#goalsConfidential: Michelle Lim, AMC Networks, Singapore

Meet Michelle Lim (and Biscuit Buxton).  I “met” Michelle on LinkedIn where I was fascinated by her location – Singapore.  It is one of the most exciting countries to work, and I have yet to still visit.  Learn more about Michelle as she takes us through her career trajectory and…Vivienne Westwood.

What do you do?

I started as a promotions producer for network television. Now, 17 years later I have a small consultancy business advising and overseeing business operations in Asia Pacific for New York based TV network, AMC Networks International.

Can you tell me about where you grew up? How did that influence you?

Born and bred in Singapore, I was constantly surrounded by American pop culture thanks to my parents. My earliest memory comprised a sensory tapestry made up of the likes of Led Zeppelin, Simon & Garfunkel, black and white Hitchcock films and I Love Lucy. Growing up in a meritocratic society like Singapore, a lot of kids were pushed to pursue fields like accounting, engineering and law by their parents. Seeing that I had become a helpless pop culture geek, I’m sure it wasn’t the easiest thing for my parents to go against the norm and send me off to pursue my BA in Media in Australia.

If you were your own coach, what coaching would you give yourself right now?

I read this as part of a quote from author Danielle LaPorte recently and it’s become part of my personal affirmation: “If you round out your edges, you lose your edge.” In the past, I “softened” to make myself more amiable, more accepting of what others expected or perceived of me. But I’ve learnt that authenticity is a big part of what makes a good leader great and it’s definitely proven true that authenticity is essential when I’ve had to steer a ship in rough waters and I’ve had to ask my team to ride out the storm with me.

What ritual or routine has improved your life the most?

My #tgif lunchtime pilates practice and a monthly facial. Setting the time for self-care is crucial, especially as schedules get more hectic.

What piece of clothing, food or self-care practice makes you feel beautiful?

I have my few favorite designer pieces that I’ll go to. For a night out, definitely a dress from Vivienne Westwood. For something artsy, Pleats Please by Issey Miyake. Well-made clothes just go so much further than fast fashion.

What have you learned from other cultures that has influenced your work?

That one size definitely does not fit all. I’ve had to launch and manage a TV channel with American-centric content in countries with really different social and cultural nuances. Having this kind of international exposure has been a huge education because I have had to deal on a daily basis with individuals from all over Asia, from Seoul to New Delhi, where work situations and office life are handled very differently in each country.

Originally posted 2018-03-27 08:14:59.