Entrepreneur Kheng Lian Ho of RED CLUB x Cartier on how she lives and breathes conscious leadership

Before joining the Singapore chapter of RED CLUB x Cartier as a founding member in 2022, Kheng Lian Ho was already a young business leader dedicated to making change in the world. Open Circles, a retreat and conference business she co-founded in 2018, was launched to serve investors, entrepreneurs, creatives, and NGOs who are keen on solving global problems.

Having embarked on her entrepreneurial journey a decade ago, during which she worked in and ran several investment and advisory firms, she had often felt lost and struggled to find mentorship and support. And it is through her experiences that her commitment to learning from others and uplifting them has grown stronger than ever. 

For four years, she was part of international think tank Milken Institute’s Young Leaders Circle, which is a community of cross-industry professionals focused on accelerating progress towards a meaningful life. When RED CLUB x Cartier came calling, she took up a leadership position as an executive committee member. 

With the recent conclusion of the 2024 ceremony for the RED CLUB x Cartier Young Leader Award (YLA), which celebrates innovative global entrepreneurs striving for good, she tells us more about the meaning of conscious leadership, which is a key tenet of the club, as well as her motivations and guiding principles.

Tell us more about the RED CLUB x Cartier community.

It consists of carefully curated members from 11 countries worldwide. I became a part of this community because the core values of Red Club x Cartier align perfectly with my own. It is also a space where I can connect with individuals who have faced similar challenges, allowing me to learn from their experiences. 

Executive committee members also represent the interests of respective chapters, act as a bridge between them, and help shape the club’s direction in collaboration with Cartier’s team.

At the core, Cartier initiated this programme to empower Red Club x Cartier members to support the next generation of leaders. I resonate deeply with this mission, and now, I aim to share what I’ve learnt and uplift others. Especially at Turn Capital where we acquire controlling stakes in stressed, underperforming, growing consumer technology companies, and help turn them profitable. There, we often work with entrepreneurs who need guidance, encouragement, and support to regain their momentum.

The YLA is a key result of this mission, which sees Red Club x Cartier members collaborate with the house of Cartier to empower emerging social entrepreneurs running impact-driven businesses. Through YLA, we mentor, elevate, and support these individuals. Our members are actively involved in various aspects, such as rallying global applications, screening candidates, and assisting YLA winners in growing their businesses. It has been a true joy to give back. 

Moreover, the community curated for Red Club x Cartier is a high-achieving, diverse and multicultural group. We are entrepreneurs who have lived in various cities and navigated the challenges of building businesses and lives in new environments.

Having lived between Singapore, Hong Kong, and the US over the past decade, connecting with others who have similarly sought balance in unfamiliar settings has given me an authentic and supportive environment that helps me thrive.

What sparked your drive in community-building?

First, I do not believe in networking; I believe in building genuine relationships. My investors at Turn Capital, partnerships I develop for our portfolio companies, and advisors I can call on anytime, stem from connections that were cultivated without any agenda. I wanted to create a space for others to be able to do so as well. 

Second, despite the growing interconnectedness of our world, the world continues to operate in silos. Having lived and worked globally and collaborated across cultures, I understand the value of collaboration and strive to facilitate connections that drive innovation and tackle pressing global issues. This inspired me to co-found Open Circles, which is designed to expand networks of knowledge and friendship and foster collaboration between the East and West, as well as among Eastern countries

Third, I have personally experienced how meaningful conversations in impactful settings can spark creativity. In 2016, I attended a panel at Summit At Sea, where 2,000 curated industry leaders, including Eric Schmidt, Quentin Tarantino, and Erin Brockovich, gathered for four days on a cruise ship off Miami. The panel featured an Israeli and a Palestinian, both of whom had lost their wives and mothers due to the conflict. 

Rather than embracing hate, they chose non-violent methods of reconciliation. Their stories brought tears to my eyes and made me reflect on how I show up in the world and how I can use my abilities and resources for good. Although the conflict has sadly escalated in recent times, that panel inspired me to create Open Circles.

How have these experiences shaped your leadership approach, and importantly, your life?

At Open Circles, I learnt the importance of fostering genuine relationships and creating inclusive spaces for collaboration. This emphasis on community-building has reinforced my belief that leadership is about empowering others and facilitating connections that drive innovation.

Being in the Milken Institute’s Young Leader Circle exposed me to a global network of thought leaders and changemakers. There, I honed my skills in strategic thinking and understanding the broader economic and social implications of our work. This experience taught me the value of informed decision-making and the importance of aligning initiatives with long-term impact.

