The Quinntesssential Questions Podcast with Paul Quinn

#83 Quinntessential Questions with Ben Quinlan | Exploring leadership, risk, performance and humour from two different stages

54 min · 19. mai 2026
Forsidebilde av episoden #83 Quinntessential Questions with Ben Quinlan | Exploring leadership, risk, performance and humour from two different stages

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In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Ben Quinlan, Founder & CEO of Quinlan & Associates, a financial services strategy consultancy headquartered in Hong Kong. From burning out as a road warrior consultant to then starting his own firm in his 30s with no clients, no track record, and no safety net, Ben shares his unfiltered journey of building something from scratch. He discusses entrepreneurial resilience, building a global brand through content rather than marketing spend, and the leadership philosophy that has defined his firm's culture across 30 countries. Ben also opens up about the moment he nearly threw in the towel, and shares hard-won lessons on business development, sales, and what it takes to get the Financial Times and Bloomberg to treat you as the authority in your space. Whether you're navigating burnout, thinking about going out on your own, or building a boutique firm trying to compete with the global giants — this conversation offers battle-tested wisdom on resilience, authority building, and entrepreneurial identity. And yes — he's also a stand-up comic who has performed alongside Russell Howard, Kevin Bridges, and Tom Segura. Let's explore what's inside the mind of a boutique CEO who has served clients in 30 countries, all out of Hong Kong. WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b BEN QUINLAN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminquinlan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbquinlan/ Website: https://www.quinlanandassociates.com/ 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://quinntessentialca.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 (3:38) Stand-up comedy — how it all started (4:00) The 2013 sabbatical — burnt out and working himself to death (9:06) Early career — PwC, UBS, and the reverse engineering of consulting (12:07) Burnout — five cities in one week, lost track of where he was (13:55) Day 1 induction — the sinking feeling that changed everything (15:32) Taking the plunge — no clients, no track record, no anything (19:26) Best idea wins — the leadership philosophy ingrained every day (23:47) Zero paid marketing — how the FT and Bloomberg became his strategy (26:10) The art of selling without selling (28:24) The best salespeople came from hospitality (31:29) The absolute best salespeople sell feelings and emotions (32:04) Starshots glamour photography — where it all began (36:40) 30 countries, all out of Hong Kong (39:00) There are no shortcuts — you are going to eat it all the time (39:37) Every entrepreneur wants to throw in the towel — the Miami conference (47:34) Comedic heroes — Russell Howard, Kevin Bridges, Tom Segura, Ricky Gervais (53:30) Current projects — central banks, CBDCs, stablecoins, digital assets 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. #Entrepreneurship #FinancialServices #HongKong #BusinessStrategy #Leadership #Consulting #StartupLife #CareerPivot #StandUpComedy #Resilience

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92 Episoder

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

#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

I går1 h 29 min
Forsidebilde av episoden #91 Quinntessential Questions with Chris Morris | Building an award winning Fintech Company

#91 Quinntessential Questions with Chris Morris | Building an award winning Fintech Company

In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Chris Morris, Co-Founder and CEO of W.M. Cockpit. From building products at Yahoo and Facebook to being impacted by the 2022 global tech layoffs, Chris shares his transformation journey from corporate technologist to award-winning fintech founder.He discusses building lean against 500-employee competitors, the psychology of leaving a stable paycheck behind, and why sales — not product — is the real key to survival as a founder. Chris also opens up about overcoming his introverted nature to get comfortable pitching in person, and shares powerful insights on hiring for grit over pedigree, the most overrated startup metric, and what private banks need to do to retain the next generation of ultra high net worth clients.Whether you're considering leaving corporate life to start your own business, building a lean startup against entrenched competitors, or trying to figure out where AI fits into a relationship-driven industry, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on resilience, sales, and discipline. Let's explore how Chris Morris built W.M. Cockpit from a leap of faith into an award-winning company.WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81bCHRIS MORRISLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrism092/Website: https://www.wmcockpit.com/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.quinntessentialquestions.com/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(01:34) Welcome to the show(02:08) Who is Chris Morris & W.M. Cockpit(03:56) Winning industry awards(05:59) Growing up across New Zealand, Sweden & Switzerland(09:15) King's College London & discovering tech through gaming(12:44) First job at Yahoo & the Marissa Mayer era(15:11) Moving to Facebook's VR team(20:22) Life inside Facebook's culture(22:47) The 2022 tech layoffs(23:36) How W.M. Cockpit was born(28:07) The humbling reality of year one(32:03) Looking into the abyss(37:34) Why sales is everything(46:19) Dinner with Musk, Ackman & Jensen Huang(48:09) The most underrated leadership skill(50:03) The most overrated startup metric(53:54) The one quality every entrepreneur needs(59:19) What private banks need to rethink(01:01:22) Can AI replace private bankers?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.#Fintech #PrivateBanking #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #WealthManagement #FounderStory #SmallBusiness #ScaleUp #TechLayoffs #QuinntessentialQuestions

