The coronavirus forced us to stop and count our blessings. While my childhood was much more comfortable, 20 years of reporting overseas exposed me to the grim realities of war, natural disaster and political instability. At the time, we were both jet-lagged after the long flight from Hong Kong, where we live and work. Chantal Abouchar Arif Rachmat Mike Wiluan Hua Fung Teh () Paul Ronalds Sonny Vu GOH Hian David Gowdey. Seemingly overnight, my hotel in Seoul became eerily empty. Photo: Rana Wehbe Watson, Ivan is fitted for his wedding suit. We were also deliriously happy, posing in front of a glowing fountain alongside my sister and brother-in-law, who conspired with me to take surprise photos of the occasion. Mandaang guwu (thank you in my Australian First Nations Wiradyuri language) for including me in this article Rana I'm humbled and speechless! Asia. I was even a fashion blogger at one time, reporting on young emerging designers in Asia. 556 posts. Keeps me young at heart :) I joined Forbes as a senior editor in 2015 to kickstart the Under 30 franchise in Asia. rana_wehbe_watson. Philanthropy, Asia's 100 Digital Stars, 50 Over 50 Asia), I've been directing the programming of the Under 30 Asia Summits and managing special projects for Forbes in Asia. Rana Wehbe Watson's Post Rana Wehbe Watson Special Projects Director, Forbes Asia 5d Edited A candid discussion demonstrating the power of being agile and nimble in the fast-moving and competitive startup landscape. Mandaang guwu (thank you in my Australian First Nations Wiradyuri language) for including me in this article Rana I'm humbled and speechless! After our engagement with coronavirus, we know we will be there for each other, no matter what the future may bring. LinkedIn and 3rd parties use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our Services, and (except on the iOS app) to show you relevant ads (including professional and job ads) on and off LinkedIn. If you know anyone worthy of being on the list, please nominate them via this online form https://lnkd.in/guHhABnD She was taken to intensive care in. All rights reserved. Rana Wehbe Watson's Post Rana Wehbe Watson Special Projects Director, Forbes Asia 2mo Edited Thank you to #30under30 alumni Klook's Eric Gnock Fah and Airwallex's Lucy Liu and the one and only Patrick Grove for a candid discussion about lessons learned on your entrepreneurial journeys so far. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to see up close what the next generation is up to each year and draw inspiration from their constant innovation and optimism. There was nothing we could do. This year's list recognizes businesswomen "who managed to adapt and thrive in industries including technology, healthcare, banking and manufacturing," said Rana Wehbe Watson, editor of the 2021 Asia's Power Businesswomen list. Born and bred in Beirut, Lebanon my eclectic journey has taken me from Dubai to Singapore and now Hong Kong, working on all types of media from newspapers to magazines and online. Com) at ReWorld Media and also held positions at Marie France Asia, Al Nisr Publishing, Emirates Group, Daily Star. Can we take our masks off? I ask, as my bride and I get into position. Be it tech or fashion - I am always inspired by the creativity, energy and talent of those who dare to take a risk and follow their passion something I personally thrive on. Rana Wehbe Watson 1w Report this post When we last wrapped up the Forbes Global CEO Conference in 2019, I had no idea it would be 3 years till I get to be on stage . When we last wrapped up the Forbes Global CEO Conference in 2019, I had no idea it would be 3 years till I get to be on stage hosting the next one! Senior Editor-Special Projects. In addition to editing lists (30 Under 30 Asia, Asia's Power Businesswomen, Heroes of . This was not what we expected, when I first asked her to marry me on a freezing night in New York City last December. All Rights Reserved. The wake-up call came at the end of January, when the Hong Kong administration canceled schools, shut down public recreation centers and issued work-from-home orders to civil servants. Finally, our wedding day arrived in May. Meet The Forbes Under 30 Asia Class Of 2022, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2022: The Social Entrepreneurs Working Towards A More Equal Future, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information. She has since edited all five editions of the 30 Under 30 Asia list and directed . Some of these women are thriving in male-dominated industries like tech, shipping and construction while others like Kristy Carr and Ghazal Alagh have started successful businesses