Realising the impact of job displacement on older workers, Anson Kuah determined to provide reskilling opportunites.
What’s your story?
I co-founded @ASK Training to bridge the gap between industry needs and workforce skills. My background as an operations manager for multinational corporations exposed me to the challenges faced by colleagues displaced from their jobs, especially later in their careers. This experience fuelled my commitment to empowering individuals with practical, future-ready skills.
Witnessing the stress and uncertainty of job displacement first-hand profoundly impacted me. It underscored the importance of supporting and guiding those navigating career transitions. Driven by this realisation, I dedicated myself to creating training and resources that help people build resilience and forge new career paths.
What excites you most about your industry?
The desire to make a significant impact on individuals’ careers and lives. Seeing our training programs transform people’s skills and confidence fuels my drive to innovate and push boundaries in the industry.
What drives you in your career to push beyond what other people consider normal?
Resilience and adaptability. In today’s fast-changing industry, being able to pivot quickly and learn from challenges has been crucial to our success and growth.
What have been the most useful skills you have learnt and applied in your journey?
One of the most valuable skills I’ve learned on my journey is effective leadership—specifically, the ability to delegate, empower, and build a loyal, authentic team. Establishing a training school with a wide range of specialized courses and scaling operations required a team that’s both competent and aligned with our vision. Striking a balance between trust and competency was crucial, ensuring that each member took ownership of their roles while supporting one another. Actively seeking talented professionals and giving them the space to excel has been instrumental in @ASK Training’s growth and success.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
The best piece of advice I ever received is to always be authentic. For both business and personal growth, it’s essential to stay true to who you are. Everywhere I go, I make it a point to be myself and not put on a mask, whether in business settings or personal interactions. Authenticity fosters genuine connections and trust, which are crucial for long-term success. Embracing who you are is key to self-discovery, and this has guided me throughout my journey, allowing me to grow and lead with integrity.
Who inspires you?
My inspiration comes from resilient individuals like my mother, who battled cancer multiple times with strength and faith. Her journey taught me the power of perseverance, balance, and self-compassion. She showed me how to let go, not be too hard on myself, and bounce back after setbacks.
Professionally, Lee Kuan Yew’s leadership philosophy inspires me, particularly his commitment to putting the nation’s interest before self. I apply this by prioritizing my business’s needs and making objective decisions. His belief in succession planning also resonates with me, as I aim for @ASK Training’s mission to thrive long after I’m gone.
What have you learnt recently that blew you away?
I’ve learned recently the critical importance of value alignment in partnerships. A failed business collaboration last year highlighted that despite a promising start, misaligned values and working cultures can lead to conflict. This experience underscored that shared vision and core values are essential for successful collaborations. It re-focused us on what truly matters for @ASK Training’s long-term success: ensuring alignment in values and objectives among all stakeholders. Although we can’t satisfy everyone, clear value alignment guides us in making decisions that benefit the company’s future. This has been a transformative lesson in choosing partners wisely.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
One thing I’ve always regretted is not doing well in my academics during my younger years. I believe my life would have taken a different path if I had performed better. While this became a driving force behind my hard work and led me to where I am today, I sometimes wonder how things might have been if I had done well academically.
How do you unwind?
I find balance through simple but meaningful activities, like spending time with my family and colleagues. Their companionship and support have always been my anchor, helping me recharge and disconnect from work. I also enjoy singing and playing pool as well. It’s a fun way for me to relax and bond with the people around me.
What is a major mindset change, belief shift or ‘ah ha’ moment that you’ve experienced in relation to your career?
A major “ah ha” moment for me was realising that true success isn’t just about profits or the number of courses we offer. I often remind myself that I am an educator first, and a businessman second. Our focus must be on providing education that positively impacts our learners. When we prioritise delivering real value, profitability will naturally follow. This mindset shift led us to design courses that help individuals successfully navigate both their personal and professional journeys. It’s also why our company’s vision is to empower a million lives across Southeast Asia by 2030.
Everyone in business should read this book:
The Culture Fix by Will Scott. As a successful businessman in the U.S., Scott emphasises the importance of being structured and using core values to build a strong company culture. His frameworks for embedding values into the daily operations of a business is something I truly believe and have been implemented at @ASK Training. Aligning personal values with business values to create a solid foundation mirrors how we operate, with our core values guiding every decision we make.
Shameless plug for your business or career:
@ASK Training offers high-quality, competency-based training programs for both individual learners and corporate clients. As a SkillsFuture Singapore-appointed Continuing Education and Training Centre (CETC), we offer a wide range of courses, from IT to Digital Marketing, designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s job market. Many of our courses come with government subsidies, making them more accessible. We are dedicated to enhancing learning and boosting productivity through effective training solutions. Our curriculum team conducts thorough training needs analyses and collaborates with trainers to deliver programs aligned with the industry’s needs, ensuring maximum impact and positive outcomes.
How can people connect with you?
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anson-kuah/?originalSubdomain=sg
Social Media Links?
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASKTraining.Singapore/
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ask.training.sg/
This interview is part of the CallumConnects series.