What does a board director actually do—and how do you build a career beyond one job? Wong Su-Yen joins Adrian Tan to discuss the responsibilities, risks and realities of board service, alongside speaking, teaching and self-employment.
Drawing on her leadership and consulting experience, Su-Yen explains how she manages parallel careers, discovers her strengths and builds a support network. The conversation offers a practical look at preparing for independent work and deciding when to hire help.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:30 Meet Wong Su-Yen
01:24 From music to marketing
02:00 Consulting and leadership
02:45 Choosing board roles
04:17 Managing parallel careers
07:09 What board directors actually do
11:38 Her first board role
13:54 Responsibilities and risks
19:06 Managing multiple board roles
22:19 Speaking and teaching
23:56 Balancing different kinds of work
24:44 Discovering your strengths
27:04 Trying new things
29:38 The realities of self-employment
30:21 Building a supportive community
34:26 Preparing for self-employment
40:00 Managing your time
43:03 Hiring support
44:29 Closing thoughts
Connect with Su-Yen: https://www.suyenwong.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suyenwong/
Original episode sponsor: Deel — https://www.deel.com/adriantan
More from Adrian: https://www.adriantan.com.sg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/
