Microsoft x Parents in Tech: Managing Career and Family Goals with Seow Khun

 Meet Kevin Chan, a proud father of six-year-old twins and Global Partner Solutions Lead. He and his wife moved from Seattle, USA, to Singapore to raise their children closer to their own Southeast Asian roots. With over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, Kevin has a unique perspective on balancing technology and parenting. He's passionate about helping his children build strong connections with their cultural heritage and believes that moving abroad has benefited their family in many ways. Kevin's experiences and insights make him a perfect guest for parents considering a similar move. To get in touch with Kevin Chan, find him on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kevinhpchan Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

Get ready to meet Cynthia Yeo, a powerhouse in the tech industry and a dedicated parent to three beautiful children. With over a decade of experience at Microsoft, Cynthia has climbed the corporate ladder while expertly balancing her career and family life. As the leader of the Enterprise Commercial Team in Microsoft Singapore, Cynthia inspires others with her resilient spirit, which she attributes to her strong and resourceful mother. You'll love her candid and honest stories of overcoming personal challenges and her commitment to helping her children flourish through independence and accountability. Cynthia's journey is a true testament to the power of resilience and determination.   To get in touch with Cynthia Yeo, find her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cynyeo   And the websites available are: microsoft.com (Company) microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics/crm.aspx (Customer Engagement Solutions) microsoft.com/en-gb/dynamics/crm-trust-center.aspx (Dynamics CRM Trust Center) Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

Bryan Chua, a Senior Solutions Architect at Microsoft in Singapore, talks about his family, his views on technology and parenting, and the values he and his wife want to teach their children. Bryan believes in exposing his children to technology and educating them on its benefits, but also setting boundaries and limits on usage. He emphasizes the importance of caring for others and sharing as values he and his wife want to teach their children. This conversation also touches on AI, its impact on the future of work and creativity and provides valuable advice for parents looking to balance their career and family goals. To get in touch with Bryan Yang, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykbryan/?originalSubdomain=sg Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

In this episode, I speak with Seow Khun, a mother of four who embraces a hybrid lifestyle offered by technology as part of her efforts to provide her children with an equitable upbringing. Seow Khun is the Public Sector Lead for Microsoft in Singapore. A mother of four boys who is fervently pursuing a certificate in disability studies and has a strong interest in utilizing technology to assist children with special needs. In this episode, Seow Khun discussed how to provide employees the flexibility to truly control their work and home life balance, and how this is enabled by Microsoft's core principles of respect and honesty. To get in touch with Seow Khun, find her on: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/lumsk   Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line.

My special guests are Daniel and Michelle.   Daniel and Michelle, co-founders of Nimbus Group, an office and home cleaning service provider. They share their experiences working together, building a business, and parenting their nine-year-old daughter. Daniel and Michelle discuss their previous attempts at working together and how they learned to separate their work and personal lives. They also talk about the importance of having clarity on roles and responsibilities and how they have divided their responsibilities to avoid conflict. As the business has grown, they have been able to improve their work-life balance and set boundaries to avoid work talk before 9 am. The couple also shares their approach to parenting, which centers on fostering their child's individuality and intrinsic motivation. They prioritize cultivating their daughter's love for learning and exploring diverse interests, rather than solely focusing on grades and academic success.   To get in touch with Daniel and Michelle, find them on LinkedIn:https://sg.linkedin.com/company/nimbus-for-work Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech, or drop me a line. PARENTS IN TECH - MIXPANEL EPISODE SHOW NOTES   Guest: Daniel and Michelle Daniel and Michelle are co-founders of Nimbus Group, a provider of corporate and residential cleaning services. They discuss working together, establishing a business, and raising their nine-year-old daughter, Camellia. Working Together as a Couple Daniel and Michelle have been together for over five years, and they know that a successful relationship requires effort from both parties. They understand that working together as a couple is the key to making their relationship last. From communication to problem-solving, both Daniel and Michelle are willing to put in the necessary effort to ensure that their relationship is strong and healthy. They recognize that it takes two people to make a relationship work, so they strive to be understanding of each other’s needs and compromises when necessary. By working together as a couple, Daniel and Michelle hope to create an environment of mutual respect, trust, and love in their relationship. Separating Work and Personal Life Daniel and Michelle have been struggling to keep their work and personal lives separate. They both find it hard to switch off from work when they get home, which is taking a toll on their relationship. Fortunately, there are methods that can help them achieve a better balance between their professional and personal lives. These include setting boundaries around when they can talk about work, such as avoiding talking about work after dinner or during weekends. They can also try using tools such as time blocking to make sure they stick to their schedule and have dedicated time for both work and leisure activities. Integrating family and relationships  Family and relationships are complex, yet incredibly important aspects of...

