On the surface, Anthony Tan’s life looks like a picture of success — raised in a wealthy family, now leading one of Southeast Asia’s largest tech companies, Grab. But according to him, the path has been far from smooth.
“If I’d known how hard it was going to be, I’m not sure I’d have done it,” he admits candidly. “Maybe ignorance really is bliss.” Yet despite the challenges, Tan considers himself lucky. “I definitely got the longer end of the stick. But not everyone is as fortunate.”
Now in his 40s, Tan oversees Grab, a U.S.-listed company that touches the lives of millions across the region with services like ride-hailing, food delivery, and financial offerings. By 2023, Grab was serving over 35 million users and providing income for more than 13 million people. Operating in eight countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, the company generated over $2 billion in revenue last year.
Advice for New Entrepreneurs
When asked to share some wisdom with aspiring entrepreneurs, Tan gets to the point:
“It has to be something you’re truly called to do.”
“If you’re starting out or thinking about a new venture, you need to be sure it’s a calling,” he advises.
“If it doesn’t feel like something bigger than you — a mission, a purpose — then don’t do it. So many people don’t make it. It’s really that tough.”
For Tan, that calling is deeply personal. “I believe it’s God’s way of telling me to serve, and I’ll do it however I need to, even if it means being on my knees,” he says.
Another piece of advice from Tan is to have a solid support system. His wife, Chloe Tong, gave up her own career to help him build Grab. “Whatever sacrifices I’ve made are nothing compared to hers and to others who’ve stood by me,” he reflects. “If you’re in it just for the money or don’t feel a genuine calling, you’ll burn out quickly.”
Early Lessons in Hard Work at Grab
Tan’s relentless drive didn’t come out of nowhere. His father, who heads Tan Chong Motor, and his grandfather, the company’s founder, shaped his outlook from an early age.
“I watched my parents work non-stop,” he remembers. “My dad used to say, ‘Your grandfather drilled this into us, and now it’s our turn to do the same to you: you can sleep all you want when you’re dead.’”
The family also believed that with privilege comes responsibility. “They’d remind us, ‘You’ve been given a lot, so more is expected from you than from others,’” he explains. “Basically, work from the moment you wake up until you drop into bed — and minimize how much you sleep.”
Building Grab: A Tough Climb
The road to success wasn’t easy. Since launching Grab over a decade ago, Tan has worked relentlessly, often putting in 15- to 20-hour days and shuttling between multiple cities each week. “Every day felt like we were fighting an uphill battle,” he recalls. “We were always anxious about being overtaken, losing ground, or failing.”
In the beginning, Tan personally hit the streets, handing out free coffee at gas stations to taxi drivers, trying to get them to join Grab.
It wasn’t just drivers who were hard to recruit — finding talent to run the company was equally tough. “We couldn’t offer the salaries that the big tech companies did, so why would anyone choose us?” Tan asks.
Fundraising was another struggle. “I was constantly on the move, trying to secure the capital we needed.”
Tan also made significant personal sacrifices to keep Grab afloat. “There were some investors who had a lot of power, and I remember being told, ‘Anthony, you’ve got to take a hit.’ I had a big chunk of the company, and I had to drastically reduce my stake at a massive discount so others wouldn’t have to.”
Despite the hardships, Tan feels fortunate. “I’m grateful to those who believed in me and took a chance on Grab,” he says. But he doesn’t sugarcoat it: “It’s been a tough journey — no doubt about that.”
Source: here
Also read: Undercover CEO: Anthony Tan’s Day as a Grab Driver
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