On this episode of Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different, we are treated to an inspiring conversation with Carylyne Chan, a startup founder, investor, and advocate for autonomy and entrepreneurship.

This episode is part of the “Creator Capitalist Conversations” miniseries, which emphasizes the importance of taking control of one’s career and life. Carylyne’s journey from a challenging upbringing in Singapore to becoming a successful entrepreneur in various sectors, including AI and blockchain, offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to carve their own path.

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Getting to know Carylyne Chan

Carylyne’s story is one of choosing herself rather than waiting to be chosen. As we go further into the episode, we dive into the emotional and psychological aspects of making significant life changes, particularly the leap from traditional employment to entrepreneurship.

Carylyne begins her story by recounting her upbringing in Singapore, where she faced significant challenges, including a turbulent family life. At the age of 14, she took her first internship at the National Environment Agency, which sparked her interest in understanding how people work and the importance of teamwork. This early experience laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial spirit.

Carylyne Chan and her Leap to Entrepreneurship

As Carylyne transitioned from high school to college, she continued to pursue her passion for entrepreneurship. She participated in hackathons and collaborated with friends who shared her interests. This led to the creation of a startup focused on AI chat summarization before it became a mainstream concept. Their journey took them to an accelerator program in Hawaii, where they worked tirelessly to grow their business.

Carylyne then discuss the emotional challenges that accompany the entrepreneurial journey. She highlights the importance of recognizing when one has outgrown their current situation and the courage it takes to make a change. She believes that the biggest risk is not quitting a job that no longer serves you but rather staying in a life that feels unfulfilling.

Discovering Her Superpower

The conversation shifts to the concept of identifying one’s unique strengths or “superpowers.” Carylyne acknowledges that her path to self-discovery has been complex and filled with trial and error. Initially, she viewed herself as an operational person, someone who gets things done. However, as she navigated through her first formal startup, she realized that her skills extended beyond operations to include marketing, design, and leadership.

Christopher and Eddie discuss the significance of emotional intelligence in Carylyne’s success. They highlight her ability to remain calm amidst chaos, a skill that has been honed through her upbringing and experiences. Carylyne’s capacity for rapid synthesis—quickly learning and distilling complex information into actionable narratives—has been a cornerstone of her work as an advisor and entrepreneur.

To hear more about Carylyne Chan and her entrepreneurial journey, download and listen to this episode.

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Bio

Carylyne Chan is a Singapore-based entrepreneur and the Co-Founder and former CEO of CoinGecko, a leading global cryptocurrency data platform.

With a background in psychology and marketing from Carnegie Mellon University, she blends analytical thinking with strategic vision to drive innovation in Web3 and fintech.

Carylyne is also a startup advisor and frequent speaker on blockchain, digital assets, and entrepreneurship, recognized for her role in advancing transparency in the crypto space.

Links

Connect with Carylyne Chan!
Website | LinkedIn | X (formerly Twitter)

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#108 Maria Dramalioti-Taylor, Beacon Capital