Value Proposition

Jeffrey Seah, 48 Partner at Mettle & Salt Partners, and Venture Partner at Incuvest and Quest Ventures

As a budding footballer trying to break into the Bedok Boys School team in the 1970s, Jeffrey Seah faced a stumbling block: Coaching sessions were conducted in Malay, the mother tongue of the entire team, except his.

Urged by his grandfather, he learnt the language. Seah also worked hard to kick and dribble with both feet, securing his place in the first team. In surmounting those obstacles, he learnt an important lesson – that roadblocks present opportunities. Today, this guides his mindset on life and career.

After graduating from the National University of Singapore, Seah found work at advertising firm Ogilvy & Mather in 1994, and quickly embraced the nascent digital technology at a time when industry gurus were sceptical. It helped him bag Internet-related accounts such as Yahoo! and Asiaone and his instincts proved right. These companies grew and within four years, he caught the eye of global brand communications company Starcom Mediavest Group, which appointed him managing director of its Singapore operations.