In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Steven Okun, a seasoned public affairs and ESG expert who has spent 23 years at the intersection of business, government, and sustainability in Asia. From working on Bill Clinton's presidential campaign to winning the biggest aviation case in U.S. history for UPS, to pioneering ESG at KKR, Steven shares his transformation from White House operative to Asia power player.
He discusses the moment he refused to return to Washington and chose to stay in Singapore, how he became the first global private equity person to do ESG in Asia (despite having to Google what it meant), why brutal honesty, even delivering bad news, builds lasting business relationships, and his "no dickhead policy" that actually works in corporate Asia. Steven also reveals the keys to winning presidential-level negotiations, why making yourself unique is the ultimate career strategy, and why getting life experiences matters more than chasing money early in your career.
Whether you're navigating a career pivot, considering an expat move, or seeking inspiration to bet on yourself when the expected path doesn't feel right, this conversation offers over two decades of hard-won wisdom on career reinvention, cross-cultural strategy, and the courage to say "I don't think so." Let's explore what's "Inside the mind of a public affairs & ESG pioneer".
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STEVEN OKUN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenokun/ Website: https://www.apacadvisors.com/about
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(02:50) Introduction (04:05) Deciding to Study Law (05:48) Being Part of the Clinton Administration (07:57) Presidents You Admire (09:02) Finding Your Calling (10:10) Getting Into Business (12:10) Transitioning from the Public to Private Sector (13:45) Coming to Singapore (18:45) Working at KKR (29:03) Courage to Pivot Careers (30:39) Most Interesting Projects (40:10) Keys to Victory (46:33) Starting APAC Advisers (51:25) Health & Fitness Routine (53:10) ESG & Sustainability (57:47) Advice for New & Emerging CEOs (01:12:15) Rapid Fire Questions
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.
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