The theme for this episode is raising confident and secure children. We examine two books — Raising a Secure Child and Raising Good Humans. Raising a Secure Child, written by Kent Hoffman, Glen Cooper, and Bert Powell John, was published in 2017. This book helps us as parents to understand how our childhood experiences, psychology, and attachment styles affect our parenting, and is packed with practical tips. The book introduces a concept called the "Circle of Security" to frame Attachment Theory ideas. At the top of the circle, children need a secure base from which they can explore the world. At the bottom of the circle, they require a safe haven to return to. Children go around the circle, sometimes very quickly, and it is the job of their parents or caregivers to follow their needs while being "larger, stronger, smarter, and kind" throughout the process. The book is divided into two parts – the first introduces us to the circle and how healthy development happens when parents understand attachment and the importance of security. The second talks about how parents can create and maintain the circle. The second book we are going to talk about is Raising Good Humans, written by Hunter Clarke-Fields. With mindfulness as its focus, this book examines ways in which increasing our awareness of what is occurring inside our bodies can help us be more purposeful and present parents. This book delves into the reasons why it is so difficult to be a good parent, as well as what we can do to effect long-term change. It also offers a peek into a child’s brain that causes difficult behavior. The book is also divided into two parts. In the first part, parents learn how mindfulness can help them lessen their stress response and become more compassionate. Parents can then become conscious of their own stories and figure out what is triggering them. Self-compassion comes after as the most important attitude for positive change. The first section concludes with tools on how to deal with unpleasant emotions. The second part teaches parents communication skills that will result in greater cooperation from their children and an improvement in the relationship. It suggests how we, as parents, help our children solve their own difficulties by listening to them, without resorting to threats. The common principle across these two books is the importance of developing a healthy attachment with our children, in addition to being aware of the triggers and challenges as parents.   So, what will we be discussing in the next few minutes? We will summarize the key takeaways across three key areas: Attachment Security and Support Exploring our core sensitivities as parents   Welcome to the Parents in Tech Book Club! In each episode, we summarize lessons and takeaways from two best-selling parenting books, so you can save time, get your dose of parenting advice and get back to our families and careers.

The theme for this episode is how children learn. We examine two books – the eponymous How Children Learn by John Holt and The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies. These two books discuss different foundations and methods to help understand how our children acquire and absorb information. How Children Learn by John Holt was first published in 1967, and then revised in 1983. In 2017, a 50th anniversary version was published with a new prologue, although the content remained substantially the same. He wanted to create change by dissociating education from schooling, with the belief that children do not need and, in fact, would be better off without compulsory schooling. He concluded that learning in freedom for children was best. In this book, he describes in detail and with several examples, what natural learning is. Natural learning is when there is no anxiety or fear, pressure or manipulation by the parents. The book helps us understand why it is important to allow children to develop their own mental processes and discusses how children learn to speak, read or pick up other skills like sports, art or math. In addition, the book discusses the importance of games, fantasy and, curiosity on the child’s  mind development. The second book we are going to check out will be The Montessori Toddler, written by Montessori educator Simone Davies. Montessori is a word we as parents hear a lot – from the advertisements of pre-schools to conversations with other parents. This book introduces what the Montessori method is, and talks about the practical parenting strategies that will support a child's development. So what is the Montessori method? Most teachers in traditional education stand up in front of the class and decide what kids need to learn. This is called a "top-down" approach. In the Montessori method, there is a dynamic relationship between the child, the adult, and the environment. In this dynamic, the child is in charge of his or her own learning. The child is then supported by the adult and the environment. The materials for learning are laid out on shelves in sequential order from easiest to hardest. The child works at their own pace with the material, following their interest at that moment. Next, the teacher or parent observes the child, and when it seems he or she has mastered it, the teacher or parent will give them a lesson with the next material. In other words, the kid is in charge of what they learn, how they learn, and how fast they progress. Simone' book describes how educational values utilized in a Montessori classroom can also be used at home. She describes a variety of Montessori activities, that we as parents, can conduct with our children.   I believe that both books complement each other well. The common principle both emphasize is to trust our children in the learning process. Joh Holt’s book provides a foundation and concepts about children's learning, such as the impact of us parents pushing our kids to learn. Simone’ book then comes in with a vast catalog of activities on how we as parents can avoid exerting this pressure. So, what will we be discussing in the next few minutes? We will summarize the key takeaways from each of the 6 topics. Creating a safe space to learn Curiosity Language & Reading Sports, Art, and Experiential Activities Fantasy Other takeaways on learning   Welcome to the Parents in Tech Book Club! In each episode, we summarize lessons and takeaways from two best-selling parenting books, so you can sav...

