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Category: Before We Get There

  • Michael Thompson on Game Design, Grit, and Two Decades on the Mats

    Michael Thompson on Game Design, Grit, and Two Decades on the Mats

    Intro

    Michael Thompson is a UX and game designer turned educator who has worked on some of the world’s biggest titles, including FIFA, NBA Live, and Need for Speed. After nearly two decades in the video game industry, he transitioned into teaching, helping the next generation of designers learn how to create meaningful, immersive experiences.

    In this conversation, Michael shares how he went from growing up on Vancouver Island to working at Electronic Arts and Ubisoft, the creative highs and burnout that come with game development, and how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu became his lifelong anchor. We talk about creativity, perseverance, and what both games and martial arts can teach us about learning, ego, and endurance.

    Story Highlights

    • Moving from Vancouver Island to Singapore to join Electronic Arts
    • The reality behind “dream jobs” in the gaming industry
    • Working on major franchises like FIFA, NBA Live, and Need for Speed
    • The challenges of creative burnout and career transition
    • What 20 years of Jiu-Jitsu taught him about persistence and humility

    Quote

    “If anything, Jiu-Jitsu has taught me it’s just perseverance. You keep going in any endeavor, whether it’s a career-based endeavor or something in your life. Most people, most of the time, will quit. If you just keep going, you’re going to be the successful one at the end.”

    About Michael Thompson

    Michael Thompson is a Canadian UX and game designer, educator, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt based in Singapore. Over his career, he has held senior roles at Electronic Arts and Ubisoft, contributing to global franchises such as FIFA Online, NBA Live, and Ghost Recon Phantoms. Today, he teaches at DigiPen Institute of Technology in Singapore, where he trains aspiring designers to combine technical skill with creative empathy. Outside the classroom, he continues to train and teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at FAMA and SG Grappling.

    Why This Conversation Matters

    Michael’s story bridges two worlds — the creativity of game design and the discipline of martial arts. His reflections on failure, teaching, and consistency reveal how mastery is built over time, not through talent alone. Whether in art, sport, or life, his message is simple: stay curious, keep showing up, and never stop learning.

    Turning Points

    After more than 15 years in the games industry, Michael hit a wall. The long hours, intense deadlines, and constant creative churn had taken their toll. He decided to pivot to teaching, first at Singapore Polytechnic and later at DigiPen. In parallel, he deepened his commitment to Jiu-Jitsu — a practice that taught him patience, humility, and resilience. His journey from “dream job” to meaningful work reflects how success can evolve from ambition to impact.

    Key Lessons

    • Dream jobs have trade-offs. Passion doesn’t erase pressure.
    • Persistence beats talent. Keep showing up — that’s how you get better.
    • Creativity is discipline. The best ideas come from consistency, not chaos.
    • Teaching gives perspective. Sharing knowledge sharpens your own craft.
    • Movement is meditation. Physical practice grounds the mind.

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  • Eliza Koo on Motherhood, Courage, and Building a Business from the Heart

    Eliza Koo on Motherhood, Courage, and Building a Business from the Heart

    Intro

    Eliza Koo is a marketing professional turned lactation consultant and founder of Tender Loving Milk, a practice dedicated to supporting new mothers through breastfeeding and early parenthood. After more than a decade in B2B tech marketing, she made the leap from corporate life to entrepreneurship — while pregnant with her third child.

    In this episode, we talk about how Eliza made that bold transition, the doubts and tears that came with it, and what it means to build a business around purpose rather than safety. She shares what she’s learned about anxiety, identity, and the importance of listening to your body — and why she now defines success not by income, but by freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment.

    Story Highlights

    • How corporate burnout led her to start Tender Loving Milk
    • Studying, volunteering, and launching her business while raising two kids
    • The fear and courage behind leaving a stable job for purpose-driven work
    • Why success means more than money — it means freedom and alignment
    • How she’s now helping other working mothers through life coaching

    Quote

    “I just needed to stop and go figure myself out. I had to come to this place of acceptance that I have to chase my dream without my mom’s approval.”

    About Eliza Koo

    Eliza Koo is a Singapore-based entrepreneur and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She is the founder of Tender Loving Milk, which provides lactation consultations, workshops, and resources for new parents. A former tech marketer with regional experience, Eliza now helps families navigate the challenges of early parenthood while also coaching working mothers through major life transitions. Her work bridges compassion, education, and empowerment — helping parents thrive, not just survive.

    Why This Conversation Matters

    Eliza’s story is about courage in transition — trading certainty for purpose and redefining what success means. Her reflections on anxiety, motherhood, and entrepreneurship reveal the emotional reality behind career change. It’s a conversation about choosing alignment over approval, and learning that strength can look like slowing down.

    Turning Points

    Eliza’s journey to entrepreneurship began while she was still in corporate marketing, studying for her lactation certification, volunteering, and managing pregnancy and parenting all at once. The real turning point came during maternity leave, when she realized that returning to the corporate world made her body “shrink.” Choosing instead to build her own practice, she embraced the uncertainty with courage and support from her family. A year later, she found herself not only running a thriving consultancy but also guiding other mothers through their own journeys of identity and growth.

    Key Lessons

    • Listen to your body. Alignment shows up as calm, not anxiety.
    • Courage comes before confidence. You grow by taking small brave steps.
    • Redefine success. Freedom and fulfillment are currencies too.
    • Boundaries sustain purpose. Rest and structure protect creativity.
    • Community heals. Support from family and peers turns fear into strength.

