community. After decades at the heart of ASEAN, he went on to advise multinationals like Eli Lilly and now leads PublicPolicyAsia Advisors, guiding Fortune 500s and regional governments on policy, market access, and strategy. He has been awarded the Sahametrey Medal by the Cambodian government and the Outstanding Alumni Award by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. A decorated powerbroker, published author, and Visiting Fellow at Chiang Mai University, Dr. Sundram holds a PhD in Public Policy. PublicPolicyAsia Advisors is currently seeking talented emerging writers. If you have a manuscript worth publishing and are exploring partnership opportunities, contact them at: atinfo@ppaa.com.sg https://ppaa.co/ [https://ppaa.co/] https://www.facebook.com/pushpanathan/ [https://www.facebook.com/pushpanathan/] linkedin.com/in/pushpanathan-sundram-a29b551ba [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pushpanathan-sundram-a29b551ba?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BD%2FNiwkBJSM%2B0nWMjf7M8yg%3D%3D] Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:06) Formation and Evolution of ASEAN (00:12:23) How Is ASEAN Different Than EU (00:14:41) To What Extent Does ASEAN Have Concrete Authority (00:23:48) Barriers To Integration (00:39:15) Balancing Between Global Powers (00:42:36) How Would ASEAN React To Potential Conflict Over Taiwan and South China Sea (00:50:46) ASEAN's Role In Recent Thailand & Cambodia Border Conflict (00:59:16) Scope For Military Cooperation (01:02:29) The Most Memorable ASEAN Meeting (01:07:16) PublicPolicyAsia Advisors and Conclusion Disclaimer: This podcast is an independent personal project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any employer or organization. All views expressed are solely those of the host and guests. The content is for information and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, tax, or professional advice. The host, guests, and associated parties assume no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

EP16 Kevin Yi: Phnom Penh's Pandemic Policy & Advising Mongolian Government

A fellow graduate of Cornell University, Kevin Yi started his career at EY in New York City, before moving inhouse to Dell as a strategy manager based in Singapore. In 2021 at the depth of Covid pandemic, he relocated to Cambodia to work for Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). Working at the frontlines at a developing country deeply shaped his outlook on life and career, and led his return to campus, where he is currently pursuing a dual MPA-ID/MBA degree at Harvard and MIT. Whether it’s devising pandemic response at Phnom Penh, or adivising the Mongolian president on renewables energy strategy, Kevin worked at places where stakes are high but resources limited. Tune in to hear his stories as we catch up after 4 years. Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:05:30) Relocation to Cambodia (00:12:26) Clinton Health Access Initiative (00:20:20) Combating Covid in Cambodia (00:44:21) Renewables Work in Mongolia (01:00:05) Future Aspirations Disclaimer: This podcast is an independent personal project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any employer or organization. All views expressed are solely those of the host and guests. The content is for information and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, tax, or professional advice. The host, guests, and associated parties assume no liability for any actions taken based on this content.