14. juli 20261 h 5 min
Forsidebilde av episoden #90 Quinntessential Questions with Dr. Cheryl Kam | Your BURNOUT isn't your FAULT | ⁠90% of patients are MISSING THIS!

#90 Quinntessential Questions with Dr. Cheryl Kam | Your BURNOUT isn't your FAULT | ⁠90% of patients are MISSING THIS!

In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Dr. Cheryl Kam, Functional Medicine Doctor, Burnout Recovery Coach, and Founder of CALM Supplements. From Singapore's top schools to King's College London — the largest medical school in Europe — to nearly two decades in clinical medicine, Cheryl shares the moment conventional medicine stopped being enough. She discusses the silent epidemic of burnout in high-performing women, why your chronic condition may already be your body's cry for help, and the root-cause approach that led her to walk away from retail medicine entirely. Cheryl also opens up about building a clean supplement brand from scratch — starting with her most chemically sensitive patients — and why most people are walking around magnesium-depleted without knowing it. Whether you're a high-performing woman running on empty, a parent trying to protect your family's health, or someone who's tried everything and still can't sleep, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on burnout recovery, functional nutrition, and building health from the inside out. WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b DR. CHERYL KAMLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcherylkam/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcherylkam/Website: https://www.drcherylkam.com/ CALM SUPPLEMENTSInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/i.want.calm/Website: https://www.iwantcalm.com/ LISTEN ON YOUTUBE & APPLEYouTube: https://youtube.com/@quinntessentialquestionsApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/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.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/ 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. (0:00) Introduction (1:30) Who Is Dr. Cheryl Kam (14:56) King's College London (23:26) Homeschooling 5 Kids (26:41) Building Health vs Fighting Disease (30:17) Why Women Normalise Fatigue & Hormone Chaos (37:22) PMS, Perimenopause & Menopause (44:06) The Coaching Business (48:55) CALM — Pharmaceutical Grade Magnesium (51:04) 90% of Patients Are Depleted (52:42) The Deep Sleep Stack (56:26) How She Became an Entrepreneur (1:00:15) Fertility & IVF — Generational Toxicity (1:02:45) Migraines, Eczema & The 6-Step System (1:05:05) Food as Medicine — BBC Twin Study (1:10:45) TRT, HRT & Looking Upstream (1:15:43) Most Underrated Nutrient: Magnesium (1:17:31) NMN, Ozempic & Overrated Trends (1:21:36) Most Misunderstood Hormone in Women's Health (1:22:49) Symptoms Women Normalise (1:25:10) Walking, Nature & The Greatest Gift (1:27:24) Lab Markers — Vitamin D & Ferritin (1:31:59) Wellness in Your 40s & 50s (1:40:20) Where to Find Dr. Cheryl Kam

7. juli 20261 h 42 min
Forsidebilde av episoden #89 Quinntessential Questions with Rishi Khare | Building a Business Is About Building You

#89 Quinntessential Questions with Rishi Khare | Building a Business Is About Building You

