David Chiem is the Founder & CEO of MindChamps PreSchool, a growing global company with 80 centres across Australia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia and more.
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Describe what you do: I founded MindChamps with the vision to fill educational gaps and improve education practices around the world, and I found that the greatest gap lay in understanding how to learn – and in developing the mindset of the learner.
Education should be the toolbox for building the future. In a world where AI is rapidly becoming a dominant part of our lives, it is the individual’s mindset and their ability to learn, unlearn, relearn and evolve that gives them the competitive edge.
In 1998, we started as an educational research centre in Sydney, Australia. Now, after 22 years of working with the world’s best, researching, trialling and running schools, our reputation has grown internationally.
Our international accomplishments in education mean that we are now able to bring our preschools back to Australia, where it all began. I arrived here in 1978 as a child-refugee and I owe so much to the country that gave my family a second chance at life.
What is particularly exciting for me personally, is that MindChamps’ success on the international stage has given me this opportunity to give something meaningful back.
How do you like your coffee: Latte with honey – not sugar, or syrup – is the only way to go. Having travelled extensively, I’ve realised that nothing beats some of the great lattes that you can get at cafes in Australia.
Device(s) you use: I am constantly on the move, and I find I can generally manage business and leisure more efficiently from my smartphone. Being connected is important to me and no matter where I am, the world is right there at my fingertips.
Describe your working style in one sentence: ‘100% Respect, Zero Fear’. It is a concept I coined for MindChamps, where, as a team, we respect every individual’s perspective. We strive for an environment in which every individual can express him/herself with absolute confidence.
What does your workspace look like: My workspace is spacious, simple and a place of tomorrow. I love art and the artwork in my workspace keeps me focused and inspired.
Do you have a favourite playlist for work: I don’t listen to music while I’m working but movie soundtracks are a source of inspiration during my leisure time.
Who would you like to nominate for the next workflow interview: Brian Caswell, Dean of Research and Program Development for MindChamps.
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