5 quotes on leadership, finding inspiration and self-empowerment

In season seven of Gen.T’s Crazy Smart Asia podcast, we heard the unexpected stories of a heel-wearing Buddhist monk, a celebrity chef, a record-breaking powerlifter and more. Here are five of our favourite quotes from the episodes

This week, Gen.T concluded the seventh season of our Crazy Smart Asia podcast with an episode filled with nuggets of wisdom from the guests that have been featured. In conversation with Gen.T’s Chong Seow Wei, we delved deep into the minds of each guest to discover untold stories of their journey—from what makes them tick to their hopes for the future.

Some of the guests included fashion entrepreneur Rachel Lim of Love, Bonito; Buddhist monk and LGBTQ+ activist, Kodo Nishimura; and celebrity chef Andre Chiang.

For the final episode of this season of the podcast, we selected five of our favourite quotes and takeaways, which you can read below. You can also listen to the full episode by clicking the player below. Subscribe to Crazy Smart Asia via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

André Chiang, celebrity chef

Above Celebrity chef André Chiang is the brains behind multiple successful restaurants including three Michelin-star restaurant Le Jardin des Sens in France and Raw in Taipei (Photo: André Chiang

On building the dream team, episode 4

“You don’t manage and motivate your team. You manage their goal and then you motivate their dreams. There will be a million things that you manage every single day, so you manage their goals instead. [Your team] needs to find purpose in what they do and who they want to become.”

Kodo Nishimura, Buddhist monk and LGBTQ+ activist

Above Japanese monk Kodo Nishimura is a global LGBTQ+ icon, author and makeup artist who has found the sweet spot between his religion and queerness (Photo: Masaki Sato)

On finding enlightenment, episode 6

“Buddhism encourages anyone to be themselves. One of the teachings that I really love is a song about the moonlight. It says, ‘Just like the moonlight shines onto the whole town, everybody can decide to look up to the moon and appreciate the beauty.’ Just like that, the mercy of Buddha welcomes everybody and enlightens anyone. I might be homosexual, but it does not matter.”

Farhanna Farid, record-breaking powerlifter

Above Farhanna Farid is a two-time Asian champion and a four-time national champion powerlifter who accidentally found herself in the sport (Photo: SBD Singapore)

On going the distance, episode 3

“If you want to go far and you want to enjoy what you’re doing, you can’t do it alone. Being able to do what I want to do is a privilege. And yes, I can complain and whine about it, but I need to remember that I chose this. No one pinned it on me. And I think that keeps me going.”

Rachel Lim, co-founder of Love Bonito

Above Rachel Lim, co-founder of Love Bonito, dropped out of school to start the fashion brand and has helmed the company for over twenty years (Photo: Rachel Lim/Love Bonito)

On discovering life outside of work, episode 5

“It took me a long time to recognise that there is more to life than work. There is this quote that says, ‘If you want to be first-rate at your work, work can’t be all that you are.’ You also need to be able to explore and find growth, excitement and adventures in different parts of your life. And I think that, for me, is such a great reminder that while work is important, don’t let it consume all of you at the expense of what’s important to you.”

Christine Amour-Levar, co-founder of Woman on a Mission and Her Planet Earth

Christine Amour-Levar has scaled the world’s tallest mountains and braved the harsh conditions of the most remote environments (Photo: Christine Amour-Levar)

Above Christine Amour-Levar has scaled the world’s tallest mountains and braved the harsh conditions of the most remote environments (Photo: Christine Amour-Levar)

On the massive power of little steps, episode 7

“My mom calls me a little ant—like a little ant that works every day, little by little, bit by bit. And over the years, I see a pattern. I don’t just talk about ideas, I actually execute them. I put follow-through behind them and I realise over time that it doesn’t have to be one huge step. Just like that, it has to be little incremental steps.”

Quotes are edited for clarity and brevity.

Listen to the episode and subscribe using your preferred podcast platform on our Crazy Smart Asia podcast page.

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Topics

Podcast Crazy Smart Asia André Chiang Kodo Nishimura Buddhism Athlete Rachel Lim Love Bonito Christine Amour-Levar Farhanna Farid