In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Rishi Khare, Founder and CEO of Thrymr Software. From being fired twice by large corporations to building a 100-person software company over 14 years, Rishi shares his transformation journey and the rock bottom moment when seven of his nine core leaders walked out. He discusses why he chose peace over profit, how therapy and the Stanford Seed program restructured not just his business but himself, and why fixing your company starts with fixing you. Rishi also opens up about quitting his job without telling a single person, a co-founder showing up at his door two days later with nothing but the words "I'm here, let's work", and the decade of chaos that followed. He shares powerful lessons about building businesses that last, leading through crisis, and what it really means to rewrite your own character. Whether you're stuck in a corporate role that doesn't fit, building a company through its most painful chapter, or questioning what you're actually chasing, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on entrepreneurship, identity, and the business of building yourself. Let's explore the mind of a builder who chose peace over a paycheck. WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b RISHI KHARE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishikhare?originalSubdomain=sg Thrymr Software: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrymr-software/ 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: (00:00) Introduction (01:31) Rishi's Background & Thrymr Software (06:14) Is Terminator Going to Happen? AI & the Future (10:34) Growing Up in India — The Stability Generation (19:05) How Brutal Is It to Get Into IIT? (25:46) The Uncle Who Planted the Entrepreneurship Seed (27:29) Aerospace Engineering — Flying Planes at IIT (31:24) Getting Fired Twice (32:19) Quitting With No Plan in His Early 30s (33:05) The Co-Founder Who Knocked on His Door (35:46) Working Two Shifts for 10 Years to Bootstrap (36:24) Turning Down Acquisitions — Peace Over Profit (43:52) The Logistics Client That Raised $200M From SoftBank (45:19) Stanford Seed, Business Coaching & Therapy (49:45) When 7 of 9 Core Leaders Walked Out (53:43) Why Growth at All Costs Will Kill Your Business (1:02:52) Working Across Global Cultures — Germany, India, Singapore (1:09:18) Rewriting Your Character (1:12:04) 5 Takeaways for Every Entrepreneur 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. #Entrepreneurship #FounderStory #SoftwareDevelopment #PersonalDevelopment #Leadership #CareerPivot #BuildingBusiness #MindsetShift #PeaceOverProfit #StartupLife #BusinessCoaching #SelfDevelopment #SingaporeBusiness #TechFounder #PaulQuinn #QuinntessentialQuestions

30. juni 20261 h 16 min
Forsidebilde av episoden #88 Quinntessential Questions with Dinah Poehlmann | She Managed Millions. Now She's Helping You Manage Yours.

#88 Quinntessential Questions with Dinah Poehlmann | She Managed Millions. Now She's Helping You Manage Yours.

In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Dinah Poehlmann, Founder of Your Finance Mind and Finance Mindset Coach. From living paycheck to paycheck as a child to spending 14 years across investment banking and private banking, Dinah shares her transformation from banker to entrepreneur — and the accidental WhatsApp group that started it all.She discusses money mindset, overcoming financial fear, self-directed investing, and why the number you're chasing for retirement is totally irrelevant. Dinah also opens up about leaving a high-powered banking career to become a stay-at-home mom, and how a single message to 30 people became the foundation of a coaching business that helps everyday professionals and entrepreneurs take control of their finances.Whether you're stuck in a scarcity mindset around money, unsure how to start investing, or simply want to build a healthier relationship with your finances, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on money psychology, wealth building, and what it actually means to live a truly rich life.WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81bDINAH POEHLMANNLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinah-poehlmann/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.quinntessentialquestions.com/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(04:53) Starting in Credit Management During 9/11(08:29) The Move Into Private Banking: "I'm Not a Salesperson"(10:04) Standing Out Without an Ivy League Pedigree(12:23) Visibility, Human Connection, and the AI Threat to Careers(15:05) Why Most People Never Ask — and What It Costs Them(18:05) Living Abroad: The Discomfort That Makes You Grow(20:05) The WhatsApp Group That Accidentally Started a Business(24:24) Scaling From One-on-One to Group Coaching(29:13) Unpacking Your Money Stories and Why They Block You(33:18) How Couples Handle Money Differently — and Why It Matters(38:15) Why Even Bankers Don't Manage Their Own Money(39:43) What Living Abroad Does to Your Mindset(44:53) The Collapse of Private Banking and the Rise of AI(51:01) Killer Instinct: The Pattern Behind Every Successful Person(54:43) Fight Your Fear and Ask for What You Want(56:39) A Rising Tide Raises All Ships: Building Teams That WinDisclaimer: 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.#FinanceMindset #MoneyMindset #WealthBuilding #PersonalFinance #Investing #FinanceCoach #WomenAndMoney #MoneyStories #FinancialFreedom #SelfDirectedInvesting #PaulQuinn #QuinntessentialQuestions #Podcast #SingaporePodcast #CareerChange

23. juni 20261 h 1 min