At RED CLUB, I embraced the principles of conscious leadership, focusing on ethical decision-making and social responsibility. This role deepened my commitment to nurturing emerging leaders and promoting diversity within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Together, these experiences have shaped my leadership style to be more empathetic, collaborative, and purpose-driven. I invest a lot of time in getting to know my colleagues professionally and personally, understanding their concerns and needs, and finding ways to help them succeed. These interactions have also enriched my life by connecting me with diverse perspectives and inspiring me to drive meaningful change.

How do you define conscious leadership?

To me, conscious leadership is characterised by a heightened awareness of one’s impact on others, a commitment to creating positive impacts on individuals, communities and the environment, and a deep sense of purpose. It involves leading with empathy, transparency, and a strong sense of responsibility, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration. This intentionality in actions, decisions, and interactions creates positive outcomes for individuals, teams, organisations, and society as a whole. My purpose is to drive excellence, joy, and community.

What are some projects you’ve been involved in within RED CLUB?

Aside from YLA, each RED CLUB x Cartier member is encouraged to create or lead initiatives that nurture the next generation. With Cartier’s support, I organised a mentorship dinner titled “The Future of Singapore”. I gathered 30 founders at various stages — early, growth, late, and exited — who were able to connect and learn from one another, leading to investments, lasting mentorship relationships, and valuable collaborations. 

An interesting collaboration saw a venture capitalist personally fund an NFT artist’s exhibition and a gallery owner’s opening because they met at dinner. Notable attendees included Japan football legend and venture capitalist Keisuke Honda, Jonathan Shen from Golden Duck, Abhishek Gupta from Circles.Life, Teh Hua Feng from One Championship, Valenzia Yap from Policy Pal, Roshni Mahtani from theAsianparent, and K-pop star and founder of Mindset Eric Nam. 

Is there a turning point where mentorship or collaboration through RED CLUB played a critical role in your journey?

I was profoundly moved and awakened to the female empowerment movement when RED CLUB x Cartier took us to the World Expo in Dubai and guided us through Cartier’s Women’s Pavilion. “You cannot be what you do not see” and that we have to “un-stereotype the world” are quotes that have stayed with me ever since.

Now, as a female founding general partner of Turn Capital, a technology-focused fund, I understand I have a responsibility to use this position to inspire the next generation of women to recognise that they, too, can step into leadership roles in male-dominated industries and break through any glass ceiling. I will be creating dialogues with the Prime Minister’s Office around female empowerment in Singapore in the upcoming months, and I continue to actively advise and support the Cartier Women’s Initiative. 

The 2024 edition of the Young Leader Award is themed “Tech for a Sustainable Future”. 

The purpose of YLA is to recognise, support, and scale timely and socially impactful businesses. Themes are chosen based on timeliness, relevance, and impact on society.

Given the Southeast and Oceania region’s environmental and social concerns and the increasing role of technology in creating a sustainable future, this 2024 theme shone a light on young technology-driven solutions that are shaping the future of people and planet in a sustainable way for a better world.

What would you say to encourage aspiring young change-makers to apply for this award?

Step forward so we can celebrate and honour the impactful work you’re doing in the world. As an unsung hero, you truly deserve this recognition. Use our YLA platform to amplify and further your important contributions.

What advice would you give to them in making a difference in their industries?

Focus on the fundamentals. At Turn Capital, our success has come from building numerous companies while keeping costs low and prioritising positive unit economics and profitability. It may seem basic, but it’s easy to over-spend on marketing and chase inflated revenue figures without paying attention to the bottom line. Ultimately, don’t scale until you find the right product-market fit. Scale to maximise profit, not just for growth — avoid over-scaling.

Entrepreneurship is a beautiful but most uncomfortable journey. Be bold, be kind and be collaborative. Embrace uncertainty as your new normal. Build a support network with people you can be vulnerable with during tough times, who will also be the first to celebrate your smallest victories in good times. 

Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals as an entrepreneur?

My long-term goal as an entrepreneur is to significantly expand Turn Capital’s assets under management and develop other innovative strategies later on that drive impactful investment opportunities. I also want to continue building and contributing to the tech ecosystem while gaining the knowledge and connections needed to drive positive global change. 

I am committed to promoting female empowerment, supporting the arts through my work with the Singapore Repertory Theatre, and leveraging Open Circles to foster collaboration and equip the next generation of leaders with the tools to make a meaningful impact in their communities and industries.