Meet Valerie Chow Kum Yeen, a seasoned Marketing and Branding Consultant with over 15 years of experience across Retail, Insurance, and Trading industries. Currently freelancing and serving as a strategic partner in a start-up, JFourth Solutions, Valerie brings comprehensive expertise in 360-degree marketing and business management. Having successfully navigated two career pivots, she now seeks her next career transition, driven by a passion for excellence and innovation.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your family?
I grew up in a small town, Kuantan in Malaysia and further my undergraduate studies in Singapore.
A big change from learning completely in Bahasa to English and moving to a big city.
I started my career at Nike in product marketing and developed a strong retail career before going to study for my MBA in Tokyo, Japan on a Monbukagusho Scholarship from the Japanese government.
One of the best times of my life to stay and experience a new culture, traveling as well as studying. I always have had a learning mindset till today and I love to learn and grow myself further.
Have you had any formal training or family business?
Studied my undergraduate at the National University of Singapore and then further my graduate studies with an MBA at Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo Japan.
It was retail management experience that broaden my exposure in business operations, marketing, merchandising to people management – one of the best times working in team environment and building teams to drive business.
Then, I moved into the Financial industry and focused more on marketing management roles.
How did you come up with the idea for your business, and what was the process of turning that idea into a reality?
Currently I am in transition to back into corporate world capitalizing on my marketing and business acumen to provide a holistic marketing strategy and growth building in future roles.
I have both hands-on and strategic knowledge in marketing from my various past experiences.
The agility, flexibility and learning to plan marketing and branding activities to support GTM strategies and business growth is important as a marketer with a focus on business goals.
Currently, as a marketing partner at JFourth Solutions, building a consulting experience.
How have you grown as a leader since starting your company, and what have been some of the key lessons you've learned along the way?
Learning to be flexible, and be out of my comfort zone are key to building oneself, especially in transition. Being adaptable and pick up new skills such as sales pitching and building connections for collaborations are key to build oneself as solo leader.
Can you tell us about a time when you faced a major setback or failure in your business, and how you overcame it?
One of my setbacks when one of the retail brands that I had managed was not doing well and led to it closing in Singapore and some markets in SEA region. It was a trying time as I put in a lot of effort to make a last push for the brand to continue onwards in the market.
Unfortunately, the brand’s designs could not appeal to the local market and consumption was low vs the high costs of running it. Eventually, had to close it and fortunately the retail team was able to be absorbed to other businesses. It was hard to close a brand after building it for a few years.
Lesson learned is understanding the sophisticated Singapore market better and bring a brand that has strong proposition vs competitors.
It was to be sold fast fashion but it was not fast fashion style in the Singapore market.
How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals, especially during challenging times?
The goals set need to be achievable and stretchable to drive to it. Plus, having a good team that work together and support each other.
How do you balance your personal life with the demands of running a business?
I am a daily meditator and yoga practitioner plus occasional Qigong too. I believe a good balance of body, mind and soul. A constant reminder to release the stress and ensure there’s a good balance mood hormones in oneself.
What are your plans for the future of your business, and how do you see yourself evolving as a founder and leader?
I used to think that a leader needs to sacrifice everything for the team. Now with working with diverse generations with different perspectives.
It is good to have a balanced view and make teams accountable for their actions. In building oneself is to lead through others.
Leveraging on my mentoring and coaching experiences helped evolve me into a leader who drives change within others rather than through titles.
If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Get mentors and sponsors early in career and build deeper relationships with people as collaboration and support are gaining more importance in an everchanging world and landscape of work.
What's the most important lesson you've learned from a failure, and how have you applied it to your business?
Before launching a brand or product into a cutthroat market such as Singapore, do some scenario planning and predict the trends and projections for the future business.
And, do it internally and externally to test out the business especially if there is a fixed cost of setting up physical locations and people.
What's the most meaningful compliment or feedback you've ever received from a customer, and why did it resonate with you?
They have a wonderful experience with the product and service and will continue to be loyal customers to the brand. Loyalty is hard to build and true customers will come back.
If you had to choose one thing that makes your company truly unique and sets it apart from the competition, what would it be, and why?
I would say personally to set myself apart from others is to have an authentic voice and brand for oneself whether in the corporate world or running a business.
This will show your authentic self and what you truly stand for. As a thought leader in your area of expertise and knowledge.
Your soft skills will be shown by how you write and speak to showcase yourself.
And, the more you stand out for what you believe in, the more you inspire others with your stories.
Find Valerie Chow on Social Media:
> LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriechow
> Instagram – vchow8
> Email address: [email protected] (to reach out for marketing and coaching services)
> Link to my career pivot story in the book “Shaken, Stirred but Not Deterred†https://www.amazon.sg/dp/9811851328 (Singapore site)
https://www.amazon.com/Shaken-Stirred-But-Deterred-Determination/dp/9811851328 (US site)
Hope you enjoyed reading Valerie Chow’s story!
Do write to us if you'd like to share your story with the women community of SOROR - The Sister's Edit.
At SOROR - The Sisters Edit, we've crafted a vibrant community where resilient and accomplished women come together to share their skills, passions, and journeys. Our platform is a hub for professional expertise, personal experiences, lifestyle insights, and more.
But we can’t do it alone.
We invite you to take an active role in this movement. Join us by creating an account on our website, where you can contribute your own blogs. It's an opportunity to connect with readers on a deeper level, providing them a window into your world. Let's initiate meaningful conversations, spark a constructive dialogue, and exchange knowledge that propels us all forward.
So, take the next step in your journey of empowerment. As your voice, thoughts, knowledge matter. YOU matter and WE need you. Hope you enjoyed reading Victoria Rennoldson’s story!
Do write to us if you'd like to share your story with the women community of SOROR - The Sister's Edit.
At SOROR - The Sisters Edit, we've crafted a vibrant community where resilient and accomplished women come together to share their skills, passions, and journeys. Our platform is a hub for professional expertise, personal experiences, lifestyle insights, and more.
But we can’t do it alone.
We invite you to take an active role in this movement. Join us by creating an account on our website, where you can contribute your own blogs. It's an opportunity to connect with readers on a deeper level, providing them a window into your world. Let's initiate meaningful conversations, spark a constructive dialogue, and exchange knowledge that propels us all forward.
So, take the next step in your journey of empowerment. As your voice, thoughts, knowledge matter. YOU matter and WE need you.
Team SOROR
( Singapore )