In our latest conversation, we catch up with Tim Phang, who is at the forefront of Business Value Consulting for MongoDB in the APAC region. With roots in Sydney and a heart captivated by the vibrant life in Singapore, Tim brings a rich blend of experience from leading tech companies like Uber and Salesforce.
He opens up about his journey, including his ventures with his wife Charissa, and dives into the nuances of managing a bustling life with two young kids while spearheading initiatives at MongoDB.
Tim shares his insights on work-life balance, the unique challenges of working in a global team, and how he and his wife navigate the demands of modern life with their commitment to family and personal well-being.
Let’s start with your background! Can you share with us your career journey and what you’re currently up to?
I was born and raised in Sydney, and my family is from Indonesia. I went up to Singapore more than 10 years ago and haven’t managed to leave – the food is too good! I’m currently building the Business Value Consulting practice for MongoDB across APAC, but have been in data and tech related roles at places like Uber and Salesforce, as well as dabbling in some ventures either alone or with my wife Charissa (check out Style State).
We’d love to know what a typical day is like for you. Could you describe a recent workday?
My wife and I have 2 kids aged 5 and 3, and they’re up before 7. Every morning is a rush to get them ready for preschool (let them play for a bit, then eat some breakfast and get changed), and we try to get out the door by 8.15 if we’re lucky. My wife and I will both get to work after we drop them off at pre-school in the CBD, which is thankfully close to our workplaces.
Working on a global team, there’s always stuff coming to me all hours of the day, but it’s not concentrated into traditional business hours. So that means I can pick them up at pre-school before 5 and get them home for dinner, shower and bedtime around 8 before I jump back on calls after they sleep.
Can you define work-life balance for yourself and share with us your approach in maintaining it?
I’m fortunate to have the flexibility to structure the daily schedule around the kids’ needs as well as spending quality time with Charissa. But it also means that our phones are always getting pinged when we are at home, and it’s hard to compartmentalise or prioritise in the moment when you’ve got colleagues asking for some clarification when the kids are screaming!
So I think it’s a trade-off – we can be in the office and focus on what we need to do, and arguably you’re more productive that way, but particularly in Asia that doesn’t mean you’ll get left alone after official office hours. The work culture here still emphasises facetime and WFH isn’t as common as it is in Western countries, so we try to be present at home as much as possible.
Change is constant, and it’s essential for growth. Have you made any lifestyle changes in the past year to improve your work-life balance?
We started a version of intermittent fasting, where we have a heavier lunch but a very light dinner (fruits, maybe a small snack) which has actually saved us a lot of time with food prep and cleaning up, and we can focus on tending to the kids whilst they eat. We both lost about 10% of our body weight in the past 12 months and rarely feel hungry at night – and we’re not rushing as much in the evenings!
We’re always on the lookout for new resources! Can you recommend any books, podcasts, or newsletters that have helped you in your journey towards balance?
I don’t seek out content on these topics specifically, but I love reading and make a point to read physical books around the kids to encourage them to open their own books, rather than looking at devices. There’s nothing like 5 mins of pure silence at home because the kids are flipping through a book. A bit of peace goes a long way!
Before we wrap up, do you have any final words of wisdom or insights on work, life, or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
Being Christians, we are convicted that there’s more to life than what we see in front of us in this world. What’s more important is that we demonstrate grace and love to those around us, because there could be lasting effects on the community of people we interact with. It’s hard not to be distracted by achievement, wealth and career fulfilment but these things will come to pass.
