What inspired you to start a podcast focused on small businesses in Hong Kong?
I started my own social media marketing agency when I moved to Hong Kong. It was exciting but also lonely. I was new to the city and didn't have a network. I quickly realised that without strong connections, growing a business becomes much harder. So I created Asian Business Owners not only to meet other founders and grow my business, but to truly connect with them. I was looking for real conversations and relatable stories of founders willing to share their struggles, doubts, pivots and small wins.What started as a way to connect has since become a medium for founders, with close to 100 episodes.
Who is your ideal listener, and what do they typically walk away with after an episode?
My ideal listener is a business owner experiencing the journey of building and growing a business in Asia and navigating the ups and downs that come with it.After an episode, listeners walk away with two things: a powerful story that resonates with them - a moment where you might think "I've felt that too" - and precious, hard-earned lessons from founders willing to share honestly, helping listeners feel less lonely in their journey.
What's been the most surprising lesson you've learned from the entrepreneurs you've interviewed?
The most surprising lesson is that even the most successful founders still question themselves. Exits, growth and headlines don't remove doubt = they just change its shape. Success is rarely a straight line. It's messy, it takes time, and it often requires continuing even when you feel tempted to stop.A business evolves as founders evolve in life. Hearing that repeatedly has been reassuring for me, and I hope it is for the listeners too.
How do you find and choose which small business stories to feature?
I look for stories that resonate - founders who are building something sustainable and are willing to talk about what it really takes. That includes the trade-offs, hard seasons, transitions and moments of uncertainty that aren't featured on social media.
Where can our members listen, and is there a particular episode you'd recommend starting with?
The podcast is available on all major platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, and more.
If you're new to Asian Business Owners, Carmen suggests starting with two episodes that capture exactly what the show is about:
- Ariane Zagury, founder of Rue Madame Fashion Group — "She Moved to Asia Pregnant and Jobless. Now She Runs 50 Fashion Stores."
- Gianne Chan, founder of Lexe Media — "When Your Business Gets Shut Down: How Gianne Pivoted and Built Even More."
Need a space to record, create or collaborate?
Whether you're recording a podcast, hosting a workshop or running a client presentation, our meeting rooms across Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Sheung Wan are available to book by the hour or by the day — fully equipped with HD screens, video conferencing and whiteboards.
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