Vince Chan

Picture yourself as a highly skilled in-house counsel at one of the world's largest banking groups, overseeing a team of 50 and spearheading billion-dollar financial transactions. Life isn't just good. It's picture perfect. Now, what if I challenged you to leave it all behind?

Picture yourself as a highly skilled in-house counsel at one of the world's largest banking groups, overseeing a team of 50 and spearheading billion-dollar financial transactions. Life isn't just good. It's picture perfect. Now, what if I challenged you to leave it all behind?

What if I invited you to move with your whole family to Senegal, a vibrant country in West Africa, once a French colony, to start afresh? Would you take the leap? For many, the answer would be a no. But today's guest isn't just anyone.

What if I invited you to move with your whole family to Senegal, a vibrant country in West Africa, once a French colony, to start afresh? Would you take the leap? For many, the answer would be a no. But today's guest isn't just anyone.

Join me as I chat with Fatou Zegna So, a remarkable individual I had the pleasure of studying together during our executive MBA classes in London and in Singapore with Chicago Booth. She has since moved from the well-established legal profession to economic development, technical advisory and youth entrepreneurship in Senegal. In her own words, she aims not just to succeed, but to create magic.

Join me as I chat with Fatou Zegna So, a remarkable individual I had the pleasure of studying together during our executive MBA classes in London and in Singapore with Chicago Booth. She has since moved from the well-established legal profession to economic development, technical advisory and youth entrepreneurship in Senegal. In her own words, she aims not just to succeed, but to create magic.

What drives a person to embrace such profound change? How does a lawyer used to practicing set laws becoming a chief change officer, making her own laws of change for careers, for communities, and for societies? Fatou is going to tell her own story.

What drives a person to embrace such profound change? How does a lawyer used to practicing set laws becoming a chief change officer, making her own laws of change for careers, for communities, and for societies? Fatou is going to tell her own story.

I'm so glad you agreed to come on board. Well, it's been how many years? Last time I saw you in Singapore, is that right?

I'm so glad you agreed to come on board. Well, it's been how many years? Last time I saw you in Singapore, is that right?

Yeah. So you moved from where you were born and raised Back to your root, your origin in Africa. Now, before we go deep into the Africa situation, what actually moved you to take this leap of faith from legal profession in banking back to your root? There must be a lot of thought going on, a lot of debate, perhaps, in your mind and among your family members. What happened then?

Yeah. So you moved from where you were born and raised Back to your root, your origin in Africa. Now, before we go deep into the Africa situation, what actually moved you to take this leap of faith from legal profession in banking back to your root? There must be a lot of thought going on, a lot of debate, perhaps, in your mind and among your family members. What happened then?

I think I did well. Sounds like it was a calculated decision. It wasn't a spur of the moment thing. You were prudent enough to plan ahead. Now you move in the year 2016. Now it's 2024, eight years. You've explored opportunities. You experienced new life. Now, I was wondering... What one thing, what that one thing is that motivate you if I have to ask you to come up with one word?

I think I did well. Sounds like it was a calculated decision. It wasn't a spur of the moment thing. You were prudent enough to plan ahead. Now you move in the year 2016. Now it's 2024, eight years. You've explored opportunities. You experienced new life. Now, I was wondering... What one thing, what that one thing is that motivate you if I have to ask you to come up with one word?

Would you say identity? I sense that for you, born and raised in the developed economy, France, Paris, legal profession, stability, that is part of your identity. But you have the other piece of you which lies in your root, in your origin. You identify with it. You resonate with it. You see a lot of things going on. You really want to do something about it. I think identity is your calling.

Would you say identity? I sense that for you, born and raised in the developed economy, France, Paris, legal profession, stability, that is part of your identity. But you have the other piece of you which lies in your root, in your origin. You identify with it. You resonate with it. You see a lot of things going on. You really want to do something about it. I think identity is your calling.

Would you agree? Yeah.

Would you agree? Yeah.

Yeah, you are setting up a role model for your children. They see you in action. They see that, oh, my mother Making a move. I mean, honestly, a lot of things I'm sure going on in your life in Africa. And they are there with you. They see a lot of things which they most likely won't see in France. Yes, after they grow up, they can move back to France or move to other countries to be adventurous.

Yeah, you are setting up a role model for your children. They see you in action. They see that, oh, my mother Making a move. I mean, honestly, a lot of things I'm sure going on in your life in Africa. And they are there with you. They see a lot of things which they most likely won't see in France. Yes, after they grow up, they can move back to France or move to other countries to be adventurous.