The theme for this episode of Parents in Tech Book Club is developing and nurturing our children's minds. We examine two books by New York Times bestselling authors Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph. D., in which they deep-dive into the “why” of our children's behavior and the “how” for our kids to reach their full potential. The first book is titled "The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child", and the second is titled "The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind". The first book takes a more practical approach, distinguishing the yes brain from the no brain, and then categorizing yes brain characteristics into four fundamentals: Balanced yes brain Resilient yes brain Insightful yes brain Empathic yes brain The book includes strategies and ideas for implementing these fundamentals. The second book provides a science-based explanation of how a child's brain works, dividing the brain's integration process into five concepts: left and right brain integration, vertical and horizontal integration, memory integration, self-integration, and self-integration with others, as well as providing 12 tactics based on these concepts. So, what will we be discussing in the next few minutes? We will summarize the key takeaways from each of the six topics. Understanding the child's brain Balance Resilience Insight Empathy Memory   Welcome to the Parents in Tech Book Club! In each episode, we summarize lessons and takeaways from two best-selling parenting books, so you can save time, get your dose of parenting advice and get back to our families and careers.

The theme for this episode of Parents in Tech Book Club is communicating with children. We look at two best-selling parenting books. The first book was first published in 1982 and has been called “the parenting bible” by many media outlets such as The Boston Globe. This book is none other than "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk" by Adele Faber and Elaine Malzish. Fast forward 3 decades, the daughter of one of the authors, Adele, was inspired by her mum and wrote her own book, which is the second book we will talk about today - "How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7." by Julie King and Joanna Faber. Joanna is the daughter of Adele, and more than 300,000 copies of her book has been sold to-date.  The two books complement each other very well, and when read in conjunction, they provide fantastic tools to help improve a parent-child relationship. They are very similar in content because they follow the same philosophy, although Joanna and Julie in their book provide more tools targeting kids with special needs. Both have sample dialogues, role-playing exercises, and cartoons that are both funny and insightful – if you are interested to practice the advice you have heard on this podcast, definitely do check the books out.   So, what will we talk about in this episode? Both Adele and Joanna's books focus on helping us as parents to communicate with our children. We will summarize the key takeaways across 8 topics. Here goes: Helping children deal with their feelings Engaging cooperation Alternatives to Punishment and Tools for Resolving Conflict Problem Solving Encouraging Autonomy Praising Freeing children from playing roles When our child is suffering with autism or sensory issues   Welcome to the Parents in Tech Book Club! In each episode, we summarize lessons and takeaways from two best-selling parenting books, so you can save time, get your dose of parenting advice and get back to our families and careers.

Growing up with a liver transplant, training for the Ironman triathlon, and sharing what life is like as a stay-at-home dad in tech. I talked to Cliff Tam on how he decided to become a nurturing hands-on dad to spend more meaningful time with his family.   At a very young age, Cliff was diagnosed with cancer and went through a successful liver transplant. Despite growing up immuno-compromised, he went on to become an Ironman triathlete and gave up his career in tech and in Christian ministry to be present with his children.    Cliff, who was born and raised in Canada, is now based in Singapore. He enjoys each moment with his family. He is a father of two daughters, aged 3 and 5, and married to his beautiful wife, Rachel. He is clear with his priorities - making his kids feel loved and secured. Putting his daughters through homeschool allows him to have a closer bond with them. We also speak about how it is easier to complete the Ironman triathlon than it is to be a parent.    To get in touch with Cliff Tam, find him at clifftam.com.    Don’t forget to head over to www.parents.fm to stay up to date with new and previous episodes, join our community of parents in tech or drop me a line.