Voices from Our Community: I Got You Series
Andrew Tan: Country Manager of Wantedly and co-founder of Asia Startup Network, shares how wellbeing and giving back drives a company’s mission and leads to business success
“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” This quote serves as Andrew’s north star and guides him in his professional endeavours at HR Tech company Wantedly, and also Asia Startup Network (ASN), volunteerism, including as a career mentor, and his dedication in raising his two young boys with his wife.
Here the die hard Liverpool fan shares why giving back directly benefits an organisation, and how discovering personal values contributes to a purposeful life…
Describe a significant moment or time when you were able to show up for someone and say ‘I got you’?
I was just three months into my role at Wantedly, desperately finding the best strokes to swim in a deep pool, when the pandemic hit. As a hiring platform, our business took a nosedive. Beyond our numbers, the reality was that the world had entered a VUCA (short for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) environment, with it being a job crisis everywhere, and almost everyone around me was displaced or was at risk of it.
I took up the mantle of helping displaced jobseekers and talents entering an uncertain job market, and my pro-bono efforts to support any jobseeker included job matching and career coaching.
What was most impactful was the friendships formed; we bonded when they knew it was alright to open up about feeling vulnerable in a VUCA (short for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) environment, and that I would always be there to offer a safe and trusted space, and to provide encouragement and optimism.
As I celebrate my 6th anniversary at Wantedly this year, I look back at those early days and believe that that was the moment when I found a calling to support jobseekers with their careers, something that I still actively do today.
In your journey helping others find their career purpose and advocating for doing social good in the startup ecosystem, what is one unconventional or lesser-known truth about mental health that you wish more people knew about?
The common misconception about startup founders is that endless hustle and bustle is the only way to succeed. I have spoken with enough entrepreneurs to know that it is not only untrue because it is not sustainable, it is detrimental to one’s mental health.
Founders are beginning to be mindful that building and leading a startup is a marathon, not a sprint. While we can’t be slow, we need to be steady, and that means pacing ourselves and finding the right times to shift gears accordingly for the right opportunity, rather than go full throttle until we ourselves or our teams experience burnout and break down.
And that to me is the greater impact because founders are responsible for the mission and its people - your mission attracts the talents, and your people help achieve this mission.
Entrepreneurship should never be a zero sum game with a win-at-all-costs approach because people are not dispensable tools. Leading and being responsible for our teams means helping individuals fulfil their purpose, not just in the company, but in their personal development goals too.
Being intentional in building a company, a product, and a team to achieve the mission is win-win-win. People who are fulfilled, and well, will be able to contribute better at work, increasing engagement, productivity and innovation which directly impacts business success!
This means that a thriving startup will be closer to solving that problem the founder had first set out to solve. The community, society, and even the world, will be in a better place as a result.
Can you share an example of when leaning on community has helped in your journey as both a co-founder, ecosystem builder and mental health advocate in your personal journey?
We usually only realize we need help when we are in the midst of struggling, and that is what happened to me. It was a combination of the prolonged pandemic, burnout from work and juggling multiple commitments that resulted in what I describe as “being in a funk”, leaving me feeling unmotivated and uninspired.
And even though I did not know it at the time, I was able to receive external support through my ongoing obligations because my teammates, volunteers and community members would regularly check in on me.
It also made me aware of the concept of having a “garbage tank” that was full and needed emptying. Through immediate support from my wife and intentional next steps of mental decluttering, I was able to recalibrate and rejuvenate.
When I recovered, and the opportunity to advocate for mental health came about, I led mental wellbeing events for ASN with the goal of helping the startup community heal and thrive together.
It is a virtuous circle; I have found my purpose in this community and that is to give back to a group that helped me bounce back from my challenging period.
What are three things you practise as part of your mental wellbeing journey?
1.
Giving back
– I believe that giving back is the gift that keeps on giving; it’s about paying it forward. It’s extremely fulfilling to know that I am able to improve someone’s life, or at least make his or her day better. And the hope is that in turn they can then help someone else. This is my chicken soup for the soul.
2. Learning – I have had to relearn being curious because as I get older, especially in this age of AI, information comes too easily. I am inspired just by watching my children and seeing how curiosity is such a driving force that comes naturally as part of their development. With an open mind, I’m committed to learning more about wellbeing for my children, my loved ones, my community and for myself. A shout-out to my wife, who is my strongest advocate on this wellness journey.
3. Decluttering – I like to think I’m sentimental, but I may have inherited a hoarding tendency. Aside from physical possessions, I also tend to accumulate plenty of tabs on my browser, and even more “mental tabs” in my mind. Before, I thought I thrived while multitasking, and that I was a natural at juggling different balls. I have learnt that there will come a time when there are too many balls in the air, and if we are not intentional, not just one but all of the balls will fall. Decluttering, and setting boundaries, are part of my current season and what I’m working on for my wellbeing.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Andrew!
Read the other features from the ‘I Got You’ series
Michelle Choy: Mom of six, therapist, and parenting coach shares the power of holding space and accepting help
About the ‘I Got You’ series
We all need someone in our corner. And as we are accepted for who we are, we can then be that someone for others. The “I Got You” series is a nod to how interconnected our mental wellness and community are.
As part of Over-The-Rainbow’s milestone launching our Academy, we brought together cherished partners from our ecosystem in a meaningful sharing of lessons and reflections around their wellbeing journeys and the role that community had in it.
A note from The OTR Academy
After 13 years supporting youths and families, Over-The-Rainbow has launched our Academy with
a first-of-its-kind program where individuals can now join and practice with the largest community of like-minded practitioners and professionals.
The journey in mental wellbeing begins with you, the moment you decide to take ownership of your own wellbeing. As a trained Wellbeing Champion and Wellbeing Mentor, you are at the heart of your own wellbeing circle and in a pole position to provide support for the wellbeing of your friends, your loved ones, and those in your immediate network.
Take charge today. Enrol and apply for a seat at the OTR Academy - and get certified to be a Wellbeing Champion!