Episode 10 | Vanessa Tan on Surviving Xiaomi, AI's Double-Edged Sword, and Thriving as a Woman in Tech

In our latest Proxemics episode, we were honored to host our first international guest, the incredibly kind and sharp Vanessa Tan. As a veteran of the fast-paced, male-dominated tech industry, Vanessa is a dear friend who we've known since our shared days working with Xiaomi.

This conversation was a masterclass in resilience, adaptation, and forward-thinking. We dove deep into the intense work culture that shaped our careers, the double-edged sword of Artificial Intelligence, the future of marketing in an attention-starved world, and Vanessa's powerful advice for women looking to thrive in challenging industries.

Lessons from the Xiaomi Trenches: Speed, Scrappiness, and Superpowers

Our common thread is Xiaomi, an experience that was described as tough, challenging, and incredibly busy. For Vanessa, the key lesson was learning to thrive on speed and being scrappy. "We are expected to make magic with very little resources," she explained. This environment forged a creative, quick, and resourceful approach to problem-solving that she still uses today.

The relentless pace, with over 15 phone launches a year, pushed the team to their limits. It taught them to make fast decisions, as "inaction is worse than not making a decision." The experience also fostered deep cross-cultural empathy, a crucial skill when collaborating across multiple borders. This trial-by-fire environment didn't just build careers; it revealed hidden strengths and gave them superpowers they never knew they had.

The AI Dilemma: A Tool for Efficiency or a Crutch for the Mind?

The conversation naturally shifted to Artificial Intelligence. While AI tools are undeniably making work more efficient—reducing tasks that once took days to mere hours—there's a palpable fear of the unknown. The scary part isn't just the threat of replacement, but the unpredictable nature of such rapidly advancing technology.

Vanessa offered a brilliant analogy to illustrate the risk of over-reliance. She shared a story about her 95-year-old grandmother, whose mind remains razor-sharp from daily calculations and decision-making. "The brain is like a muscle," Vanessa argued. "If you leave it to AI, it's definitely going to shrink." The consensus is clear: use AI as a powerful tool to up your game, but never abdicate the human responsibility of critical thinking, fact-checking, and deep analysis.

Beyond the Visuals: The Future of Marketing is Neurological

In today's "attention age," we are overwhelmed with visual content from platforms like TikTok and Instagram. According to the group, this visual congestion means marketers must find smarter, more direct ways to connect with consumers. The next frontier? Sensory and neuro marketing.

The discussion explored how brands can tap directly into emotion and memory, bypassing the noise. Using fascinating examples like KFC's association with Christmas in Japan and the introduction of coffee-flavored candy to build Japan's coffee culture, the episode highlights how long-term psychological strategy can create incredibly powerful brand loyalty that traditional advertising can't match.

Debunking the "Lazy Indonesian" Myth: A Masterclass in Motivation

As a Singaporean who has spent considerable time in Indonesia, Vanessa tackled common stereotypes head-on. She passionately refuted the misconception that Indonesians are lazy, arguing that such generalizations are baseless. "It's just that you don't know how to motivate this person properly," she stated.

The key, she explained, is finding the "innate motivation" in each team member and aligning it with the company's goals. Indonesia's strength lies in its warmth, relationship-driven culture, and strong sense of community—factors that, when understood and nurtured, can inspire incredible loyalty and drive.

How to Thrive as a Woman in Tech: Mindset, Performance, and Teamwork

As a woman who has excelled in a male-dominated industry, Vanessa's advice is invaluable. She has never seen her gender as a barrier, but rather as a motivator to stay sharp and continuously raise the bar. Her three essential traits for thriving are:

1. Mindset: Be prepared, confident, and open-minded. Have the humility to say "I don't know" and the drive to learn.

2. Performance: Focus relentlessly on the objective. Competence speaks louder than anything else, and consistently delivering results will earn respect, regardless of gender.

3. Be a Team Player: Recognize what you bring to the table—often, a different perspective that fosters cognitive diversity. Focus on collaboration, because great impact is achieved as a team.

Watch/Listen to the Full Episode for More

This blog only scratches the surface of our wide-ranging discussion with Vanessa Tan. To hear the full story of how her side business, Ministry of Gowns, was started in just two hours, her take on the PR vs. Marketing debate, and why being "put together" is an advantage, you need to watch the full episode.

Timestamps

• 0:00 - Welcome & Introduction of our first international guest, Vanessa.

• 02:30 - The Xiaomi Connection: Reminiscing about the early days and intense work culture.

• 08:15 - Key Lessons from a High-Pressure Tech Environment: Speed, creativity, and resourcefulness.

• 12:45 - The Importance of Cognitive Diversity and a Growth Mindset in building a team.

• 17:00 - The AI Debate: Is it a game-changing tool or a threat to our critical thinking?

• 24:30 - The 95-Year-Old Grandmother Analogy: Why you should treat your brain like a muscle.

• 32:10 - The Future of Marketing: Moving beyond visuals to neuro and sensory branding.

• 37:00 - Deconstructing Stereotypes: A Singaporean's perspective on the Indonesian market and work ethic.

• 45:50 - The PR vs. Marketing Debate: Why PR should pave the way for brand equity.

• 58:10 - The Origin Story of "Ministry of Gowns," a business born from friendship and a common pain point.

• 1:06:20 - Advice for Women in Tech: How to survive and thrive in a male-dominated industry.

Brands/people Mentioned in This Episode:

People

• Vanessa Tan: @vanessatanlb

• John: @johnchanco

• Hugo Barra: @hbarra

Brands & Companies

• Proxemics: @proxemicspodcast

• Xiaomi: @Xiaomi

• Redmi: @RedmiIndonesia

• JKT48: @JKT48

• OpenAI (ChatGPT): @OpenAI

• Google: @google

• Microsoft: @Microsoft

• KFC: @KFCINDONESIA

• Nestle: @Nestle

• Copico: Copico

• Ministry of Gowns: @ministryofgowns.id

• Raffles Hotel: @raffleshotelsingapore

Institutions

• National University of Singapore: @NUSingapore

• Yale University: @yale

• Harvard University: @harvard