Michelle Yeoh’s Three Lessons for Growth: Adapt, Challenge, Connect

As 2024 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the common threads that connect the diverse audiences I’ve had the privilege to work with this year: the ambitious start-ups and SMEs that gigCMO supports, and the students of the Click Start London programme who are just beginning their professional journeys.

Whether you’re scaling a business or starting your career, Michelle Yeoh’s timeless advice to graduates offers invaluable insights: stay loose, know your limits, and find your people. These principles resonate universally, reminding us that growth—whether in business or life—is about learning, adapting, and collaborating.

Knowledge Transfer for Growth

At gigCMO , we champion knowledge transfer as the cornerstone of business growth. Our marketing playbooks empower start-ups, scale-ups, and SMEs with the tools and insights they need to thrive.

But this concept isn’t limited to businesses. Knowledge transfer is also at the heart of the Click Start London workshops I’ve led this year, equipping students with practical skills to kickstart their careers. Growth, whether for a company or an individual, begins with resilience, adaptability, and the courage to seize opportunities—even those you didn’t expect.

Yeoh’s advice to "stay loose" perfectly captures this. Businesses that remain flexible and open to change often discover unexpected paths to success, just as students do when navigating the uncertainties of starting their careers.

Knowing Your Limits in Business and Career

Yeoh’s second lesson, "know your limits", is a vital reminder that growth requires both self-awareness and boldness.

For businesses, this principle is equally critical. At gigCMO, we’ve seen start-ups and SMEs achieve remarkable growth by focusing on what they do best while being bold enough to challenge external limitations—whether that’s entering new markets or innovating in competitive industries.

For students, knowing your limits doesn’t mean staying within them—it means understanding them so you can push beyond. Whether it’s tackling a daunting internship or navigating career uncertainty, it’s about learning when to push yourself and when to ask for help.

Finding Your People—The Power of Community

Finally, “find your people”.

For businesses, this is about building strong teams, trusted partners, and loyal customers who share your values and vision. Collaboration is at the heart of sustainable growth, and at gigCMO, we see every day how strong relationships underpin success.

For students, finding your people means building a network of mentors and peers who inspire and support you. The Click Start London programme has been all about equipping students with the tools to connect meaningfully and build communities that will support their future aspirations.

Yeoh’s journey reminds us that none of us succeed alone. Whether it’s an actor breaking barriers or a business navigating growth, collaboration and community are essential.

As we step into 2025, I encourage all of us—businesses, leaders, and students—to embrace these lessons:

• stay adaptable,
• understand and challenge your limits, and
• build strong, supportive communities.

These principles are timeless and universal, whether you’re launching a career or scaling a business. Thank you for being part of this journey with me in 2024, and here’s to a year of growth, resilience, and shared success ahead.