#12. Tang Zhao and his Values, Passion, and Purpose

Wantedly's SG60 stories series is about people who have been shaped by Singapore, and had made a difference in Singapore. This series aims to be a platform for individual reflection on what our own values are, and how we discover our passion and strive towards our purpose.

Values are your non-negotiable foundation, passion is about what excites and motivates you, and purpose is your deeper reason for existence. - Harvard Business Review

With our mission to create a world where work drives passion, whether you are a founder or creator, a leader or a gig worker, a consultant or a teacher, discovering and aligning your values, passion, and purpose will give you the best chance at having a fulfilling career, and more importantly, a meaningful life. And when this alignment is in place it leads to something greater - organisations can achieve their mission, and society and beyond will benefit in the long run.

As a nation, when we reflect on our shared values of multiculturalism, boldness, resilience and openness, we can build upon what drove our prosperity. SG60’s theme is a refreshed spirit, and by celebrating Singapore’s journey to date, Wantedly is proud to spotlight some of those who have contributed to the past...

Introducing Zhao

Tang Zhao is a forward-thinking global business leader and Executive MBA graduate with a multicultural career shaped by education in China, Australia, and Thailand, and professional experience across China, Singapore, and partners in the Asia-Pacific region. Specializing in tech-driven industries, digital commerce ecosystems, and emerging technologies like AI and SaaS, he combines analytical rigor and adaptive leadership to align innovation with business objectives. Known for translating complex ideas into actionable strategies, Zhao excels at fostering stakeholder collaboration through personalized communication and delivering scalable solutions that bridge technical innovation with market demands. A trilingual strategist (English, Chinese, Thai) with deep regional insights, he champions sustainable growth through purpose-driven partnerships and cross-industry agility. Passionate about optimizing businesses for long-term impact, Zhao thrives at the intersection of global vision and local execution.

Zhao is a self-proclaimed "local food detective" who’s sampled everything from fiery spicy Thai som tam (papaya salad) at Bangkok alley stalls to century-old dim sum recipes in Guangzhou’s famous Cantonese food restaurants with hundreds of years. To him, a culture’s soul lives in its food. It’s not just about taste; it’s about decoding how locals thrive, one bite at a time—a skill he quietly applies to understanding local markets and building trust.

Zhao in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park of Hunan Province, China

1. What are your top 3 values?

Integrity, Respect, Adaptivity.

Integrity is the bedrock of my personal and professional ethos. It means aligning actions with principles, even when inconvenient or unseen. Trust, once lost, is nearly impossible to rebuild—whether in nurturing long-term business partnerships or personal relationships. To me, integrity isn’t just avoiding dishonesty; it’s proactively choosing what’s right over what’s easy, ensuring consistency between words and deeds.

Respect is a two-way street rooted in valuing diverse perspectives and contexts. It goes beyond surface-level politeness to actively seeking understanding—whether bridging cultural gaps in global teams or navigating nuanced negotiations. Respect means creating space for voices that differ from my own, recognizing that collaboration thrives when people feel heard and valued. This principle has guided everything from recruitment decisions to partnership strategies, fostering environments where innovation and trust coexist.

Adaptivity is the skill of thriving in uncertainty. In a world of rapid technological shifts, evolving markets, and unpredictable challenges, rigidity is a liability. Adaptivity means embracing change not as a threat but as an opportunity—whether reimagining strategies to align with emerging trends or refining approaches to meet shifting needs. It’s about staying curious, agile, and open to reinvention, ensuring resilience in the face of disruption.

Together, these values create a framework for sustainable success: integrity builds trust, respect fosters collaboration, and adaptivity drives progress. They are not just ideals but daily practices that anchor my decisions and relationships.

2. What keeps you up at night?

The existential challenge of connection—specifically, bridging gaps that shouldn’t exist. How do we connect innovative products to the users who need them most, but don’t yet know it? How do we align supply and demand in a way that feels less like a transaction and more like solving a puzzle? And how do we translate cutting-edge technology—AI, SaaS, or otherwise—into tangible business outcomes that stakeholders feel rather than just see on a spreadsheet?

As a marketer and strategist, my obsession isn’t just about moving metrics—it’s about creating meaningful linkages. I lose sleep over the "almosts": the product that almost resonates because it’s pitched in the wrong language, the campaign that almost converts because it prioritizes clicks over human context, or the tech solution that almost transforms an industry because it’s explained in jargon, not stories.

The stakes are high. Miss these connections, and you get wasted potential—a brilliant tool gathering dust, a market need left unaddressed, or teams stuck in silos reinventing wheels. But get it right, and you unlock something universal: trust, efficiency, and progress that scales. That’s why I’m wired to ask, “What’s the human thread here?”—whether I’m decoding data, designing campaigns, or dissecting a niche market. The answer is what turns sleepless nights into breakthroughs.