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  • Kyson Xu on Personal Branding, Perseverance, and Building a Career with Heart

    Kyson Xu on Personal Branding, Perseverance, and Building a Career with Heart

    Intro

    Kyson Xu is a marketing professional, content creator, and LinkedIn storyteller whose thoughtful posts on career growth, resilience, and authenticity have made him one of Singapore’s most relatable marketing voices. A former business development executive turned regional marketer, he’s built his career across industries — from education to FMCG to tech — while steadily growing his personal brand online.

    In this episode, we talk about Kyson’s journey from failing his A-levels to finding his footing in marketing, how he overcame imposter syndrome, and what it means to build a career that’s not just successful but meaningful. He shares lessons on LinkedIn growth, fatherhood, leadership, and how to keep showing up even when life doesn’t go as planned.

    Story Highlights

    • How failing his A-levels became a turning point in his life
    • Moving from business development to marketing
    • Growing an authentic personal brand on LinkedIn
    • Lessons on engagement, content, and community
    • Redefining success as balance, not status

    Quote

    “You fall down seven, you get up eight. That’s the spirit I think all of us should have, regardless of whatever environment we’re caught up in. It’s always about moving forward, understanding what worked, what didn’t work, and how we can do better.”

    About Kyson Xu

    Kyson Xu is a Singapore-based marketer and content creator known for his authentic, high-engagement presence on LinkedIn. With a background spanning sales, FMCG, and technology, he has built a career rooted in curiosity and resilience. Kyson is also a husband and father, balancing work, family, and personal growth while mentoring young professionals on building sustainable careers and personal brands.

    Why This Conversation Matters

    Kyson’s story is a reminder that success isn’t linear. His journey from academic setbacks to professional stability shows how persistence, self-awareness, and authenticity can redefine what achievement looks like. For anyone navigating uncertainty or feeling behind, this episode offers perspective on progress, humility, and the quiet power of consistency.

    Turning Points

    After failing his A-levels, Kyson questioned everything — his education, his direction, his worth. Over time, he found clarity through small steps, moving into business development and later into marketing, where his curiosity and people skills flourished. His transition into tech and content creation gave him the freedom to combine creativity and impact. As he built a family, he also redefined success: not as position or pay, but as balance, kindness, and fulfillment.

    Key Lessons

    • Authenticity builds trust. Your real voice attracts the right audience.
    • Failure is feedback. Every setback helps refine your direction.
    • Consistency compounds. Show up, even when it’s uncomfortable.
    • Work-life balance is built, not found. Life comes before work.
    • Success is kindness. Leadership is about integrity and care.

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  • Mathew Yuhico on Creativity, Courage, and Learning to Keep Making Things

    Mathew Yuhico on Creativity, Courage, and Learning to Keep Making Things

    Intro

    Mathew Yuhico is a video producer, visual storyteller, and creative all-rounder whose journey has taken him from the Philippines to Singapore — from designing corporate campaigns to producing stories for VICE. Along the way, he’s learned what it means to build a creative career, navigate burnout, and rediscover joy in making things for their own sake.

    In this episode, we talk about how Mathew moved from graphic design to video production, how a rap video landed him a job at VICE during the pandemic, and why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become his anchor outside of work. It’s a conversation about creativity, courage, and finding meaning in the process, not the outcome.

    Story Highlights

    • Growing up in a creative family and discovering art through his mother
    • Transitioning from business school to visual design and storytelling
    • Making a viral rap video that got him hired by VICE
    • How burnout changed his relationship with creativity
    • What Jiu-Jitsu and filmmaking have in common

    Quote

    “If anything, Jiu-Jitsu has taught me it’s just perseverance. You keep going in any endeavor, whether it’s a career-based endeavor or something in your life. Most people, most of the time, will quit. If you just keep going, you’re going to be the successful one at the end.”

    About Mathew Yuhico

    Mathew Yuhico is a Singapore-based video producer, content creator, and storyteller. Originally from Manila, he studied at Singapore Management University before beginning his career in PR and design. His creative path led him to VICE, where his innovative approach to visual storytelling helped shape their digital and social content. Outside of media, he’s a dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and continues to create personal films exploring emotion, mental health, and everyday life.

    Why This Conversation Matters

    Mathew’s story is about following creative instincts even when the path isn’t clear. From rejection to reinvention, his journey reminds us that growth doesn’t always mean climbing a ladder — sometimes it’s about rediscovering joy in what you do, making things for yourself, and learning to embrace imperfection.

    Turning Points

    After starting in business school, Mathew realized his true interests lay in design and visual storytelling. He built a small portfolio through freelance projects and eventually transitioned into video. During the pandemic, after losing his job and a planned move to film school, he took a bold risk — submitting a rap video as his job application to VICE. That video went viral, earning him the role that would change his career. Today, whether he’s filming, training Jiu-Jitsu, or creating short pieces about life, Mathew continues to chase meaning through creativity, not metrics.

    Key Lessons

    Do it for the joy. Not every project needs to be a career move.

    Make time for what feeds you. Creativity needs space, not just deadlines.

    Start before you’re ready. You can figure it out as you go.

    Perseverance outlasts talent. Keep showing up — that’s what matters most.

    Let yourself evolve. What fulfills you at 25 may change by 30.

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