Joanne Seaton, Co-founder & CEO at Angstrohm Technologies
Straight out of high school, Joanne started working as a part-time administrative staff in a music school in Kuala Lumpur. She resumed her education and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. Fresh out of university and like most young adults during her time, she wasn’t sure where life would take her, she says. She eventually worked in a variety of industries including Banking for 6 years & IT Services for 3 years and that proved set the base for her venture Angstrohm Technologies (the maker of doctorDB) with her co-founders.
doctorDB is a “go-to” platform for healthcare related information, intelligence, products and services and perfectly blends community and commerce.
Her favourite quote “Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion”. Joanne shares some more insights with team ABT in this interview.
Who Inspires you the most and why?
It’s hard to choose just one person that has inspired me, and to a certain extent, shaped me. I’ve always been a fan of Oprah Winfrey not just because of her business successes but also her philanthropic efforts, which inspired me to start a social enterprise like doctorDB.
When it comes to people that are close to me, my mum and dad have always been my inspiration. Both from humble beginnings, they started their careers as teachers but worked hard to provide enough for me and my brother. My dad, whilst struggling to provide for the family, always had a soft spot for people in need and had always tried to find a way to help, one way or the other and even when we couldn’t afford it. He’s been my inspiration, especially when it comes to the act of giving.
Tell us about your Diversified experience in various industries and how education has helped you?
Over the past 20 years, I’ve been really fortunate to have worked in a variety of industries – education, fitness, entertainment, banking & technology. The experience I’ve gained has taught me to appreciate the nuances of various businesses, the importance of fiscal discipline, the importance of customer relationships and the need to always bring people together.
My education started at home with my parents and family providing the core values with which I live by. They taught me to respect people and also taught me good manners. My school and university is built on those values.
Education comes in different forms – I’ve found that it’s best to have a healthy mix of being book-smart and street-smart. But the ratio changes in different circumstances.
Tell us more about Angstrohm Technologies and what is the story behind the brand?
After many years of corporate life, I did a lot of soul-searching and found out that my definition of success and happiness had changed tremendously. I wanted to do something that would make a positive impact on people’s lives. My co-founders (Arun Augustine and Giridhar Singh) also felt the same way.
That’s when we came up with doctorDB – a healthcare platform that is a blend of community and commerce. In its simplest form, doctorDB allows consumers to find good health. Angstrohm Technologies (the maker of doctorDB) is an internet startup company, founded in Sep 2014.
We’ve just launched phase 1 of doctorDB in Malaysia and Singapore, and it’s available on both iOS and Android in addition to www.doctordb.com. But we’ve really just started. There will be more unique features and solutions that will be rolled out progressively and across other countries in Asia as well.
Whats the top soft skill that you feel more Women should learn and apply in the workplace?
As a woman, I know it is sometimes difficult to stand out in the workplace. It is important for women to be self-confident and not just project self-confidence. But there’s also a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and we should check ourselves from time to time. I also think women shouldn’t lose their femininity in the workplace. This God-given quality is what makes us unique and when applied in the right situations, it brings balance to the harshness of the business world.
What Advice do you have for young women who are starting their own Business?
Three things come to mind; learn to listen, choose your mentors wisely and take the leap.
When you’re running your own business, you sometimes get caught up in the daily grind. I feel that we sometimes need to quieten our thoughts and learn to listen when being spoken to. It sounds easy but listening is really an art form that I’ve learned from one of my mentors. There’s so much invaluable information that gets lost or dismissed when we are formulating responses in our head before the person you’re speaking with has finished what he or she has to say. Your mentors play such a huge role and I’ve been blessed to have 2 very key mentors in my life. These mentors indirectly and subtly shape the way you think.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to take the leap into the world of entrepreneurship. In the words of Oprah, “Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” Be brave, and take the leap!
What would you like to Achieve in coming years?
My vision is a simple and idealistic one – which is to save at least one life through the doctorDB platform. That said, I want to build a financially successful company that will continually bring good health and joy to many underprivileged people.