Chief Change Officer #131 From Family Empire to Personal Legacy: Chris Quek’s Bold Quest for Independence - Part One
Christopher Quek has always sought to chart his own course.
In this two-part series, we unpack his remarkable journey. Chris, a third-generation member of a well-established family business in Singapore, chose to walk away from family expectations to pursue entrepreneurship in Malaysia. After returning to Singapore, he sold his inheritance to launch TRIVE, a venture capital firm that reflects his vision and independence.
This episode delves into his quest for self-identity—the reasons behind his bold moves and how he made them a reality.
Next time, we’ll discuss his current work as a VC investor, his ambitions for the entrepreneurial landscape in Southeast Asia, and his thoughts on legacy and family at this stage in his life.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:Father’s Furious Expectations: When a Third-Gen Heir Sneaks Out of the Family Business
"I couldn't stand all the pollution that the manufacturing plant was producing. And finally, after three days, I sneaked back to Singapore and my father saw me. He got angry. He shouted at me."
Family Education 101: Learning P&L Over Dinner with Dad, Where Burgers Come with a Side of Calculating Profits
"He would take me out to restaurants. And he forced me to start calculating out the revenues. He will start telling me like, what do you think is the expenses behind this? And I had to start learning a profit and loss statement just by that very visible conversation itself."
Beyond the Textbook: How Mentorship Shaped Chris' Evolution
"I'm a product of my mentors in my life. So I'm the number two and number three mentors were also very successful businessmen."
Owning My Identity: Mr. Quek or Just Mr. Quek’s Son?
"There was already a trigger point in my value system that was I going to continue as a the next generation of business owners to continue polluting, just to make money for the sake of money."
Finding My Way: From Circumstances to Self-Fulfilment
"It was more of circumstances and situations and opportunities that just appeared. If you ask me like some certain crossroads in my life, for example, heading off to Malaysia instead of China I felt that was the right thing to do."
The Adventure of Self-Discovery: Uncovering Hidden Layers of Yourself at Every Stage
"Give you a little bit of the element of what at every stage is about really discovering yourself, which is really an exciting journey. You don't realize that you have actually a lot of things about yourself that you haven't discovered. "
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Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Christopher Quek
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--Chief Change Officer--
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--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.
Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.
EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 1% Podcast.
Top 5 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.
>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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