Many people daydream about leaving the corporate world and doing something they truly love, but few people take the leap, fearful of the challenges, the risks and the unknown.
Following a 30-year career in finance, Michele Wee, former CEO of Standard Chartered (Vietnam), has recently taken this bold step by launching Who Says I Can’t, an organization that seeks to create sustainable commercial growth for companies through transformational leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and empowerment.
Looking back at what led to this decision, Wee recalls her first job in a foreign exchange brokerage with just a diploma in finance. “I think I got the job because I was young, pretty and I could drink. It was very rough and noisy, a bit like being in a cowboy town; honestly, it was that kind of environment,” she says.
Despite the challenging environment, Wee persevered and studied a part-time degree in economics and finance over two years while working, an experience that “nearly killed her”, she jokes.
This opened the door to a job with Bloomberg, followed by an eight-year stint at Deutsche Bank and eventually Standard Chartered, initially running their ecommerce sales before being promoted to the head of financial markets for Singapore, Australia and Brunei.
“That was a really interesting promotion because it was unheard of for a person in charge of a single product line to be moved into a more general position,” she says. “I was responsible for 800 people in the dealing room.”
A little over two years later, a big opportunity came knocking, the chance to work as the CEO of Standard Chartered in Vietnam.
“At the time, I wasn’t certain about the decision because Vietnam is obviously very different from Singapore, but I had two young children and was keen to take them somewhere new and develop their life skills,” she says.
“On top of that, the job was a significant step up and would allow me to learn so much; I have no regrets about accepting the position.”
Turning point
Having climbed the entire career ladder, Wee focused on improving the organization and the people around her.
“I had the opportunity to really understand what developing others meant. I discovered how happy it made me when I saw other people succeed,” she says. “I loved sharing my perspectives, encouraging them to take brave steps and ultimately helping them grow as human beings.”
All seemed well until life threw Wee a curveball when she discovered she had cancer.
“It was a shock because my family has no history of cancer. Although it only took three months for me to receive treatment and return to work, the experience made me reflect on my lifestyle and my goals,” she says.
“It made me realize the importance of sleeping well, something I’ve struggled with since having kids. I also realized that after being in a stressful corporate job for so long, our bodies become very desensitized to reading warning signals about our health and wellbeing.”
Following this experience, Wee decided it was time for change.
“Getting sick is part and parcel of life. I’m glad I’ve got a second chance so I don’t want to waste this opportunity,” Wee says.
“I was good at my job and could have stayed on longer, but when there is a fork in the road, I think you need to have the courage to make the right decision.
“One of the scariest things about coming out from corporate life is that you lose your platform. So, I thought if I’m so insecure about this, then the first thing I need to do is set up my own platform.”
A new start
This led to the creation of Who Says I Can’t in January 2025, an organization aimed at creating sustainable commercial growth for individuals or entire corporations through community, transformational leadership, DEI and female empowerment, all leveraging Wee’s experience and love for supporting others.
“It’s a name that reminds me to always be courageous and agile, to grow, to learn and to give back in as many ways as possible,” she says.
“At first, I worried whether people would take me seriously with a name like that, but everyone said they love it because it’s so straightforward.”
At the time of writing, in January 2025, Who Says I Can’t? is just 21 days old, but Wee reports that she’s been inundated by opportunities to talk and collaborate on different projects. These include several around International Women’s Day and Vietnamese Women’s Day, for which discussions are already underway.
“The pleasure of having my own company is that I’m able to cast my net wide and take on passion projects, ones that motivate me while also doing good,” she says.
“Looking back, I completely enjoyed my corporate life and met so many wonderful mentors, coaches and peers that made me what I am today, whereas now, I have the chance to focus on so many different projects while also spending quality time with my kids.
“I would go back to corporate if I and the employer were aligned, but in the interim, I’m going to take this opportunity to broaden my horizons and create as much impact as I can, whether through sitting on boards or working with people. I’m going to do it, and I’m really excited about what comes next.”
Fresh perspectives
Wee is mindful that while she was fortunate to grow up in meritocratic Singapore and does not consider herself to have been discriminated against during her career, there is still lots of work to be done in DEI, both in Singapore and across the region.
“I think I’ve been lucky to have climbed the career ladder, and during this time it’s clear that the boundaries with respect to what’s acceptable in the workplace and society are becoming clearer with regards to physical touch and language,” she says.
“Thanks to the #MeToo movement and other initiatives, females have much greater confidence, solidarity and strength in numbers.
“Yet the world is still not equitable for females, so progressing the female agenda and driving female empowerment will be a focus for me. But that’s not to say that I have not mentored or coached men before.
“I think that’s equally important because gender equality and gender equity are not just female problems; we really need the males to come on the journey as well.”
Looking ahead, the future is bright for Wee as she embarks on her new venture, ready to help and inspire individuals to take positive action and make society a better place for all.
“I think everybody should have personal accountability because everybody can make a difference, and I think that there are enough of us in the world who want the same thing, whether it’s female empowerment or equality and equity for everybody,” she says.
“However, it’s really up to us to take personal accountability, to take the first step so that we can make a difference. I’m not saying these have to be big things, but everyone can take baby steps, and through our efforts together it all adds up.”