inspired by their journeys to motherhood. This years list recognizes businesswomen who managed to adapt and thrive in industries including technology, healthcare, banking and manufacturing, said Rana Wehbe Watson, editor of the 2021 Asias Power Businesswomen list. 196 followers. They are leading the way as the world struggles with the post-COVID reality, she added. Ms. Uy is a certified public accountant. The coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan had spread across China, and the first cases had been detected in the semi-autonomous cities of Hong Kong and Macau. Be it tech or fashion Rana is always inspired by the creativity, energy and talent of those who dare to take a risk and follow their passion something she personally thrives on. Introducing the 7th edition of Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. We did too, when we went to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registrations Office in early February to apply for a date to get married. This button displays the currently selected search type. I have always lived with the principle that to be successful, you need to put in everything youve got and always work to do it better, Ms. Uy told Forbes in a statement. Thank you to all the speakers who joined my panels, it was a pleasure to have you on board Mori Trust Co. Ltd.'s MiwakoDate, Gaw Capital Partners' Goodwin Gaw, ESR's Jeffrey Perlman, RB Capital Pte ltd's Kishin RK, TDCX's Laurent Junique, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Arjay L. Balinbin, 2021 BusinessWorld Publishing. Apart from building Asias network of successful entrepreneurs through these annual lists, Rana is also a key member of Forbes Asia operations, handling special projects that seek to expand the brands footprint in the region. In addition to editing the 30 Under 30 Asia lists, I've been directing the programming of our Under 30 Asia Summits and managing special projects for Forbes in Asia. Born and bred in Beirut, Lebanon my eclectic journey has taken me to Dubai, Singapore and now Hong Kong,where I worked at global newsrooms taking on various editorial roles. In addition to editing lists (30 Under 30 Asia, Asia's Power Businesswomen, Heroes of. Delighted to start this year with a very inspiring list, highlighting more women from Asia Pacific. Though authorities advised against it, Rana insisted on staying by my side throughout the 14 days. Ivan Watson and Rana Wehbe had eight. As Rana became more and more worried, I remained naively optimistic until a reporting assignment in South Korea at the end of February. From innovative ways of delivering e-commerce and online learning services to venturing into the Web3 space, this year's list honorees are redefining the future of business and society in Asia. A week before the wedding, however, disaster struck. Social isolation meant a pause in business travel and long work deployments. Converge president, co-founder is part of Forbes Asias Power Businesswomen list for Other businesswomen on the list include Thailands Wallapa Traisorat, president and chief executive officer of real estate company Asset World Corp.; Helen Wong, the first woman to helm the 89-year-old Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp.; South Koreas Lee In-kyung who became a partner at MBK Partners (one of the largest homegrown buyout firms in Asia) last year; and Meena Ganesh who co-founded Portea Medical, Indias largest home healthcare company by revenue. Learn more in our Cookie Policy. Okla Jones, Essence, 27 Sep. 2022 The work also represents a more expansive way of looking at what a Venus is, and thereby expanding the ideas of femininity and womanhood. Thank you to all the speakers who joined my panels, it was a pleasure to have you on board Mori Trust Co. Ltd.'s MiwakoDate, Gaw Capital Partners' Goodwin Gaw, ESR's Jeffrey Perlman, RB Capital Pte ltd's Kishin RK, TDCX's Laurent Junique, Serum Institute of India Pvt. I was to check my temperature twice daily and report immediately if I came down with symptoms. Our 16th edition of the annual list highlights the regions top 15 philanthropists who demonstrated a strong personal commitment to causes such as education and the environment. Fascinated by Asia and its diverse culture, Rana loves to travel around the region and shes equally fond of Asimovs sci-fi novels and her skyhigh heels. The businesswomen honored this year were selected for their accomplishments in managing either a business with sizable revenues or a startup valued at over $100 million, Forbes said in an e-mailed statement. 