In this episode of Taiwanese Change Makers, host Adrian de Courcey sits down with Kara Atchison, a seasoned engineer-turned-entrepreneur with a remarkable career spanning NASA’s Space Shuttle Program, global defense giants, and her own Taiwan-based supply chain venture, SCM Solution. Kara shares insights on high-stakes teamwork at NASA, the challenges of launching a business in Taiwan, and how geopolitical shifts like U.S.-China tariffs are reshaping supply chains. Tune in for practical advice on entrepreneurship, cross-cultural leadership, and why Taiwan is a hub for hardware innovation — plus, hear Kara’s favorite Taiwanese street food spots!

How does a Scottish musician become one of Taiwan’s most influential headhunters? In this episode of Taiwanese Change Makers, host Adrian de Courcey sits down with Alan McIvor - Practice Lead at Paul Wright Group, angel investor, and former rockstar - for a candid conversation about reinvention, risk-taking, and reshaping Taiwan’s talent landscape.

From fronting a band at Spring Scream to placing C-suite executives, Alan’s journey is anything but ordinary. Alan shares:

- Why Taiwan’s corporate culture needs more “foreign crazy” (and less rigidity)

- Angel investing in startups like CreatorDB & Ness Wellness - and what he looks for in founders

- The art of executive search - key traits of top leaders (hint: charisma beats credentials)

- Taiwan’s Gold Card scheme - brilliant in theory, but are companies leveraging it?

- Alan's accidental coffee habit (including the time he “ordered” at an interior design firm)

Packed with humour, hard truths, and career insights - this episode is a masterclass in saying “yes” to the unexpected.

In this episode of Taiwanese Change Makers, host Adrian de Courcey sits down with Elias Ek, serial entrepreneur, ESG advocate and angel investor, to explore his remarkable journey from Sweden to Taiwan. With over two decades in Taiwan, Elias co-founded multiple businesses, including Enspyre, Taiwan's premier B2B lead generation company, and authored the book, How to Start a Business in Taiwan.

Elias shares candid insights on:

• The highs and lows of building a business in Taiwan as an immigrant.
• Why he founded Dragon’s Chamber to support foreign entrepreneurs in a system where less than 1% of startups are immigrant-led.
• The critical gaps in Taiwan’s startup ecosystem, from banking hurdles for foreigners to tax policies that deter international investment.
• His vision for Taiwan’s future - and why he’d love to launch a fintech bank for immigrants.

Tune in for a conversation packed with hard-won wisdom, laugh-out-loud anecdotes (like his love for Hooters Taiwan), and actionable advice for aspiring change makers.