How a Burned-Out HR Consultant Became a Productivity Expert
The Problem Nobody Was Solving
Back in 2010, I was working as an HR consultant at a major Hong Kong investment bank. The burnout was real. I’d watch talented people grinding 12-hour days, weekends eaten up by work, relationships strained. Families suffered. People got sick. And nobody had a real solution—just generic advice that didn’t fit Hong Kong’s intense corporate reality.
Western productivity methods weren’t cutting it. They didn’t account for the unique pressures we face here—family expectations, high-density living, the cultural nuances of Asian business. So I decided to fix it myself.
Research and Real-World Testing
I pursued formal training in behavioral psychology and completed my Master’s at HKU in 2013. The research was rigorous—studying how psychology, culture, and work systems interact. But I didn’t want theories stuck in academic journals. I wanted practical frameworks that actually work.
For the next five years, I tested, refined, and tested again. I worked with HR departments at HSBC, Swire, and CLP Holdings. I trained teams. I collected data. What emerged were scheduling frameworks specifically designed for Hong Kong’s intensity—systems that help people do more in less time without sacrificing their health or families.
Recognition and Growth
In 2018, my research paper “Asian Work Culture and Sustainable Productivity” was published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. That’s when things shifted. HR leaders across the region started reaching out. Companies wanted these frameworks. Professionals wanted guidance that made sense for their lives.
That’s when I joined Tempo Hub Limited as Senior Productivity Coach. Here, I develop educational materials—guides, articles, frameworks—that help thousands of people beyond individual coaching sessions. It’s about scaling impact. Creating resources that meet people where they are.
What Drives This Work
I’ve trained over 2,000 individuals one-on-one. I’ve seen the shifts happen—people who thought they were trapped in endless cycles suddenly finding breathing room. Parents getting evenings back with their kids. Professionals achieving real output without the constant exhaustion.
That’s why I write. That’s why I create these resources. Not everyone can afford one-on-one coaching, but everyone deserves access to methods that work for their reality. Everyone deserves a life that isn’t consumed by work.