3. What gets you out of bed in the morning?

While a strong cup of black coffee jumpstarts my day, it’s the promise of meaningful progress that truly energizes me. Whether it’s a pivotal meeting with a potential partner, the strategic launch of a product, or refining an in-development initiative, I thrive on opportunities to turn ideas into impact.

What excites me isn’t just novelty for its own sake, but the potential to solve problems and create value—even in incremental steps. A “new” challenge could be revitalizing an existing project with fresh insights, aligning stakeholders around a shared vision, or discovering how emerging technologies like AI can bridge gaps between business needs and market demands.

Collaboration is the heartbeat of this process. From brainstorming sessions that spark unconventional solutions to translating complex technical concepts into actionable strategies, I’m motivated by the alchemy of teamwork and innovation.

Every day offers a chance to ask, “What’s possible now?”—and that relentless curiosity, paired with the drive to deliver tangible results, is what keeps me pushing forward.

Zhao visits Xiaomi's headquarters in Beijing, China

4. What fills your cup?

My fulfillment comes from bridging the unseen gaps—those critical spaces between vision and execution, potential and impact. Closing a deal, launching a product, or cementing a partnership isn’t just a “win”; it’s proof that a challenge was decoded, aligned, and transformed into something tangible.

When a client’s pain point is solved by a tech solution they didn’t know existed, or when a cross-border partnership unlocks opportunities for both sides, it reaffirms why I do this work. For example, watching an ed-tech platform I helped scale empower remote classrooms, or seeing a hesitant stakeholder embrace an AI tool after demystifying its value—these moments crystallize the human impact behind the metrics.

What truly sparks joy is the ripple effect of these connections. A successfully launched product isn’t just revenue—it’s a new way for users to work, learn, or connect. A partnership isn’t just a contract—it’s a shared journey toward mutual growth. Even the grind of aligning stakeholders or iterating prototypes becomes rewarding when you see the dots connect, turning friction into momentum.

My cup fills when complexity becomes clarity, and when gaps—whether in markets, technologies, or relationships—transform into gateways for progress.

5. In your current season, how do you stay positive/focused?

I stay grounded by balancing global awareness with local presence. Staying connected to global trends—through industry reports, tech forums, and cross-border networks—keeps me proactive rather than reactive. It’s not just about anticipating market shifts or spotting opportunities; it’s about understanding how macro-changes, from AI advancements to regulatory shifts, could reshape the challenges my potential clients or partners face. This "big picture" lens fuels my adaptability and strategic focus.

Equally vital is my connection to the local community. Whether it’s brainstorming over coffee with a colleague, sharing stories with family, or even observing how a neighborhood café adapts to economic pressures, these moments anchor me in the human side of work. They’re reminders that behind every data point or business goal, there’s a lived experience—a truth that keeps my strategies empathetic and grounded.

In this year, I’m currently working with my friends together for some interesting AI-powered products, and at some point of time, we need to test our prototypes with some seed clients, and future investors!

6. Please leave us with your hope/advice for mid-career jobseekers like yourself.

Embrace the unknown—not as a risk, but as a masterclass in reinvention. When I transitioned roles, particularly into unfamiliar industries, I wrestled with self-doubt: Could I meet sky-high expectations? Would my past experience translate? But each leap taught me that mid-career isn’t about “starting over”— it’s about applying your accumulated wisdom in unexpected ways.

Here’s the secret: Those “priceless” gains—new technical skills, cross-industry relationships, market insights—aren’t just bonuses. They’re puzzle pieces that eventually form a sharper, more adaptable professional identity. For instance, my shift from media to ed-tech wasn’t just a career change; it forced me to repurpose storytelling skills into product narratives that resonated with educators and investors alike.

So, leverage your experience as a foundation, not a fence. Every new challenge is a chance to build “strategic empathy”—the ability to decode unfamiliar industries quickly and connect dots others miss.

And if the “right” role isn’t immediately visible? Follow your curiosity, not just job descriptions. What seems like a side project or passion today—a tiny seed—could grow into an unexpected opportunity. I’ve seen colleagues turn freelance gigs into niche consultancies, or hobby-level coding experiments into AI prototypes that attracted investors. The key is to stay engaged: nurture skills, build relationships, and trust that even small, intentional steps can root you in new directions.

The mid-career journey isn’t about certainty; it’s about curiosity. Trust that your past—even the detours—equips you to navigate the next chapter. After all, the most valuable opportunities often hide in the gaps between “what you’ve done” and “what you’re meant to do next.”

If you want to explore and close these g a p s together, connecting to me through LinkedIn is the best way to start!

Once again, in celebration of SG60, let us strive to be bolder and kinder to one another, for Singapore and ourselves.

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