#298 Chris Quek: From Inheritance to Identity

Chris Quek could’ve stayed in the family business and lived comfortably. Instead, he chose a life of uncomfortable clarity.  In this first of a two-part series, Chris shares how he rejected expectations, fled the legacy he was born into, and built an e-commerce business in Malaysia with nothing but grit and guidance from mentors. Now 46, he reflects on what identity really means when you’re not handed a playbook—and how each phase of reinvention brings you closer to your core. For Gen Xers rewriting their lives mid-game, this is the kind of conversation that sticks. >>When Legacy Isn’t Your Story “I didn’t want to be the son of Mr. Quek. I wanted to be me.” Chris explains why he left his family’s manufacturing empire and fled to Malaysia—where he started over, with no plan, no capital, and no title. >>Courage Is Quiet “I lasted three days in China. Then I left. I couldn’t do it.” He unpacks the emotional and ethical discomfort that made him walk away from his father’s factory—and the fear he had to face to forge his own path. >>Lessons from the Streets of Malaysia “My startup wasn’t sexy. It was survival.” Chris shares how he built a cross-border e-commerce business using payment hacks, logistics hustle, and gut instinct—long before VC buzzwords existed. >>Mentorship Over Money “I didn’t inherit wealth. I inherited wisdom.” Raised around entrepreneurs and sharp thinkers, Chris reflects on how informal mentoring—from car rides to restaurant napkins—shaped his business thinking. >>Every Decade, Rediscover Yourself “At every stage, I found a new part of me I didn’t know existed.” Chris traces his 20-year journey through reinvention—from entrepreneur to advisor to VC—and why he believes identity isn’t found. It’s built, season by season. _____________________ Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Christopher Quek   --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.<<< See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.