At my last job interview, the hiring manager pulled me aside and said he had concerns about my “influencer status.”
That was the moment I realised I’d become unemployable. And honestly? It was the best thing that ever happened to me.
The backstory
I spent over a decade co-founding and running RecruitPlus, a recruitment firm I built from scratch to over 3,000 placements and SGD 30M in total billings over a decade. We won HR Vendor of the Year, made the Global Recruiter Asia Pacific shortlist, and pulled off what was probably Singapore’s first viral YouTube recruitment campaign — 2 million views before that was even a thing.
Then I sold out, tried a few other things, worked for other people, and somewhere along the way realised the corporate world and I had grown apart.
In 2021, I went solo. No employees, no office, no boss. Just me.
I failed at self-employment once before — that story’s in the book. The second time, I figured it out.
What I do now
These days I’m a Fractional CMO for HR tech companies — helping founder-led, growth-stage businesses with marketing strategy and content that actually moves the needle.
I also write, podcast, and occasionally show up on stage.
📖 Author — No More Bosses (Penguin Random House SEA) — a candid guide to sustainable self-employment for mid-career professionals
🎙️ Podcast Host — Rolling Stories, where I host CHROs and HR leaders on their journey and their take on HR tech
🎙️ Former Co-host — CNA’s Work It podcast
✍️ Writer — blogging since 2014 at adriantan.com.sg on the future of work and life beyond the hamster wheel
Who this newsletter is for
If you’re a mid-career professional quietly wondering whether there’s a smarter, freer way to work — this is for you.
I write about solopreneurship, personal branding, the future of work, and what it actually looks like to build a sustainable career on your own terms. No fluff. No hustle porn. Just honest, practical stuff from someone who’s lived it.
Work with me
Fractional CMO for HR tech vendors
Speaking & moderation for your next event
