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Join us for a panel discussion. This session will offer a rare, unfiltered look at what it truly takes to start and sustain a business.
Learning Objectives
1. Expose the Hidden Struggles of Entrepreneurship – Understand the emotional, financial, and personal costs behind running a business.
2. Explore Personal Challenges – Gain insight into self-doubt, leadership struggles, and the pressure of success.
3. Examine the True Cost of Success – Learn about the impact on relationships, mental health, and identity.
4. Learn from Real Failures and Regrets – Hear raw, honest experiences that go beyond rehearsed success stories.
5. Understand the Ethics of Business Decisions – Discuss the moral gray areas founders navigate.
6. Debate Passion vs. Practicality – Explore whether entrepreneurship is truly about passion or survival.
7. Engage in Thought-Provoking Discussion – Encourage audience participation in questioning success, failure, and legacy.
Speakers
Narita Cheah, CEO & Founder, Paperspace
Narita Cheah is a trailblazer in the world of workplace design, with a career spanning over 25 years. As the co-founder and director of Paperspace Asia, a regional multidisciplinary design collective, she has revolutionized the way office spaces are conceived and executed. Narita's vision is rooted in the belief that collaborative partnerships and diverse perspectives are essential for creating truly people-centric spaces. Her pragmatic approach balances real-world challenges with strategic goals, enabling projects to progress seamlessly from vision to reality.
Today, Paperspace Asia continues to create stunning spaces that transcend the boundaries of conventional office design, with a mission to accelerate business performance through workplace strategy and design. Narita’s passion lies in unlocking the secrets of bridging diverse talents and believing that magic happens when they collaborate.
Matthew Howe, Founder/ Farmer/ Designer/Tinker, Grobrix
Founder of Urban Farmer Urban Farmer Grobrix USA · Full-time Grobrix USA Former Foreign Exchange Sales at BNP Paribas Former Equity Derivatives Trader at Deutsche Bank
In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, where convenience often takes precedence over connection, the relationship between people, food, and nature is increasingly overlooked. For Mathew Howe, this disconnection sparked a passion to create a solution that brings the experience of growing food back into people’s daily lives—while also educating them on sustainability and food origins.
What began as a family hobby quickly transformed into a mission as Mathew saw how deeply disconnected we had become from the origins of our food and the importance of sustainability in daily life. After launching Grobrix to consumers in 2021, Mathew quickly recognised the broader potential of the business by integrating interactive greenery solutions into workplaces, creating engaging environments that inspire employees to connect with food production and the environment.
Today, Grobrix’s beautifully designed vertical farm walls grace the offices of some of the world’s most dynamic organisations—from KPMG, Johnson &Johnson, American Express and LinkedIn, where they empower teams to grow together, learn about sustainability, and share in the bounty of their urban farms, to Marina Bay Sands and W Singapore Sentosa Cove, where Grobrix provides a true farm-to-table experience. Fresh produce grown on-site is used directly in meals, helping to bridge the gap between where food is grown and where it’s served.
Through Grobrix, Mathew is not just transforming spaces, but also cultivating a culture of shared growth, sustainability, and community. For him, Grobrix is much more than a product; it’s a movement to bring the essence of farming into urban spaces and create meaningful connections with the environment.
Louise Courtice, Co-Founder, Equate
Louise has 16 years of experience in the furniture industry across Australia and Asia, specializing in sales, team leadership, and operational management. She is passionate about creating memorable client experiences, building trusting relationships, and developing solutions to meet diverse (and ever changing) customer needs. With a deep understanding of the industry and a strong client-focused approach, Louise aims to make a lasting impact and enhance service standards in the furniture world.
Adler Poh, CEO, Adler Hostel, Adler Group
Adler Poh is a dynamic business leader and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience driving growth and innovation across the hospitality, real estate, and coworking industries. Formerly Business Development Director for WeWork Asia Pacific, Adler managed business development activities across Southeast Asia, Australia, and South Korea, while partnering with franchisees in India, Greater China, and Japan. During a period of significant company restructuring, Adler successfully retained 90% of accounts and partnerships, demonstrating strong leadership and crisis management skills. Adler also spearheaded the launch of WeWork’s Global AI campaign in Singapore, establishing the region’s AI hub in collaboration with industry leaders.
Prior to WeWork, Adler conceptualized and built Adler Hostel Singapore, the “World’s First Luxury Hostel.” During its nine years of operation, Adler Hostel achieved over S$1 million in annual revenue. As President of the Singapore Backpacker Alliance during the COVID-19 pandemic, Adler successfully advocated for the industry, engaging with government agencies to secure critical operational policies. Adler has embarked on a new entrepreneurial venture in the snack food industry, building upon their extensive experience in hospitality and business development. A seasoned speaker and industry advocate, Adler brings a wealth of expertise in entrepreneurship, business development, and crisis management, making Adler a valuable voice on innovation and leadership.
Moderators
Su San Tan, Founder, Workwise Design
With over 20 years of experience in workplace strategy, change management, and resilience skills training and leadership coaching, Su-San helps organisations create environments that support people to flourish and business to thrive. She founded her own consulting firm in March 2023, after working as a senior director and director at MMoser Associates and Space Matrix, both leading workplace design and build company in Asia.
She collaborates with clients and design partners to develop solutions for workplace environments that are physically, mentally, and socially conducive to positive transformation. As a lecturer in Resilience and Organisational Wellbeing at The School of Positive Psychology, she applies strengths-based approaches to facilitate constructive conversations and creative engagement among the stakeholders of the workplace projects. Her mission is to help people love going to work, whatever that looks like and wherever that may be.
Steve Louie, Designer, Educator, Mentor, IIDA, ASID, NCIDQ
Principal, and Design Director with Gensler for almost 30 years. Lead teams on major multi-national accounts, such as Goldman Sachs, Becton Dickinson, and Zurich Insurance. Started the London office which has grown to over 200 people. Relocated to Japan and opened the Gensler Tokyo office . Resided in Asia for 20 years, serving clients in Singapore, Shanghai, South Korea, Thailand, and Japan. Clients include CapitaLand, Athenee Plaza Hotel, and Siam Commercial Bank.
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