Balancing the Grind with Tyrone Ho, ANZ Country Manager at TabSquare

Tyrone Ho is the ANZ Country Manager at TabSquare, a company which provides AI-powered restaurant solutions to the food and beverage industry.

1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?

I’m currently the ANZ Country Manager at TabSquare, which essentially mean I’m responsible for the operation in ANZ.

We specialise in offering the hospitality industry Ai powered digital ordering solutions, such as self-service kiosk, online ordering, and various in venue ordering solution such QR code ordering

Having grown up in family of restauranteurs, I have always had love for the hospitality industry. However after operating a few café and restaurants businesses, it was very challenging managing a life outside of work due to the hours.

So I moved into sales and leadership for both financial services and technology companies that specialised in the hospitality.

2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?

Day are very different since March, as I’m sure it is for everyone.

I have an office set up downstairs, so I usually get up quite early, around 5am and after the morning routine, I’m sitting at my desk around 6am. I found the hours of 6am – 9am my most productive as I can focus on tasks I need to complete.

9am is a team huddle, then 9.30 – 11 is generally on the phone, with either people calling me or calling to follow up on various things.

I try to keep 11am – 12 for review some data, such and financial reports or sales CRM, etc. In the perfect day, I’ll take a break around midday, and run down to the beach for quick swim and some lunch.

From 12:45 – around 3 I’m generally tied up with internal meetings and calls with the various team based in Singapore.

3-4 I will prioritise the tasks that I will complete the following morning, and tidy up small task that have popped up throughout the day

4-5 I do a ring around to my team to touch base how the day has gone.

3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?

Remote has become the norm, having this arrangement is great, as it removes the stress of travel, and in Sydney it can definitely wear you down.

Also does give the ability to take a lunch break at the beach which is extremely lucky and helps me maintain focus and keeps me calm.

4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?

The meaning of work-life balance to me has changed a lot of the years, currently I have two daughter in school.

So at the moment balance is not only have “time” with my daughter, but actually be present with them with the time. Meaning I am actively listening and communicating with them.

One of the reason I start work early in the morning is that is gives me the time at night to enjoy dinner with them, help with their homework and enjoy the couple of hour before they go to bed.

5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?

Trying to have a swim at lunch time is something I started in May, which originally was just a to enjoy the outdoors after the lock down period, I have found that it really energised me for the afternoon, so I have tried to maintain the habit as long as I don’t have meeting at the time.

6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?

I’m a huge fan of Brené Brown, my favourite book is Dare to Lead.

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, I have read this book for more than 10 years now, I still enjoy it as much as I did the first time,

I follow The Karuna Collective which is run by Peta Karunaratne on LinkedIn, which I highly recommend jumping on and following, I found it challenging and insightful.

7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?

It may be boring, by old school Sony over ear head phones with the microphone are for listen to music whilst I work or Zoom conferences

“Microsoft to do” app, it is a quick easy way for me build my “to do list” that work across all platforms.

Calendly – save so much time going back a forth trying to find a suitable time to meet someone.

8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?

There are a few, the first couple that spring to mind are Elon Musk and Brené Brown. However I would also find it insightful to interview a CEO of successful a start-up.

9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?

I think work life balance is constantly evolving based many factor both in and out of your control.

The one thing that in my opinion should never change is ensuring you consciously consider your mental health, as trying to maintain a good head space is essential for enjoying work and life.

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