Apple Podcasts
SpotifyS3E2 | Burnout, Feedback, and the Making of a Leader: PatSnap CEO’s Story
Ever been told you’re not fit for the job? That’s exactly what happened to Jeffrey during a pivotal moment early in his journey as the CEO of PatSnap.
In this episode of Hard Truths By Vertex, I sit down with Jeffrey to explore how he turned tough feedback into fuel for growth. From starting PatSnap right out of university to leading a global tech company, he shares candid lessons about leadership, building strong teams, and navigating challenges.
Tune in to hear Jeffrey’s honest take on what it really takes to grow as a leader—mistakes, reflections, and all!
Table of Contents
Discussion Topics: Burnout, Feedback, and the Making of a Leader
- “You’re not fit to be CEO!”—The moment that changed everything
- Why leadership isn’t just about having a vision
- From writing code to leading a global team—Jeffrey’s evolution
- Behind the scenes: How Jeffrey sets high-level goals
- The surprising secret to handling conflicts and low moments
- Raw talent vs. experience—what really makes a great hire?
- Why Jeffrey still jumps into frontline problems (sometimes)
- Hard truths from an investor that reshaped Jeffrey’s confidence
- Avoiding burnout: Jeffrey’s approach to staying grounded
- Grateful but not proud—Jeffrey reflects on his journey
Our Guest: Jeffrey Tiong
Jeffrey Tiong is the Founder and CEO of Patsnap, a global leader in AI-powered IP and R&D innovation intelligence. Under Jeffrey’s leadership, Singapore-founded Patsnap has empowered over 15,000 customers across 50 countries to transform ideas into groundbreaking innovations through cutting-edge market, technology, competitive, and patent insights.
Jeffrey’s accolades include Fortune’s 40 Under 40 (2022), and recognition as a Top 50 SaaS CEO by The Software Report (2020). He was also honoured with Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Singapore, cementing his status as a trailblazer in the tech and innovation landscape.
PatSnap
Every year, $2 trillion is being spent on R&D globally. However, despite the dollars spent, R&D productivity has dropped by 65% for the past forty years. Our mission is to help R&D thought leaders around the world to improve that. We provide a suite of R&D analytic and management tools for businesses, universities, start-ups and research organizations. PatSnap’s vision is to empower the innovators to do better research and innovation.