Скачать или смотреть From Failed IPO to Global CEO: Coffee Meets Bagel’s Shn Juay on Modern Love and Crisis Leadership

Shn Juay didn’t feel “ready” to be COO in her twenties.
She didn’t feel ready to be CEO in her thirties either.

Today, she leads Coffee Meets Bagel as its Worldwide CEO — after scaling homegrown dating app Paktor across Asia, navigating cultural expansion challenges, and surviving a failed IPO attempt on the New York Stock Exchange.

In this episode of Atypical Asia, Shn speaks with host and former journalist Debbie Yong about startup leadership, crisis communications, ruthless prioritisation of her time, and what it really takes to build a company in one of the most competitive tech sectors in the world.

They discuss:

[00:00] Why she initially rejected the COO and CEO titles
[05:00] What a failed IPO taught her about crisis leadership
[07:54] Her trial by fire and how public scrutiny became an unexpected blessing in disguise
[11:14] How Paktor failed twice in Korea before succeeding
[16:08] Why “ruthless prioritisation” is essential for leaders — especially working mothers
[18:34] Generalists vs specialists, and how startups outgrow their pioneers
[20:47] Why global experience matters more than depth alone
[21:39] Why she left dating for gaming — and why her heart brought her back.
[22:30] The paradox of dating apps

If you're a founder, business operator or community leader thinking deeply about leadership, innovation, and how Asia builds for the long term, you'll want to tune in.

About Atypical Asia
Atypical Asia is a podcast about unconventional leaders, innovative business rebels, and the human stories shaping modern Asia — beyond the stereotypes.

New episodes drop fortnightly. Subscribe for more conversations, or collaborate with us: www.atypicalasia.com.