684 following. Forbes Staff. Prior to Forbes, she was APAC Group Editor in Chief for the Paris-based publishing group Reworld Media where she launched two lifestyle and fashion titles setting their editorial strategy and growing their audience from day one. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. We are looking for women over the age of 50 who are shattering age and gender stereotypes across all sectorsin Asia-Pacific. Be it tech or fashion - I am always inspired by the creativity, energy and talent of those who dare to take a risk and follow their passion something I personally thrive on. Sitting down (virtually) with these amazing 6 speakers for the second Forbes #100ToWatch webinar was like a crash course on entrepreneurship and funding. In addition to. Amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, Rana and I have just gotten married. Open in Who Shared Wrong byline? Forbes noted that Ms. Uy led the negotiations for a $250-million investment from Warburg Pincus, a global growth investor, in 2019, which was used for the expansion of Converges fiber network. Forbes new first-of its-kind list - the 50 Over 50 - is going global! Forbes Staff. Photo: Rana Wehbe Watson, Ivan proposed to Rana in New York City on December 21, 2019. Ltd.'s Adar Poonawalla, BYJU'S' Byju Raveendran, Emtek (PT Elang Mahkota Teknologi Tbk)'s Alvin Sariaatmadja, FTX's Constance Wang, Coda Payments' Neil Davidson, Caldecott Music Group's Meng Ru Kuok, WeLab's Simon Loong, Biofourmis' Kuldeep Singh Rajput, CARRO's Aaron Tan, The Sylvan Group's Kyungsun Chung, IOI Corporation Berhad's Lee Yeow Chor and RGE's Anderson Tanoto, Co-Founder @ Bondstein / Singularity | Forbes 30under30 | Seed Transformation @ Stanford GSB | Entrepreneur & Innovator | Engineer, Secretary General of the Olympic Committee, Editor at Fast Company Middle East - the worlds only business media brand focused on innovation, technology, and leadership, 9 out of 10 Marketing Leaders Recommend Escomedia. I joined Forbes as a senior editor in 2015 to kickstart the Under 30 franchise in Asia. Last week, I was delighted to be back, doing what I love most about my job: Gathering and connecting with some of the best business minds out there, moderating interesting discussions with entrepreneurs and getting inspired by so many of them. In addition to editing the 30 Under 30 Asia lists, I've been directing the programming of our Under 30 Asia Summits and managing special projects for Forbes in Asia. . Sitting down (virtually) with these amazing 6 speakers for the second Forbes #100ToWatch webinar was like a crash course on entrepreneurship and funding. Forbes Staff. #HeroesofPhilanthropy. Shared by Rana Wehbe Watson Purpose, ESG reporting, climate impact and sustainability have all become hot topics in recent years, evolving from environmental and activist Liked by Rana Wehbe. Introducing #ForbesUnder30 Asia 2022 list: Meet the next generation of inspiring entrepreneurs, olympians, artists, scientists and activists who are redefining. This button displays the currently selected search type. At that stage, South Korea had the most confirmed coronavirus cases outside mainland China. Special Projects Director, Asia @forbes. Still, neither of us had ever been confronted by a modern-day plague of global proportions. She is equally fond of Asimovs sci-fi novels and her skyhigh heels. Access to education, women empowerment and sexual- and gender-based discrimination are some of the issues addressed by the social entrepreneurs and activists on this year's list. Moderated by Rana Wehbe Watson, Special Projects Director, Forbes Asia Confirmed speakers: Eric Gnock Fah, COO and Cofounder, Klook Patrick Grove, Chairman and CEO, Catcha Group Lucy Liu, Cofounder and President, Airwallex Nominations for Asia-Pacific region are open till December 15. I am Special Projects Director at Forbes Asia. 2. And pleasure to have some of Asia's top VCs Shane Chesson, Yinglan Tan and Helen Pei-Hua Wong on board to talk about their investment strategies and give funding advice to startup founders. We are looking for women over the age of 50 who are shattering age and gender stereotypes Ltd.'s Adar Poonawalla, BYJU'S' Byju Raveendran, Emtek (PT Elang Mahkota Teknologi Tbk)'s Alvin Sariaatmadja, FTX's Constance Wang, Coda Payments' Neil Davidson, Caldecott Music Group's Meng Ru Kuok, WeLab's Simon Loong, Biofourmis' Kuldeep Singh Rajput, CARRO's Aaron Tan, The Sylvan Group's Kyungsun Chung, IOI Corporation Berhad's Lee Yeow Chor and RGE's Anderson Tanoto, Introducing #ForbesUnder30 Asia 2022 list: Meet the next generation of inspiring entrepreneurs, olympians, artists, scientists and activists who are redefining the future of business and society in the region.