WRITING / FROM THE FIELD

Ideas from the field.

A searchable record of Ian’s articles on building products, creator communities, market expansion, and the lessons in between.

Every article stays on its original publication page. The Lab brings the archive together.

42 ARTICLES

  1. Thumbnail for The Career Trap of Being Too Useful2026

    The Career Trap of Being Too Useful

    How capable employees and founders become indispensable to the work while leaving themselves […]

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  2. Thumbnail for Why Success Still Feels Empty2026

    Why Success Still Feels Empty

    A note on ambition, identity and the life underneath achievement There is a […]

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  3. Thumbnail for What I Learned Scaling a 100M User Platform2026

    What I Learned Scaling a 100M User Platform

    In 2020, TikTok was banned in India. Over $900 million flowed into the […]

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  4. Thumbnail for The Wilderness Was Necessary: How 2025 Prepared Me for the Kingdom2026

    The Wilderness Was Necessary: How 2025 Prepared Me for the Kingdom

    We reflect every day. We think that we travel life alone, but in […]

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  5. The Myth of the Perfect Move, Lab archive cover2025

    The Myth of the Perfect Move

    My greatest ambition might be my heaviest anchor. I feel like my generation […]

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  6. Thumbnail for Life Isn’t That Complicated. You Are.2025

    Life Isn’t That Complicated. You Are.

    Look around. You desire endless things. Your career feels like you’re running in […]

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  7. Thumbnail for Why Jordan is Our Strategic Engine for the Middle East2025

    Why Jordan is Our Strategic Engine for the Middle East

    The Real Story We’re Building in Jordan It’s a strange feeling, having a […]

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  8. Thumbnail for Creating “Meaningful” Connections?2025

    Creating “Meaningful” Connections?

    Why do we need connections? It’s a simple question with a profound answer. […]

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  9. Thumbnail for Why a 3-Legged Dog? The Significance of Resilience and Perseverance2025

    Why a 3-Legged Dog? The Significance of Resilience and Perseverance

    Life often throws unexpected challenges our way, and sometimes it feels like the […]

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  10. Thumbnail for Gaming, Live-streaming, and the Rise of Creator Economy2025

    Gaming, Live-streaming, and the Rise of Creator Economy

    The days when entertainment meant gathering around a TV set are fading into […]

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  11. Thumbnail for Bigo Live celebrates global creators at the BIGO MENA Gala 2025 in Dubai2025

    Bigo Live celebrates global creators at the BIGO MENA Gala 2025 in Dubai

    The Gala recognized standout creators with prestigious awards. Image Courtesy: BigoThis article was […]

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  12. Thumbnail for Tiki – From Zero to 100M: How We Built India’s Most Engaged Short Video Community2024

    Tiki – From Zero to 100M: How We Built India’s Most Engaged Short Video Community

    This is our journey… Tiki is a short video app that we started […]

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  13. Thumbnail for BIGO Technology welcomes Clean Kinetics into Singapore – Jordan Incubation Project2024

    BIGO Technology welcomes Clean Kinetics into Singapore – Jordan Incubation Project

    The program, which was launched in 2023 in the Middle East was a […]

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  14. Thumbnail for Singapore streaming outfit BIGO targets $500m investment in Saudi Arabia2024

    Singapore streaming outfit BIGO targets $500m investment in Saudi Arabia

    BIGO has a 5-year plan to launch 500 jobs with an investment of […]

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  15. Thumbnail for Glam, Glitz, and Streaming Hits: The BIGO Awards Gala2024

    Glam, Glitz, and Streaming Hits: The BIGO Awards Gala

    Celebrating the Best of 2023 Philippines’ number one live-streaming platform, BIGO Live, starts […]

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  16. Thumbnail for BRIEF23 | Ian Goh, CEO – Tiki: Start something, lead an amazing tribe, make an impact2023

    BRIEF23 | Ian Goh, CEO – Tiki: Start something, lead an amazing tribe, make an impact

    BRIEF23 brings you insights and inspiration from Ian Goh, CEO, Tiki – the short video app […]

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  17. Thumbnail for The future of India’s creator economy lies in tier 2 and 3 cities: Tiki CEO2023

    The future of India’s creator economy lies in tier 2 and 3 cities: Tiki CEO

    By Nishtha Pandey Looking beyond Instagram Reels, YouTube shorts and the TikTok ban, a […]

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  18. Thumbnail for Social media in 2023 will be about intent, not number of views: Tiki | Exclusive2023

    Social media in 2023 will be about intent, not number of views: Tiki | Exclusive

    This article was originally written on Financial Express “You can’t just make money […]

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  19. Thumbnail for Paid Verification – A Bane For Genuine Creators2022

    Paid Verification – A Bane For Genuine Creators

    The issue of paid verification stirred the world of social media; new subscription […]

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  20. Thumbnail for The best and worst of times for the creator economy2022

    The best and worst of times for the creator economy

    This article was written for The Times of India “It was the best […]

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  21. tiki star award2022

    Why Do We Need Communities?

    People, as we know, are ‘communal’ by nature, and thus social media has […]

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  22. Thumbnail for OYO MY’s growth marketing lead Ian Goh joins short video creation firm2021

    OYO MY’s growth marketing lead Ian Goh joins short video creation firm

    JANICE TAN 18 JANUARY 2021 This article was written originally on Marketing-Interactive Ian Goh, […]

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  23. Hunter Gatherer photos, royalty-free images, graphics, vectors & videos | Adobe Stock2020

    The launch of FreebiesTribe.com

    Happy to announce the launch of a side passion project – FreebiesTribe – […]

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  24. Thumbnail for Marketing Strategy in times of COVID-192020

    Marketing Strategy in times of COVID-19

    [Part 2] April 30, 2020 Following Part 1 of our series on “Marketing Strategy in […]

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  25. Izlyn Ramli, Vice President, Group Brand and Communication, TM (5th from right) together with Vimal Balachandran, Head, OYO Homes, Malaysia (4th from left) at the event announcing the partnership collaboration between TM and OYO Malaysia, held earlier today at Kuala Lumpur Tower.2020

    OYO Malaysia and TM form a commercial partnership

    By NST Business – December 8, 2019 @ 3:29pm KUALA LUMPUR: OYO Rooms Hospitality Sdn Bhd […]

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  26. Thumbnail for Digitalisation of OYO Hotel Industry, from operation to management – 9 Dec, Sin Chew Newspaper2018

    Digitalisation of OYO Hotel Industry, from operation to management – 9 Dec, Sin Chew Newspaper

    P/s Used up all my chinese vocabulary in that interview

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  27. Thumbnail for Bike Sharing for Multi-modal Transit2018

    Bike Sharing for Multi-modal Transit

    https://www.slideshare.net/IanGoh2/bike-sharing-for-multimodal-transit-obike

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  28. Thumbnail for Iskandar Puteri’s green ecosystem enhanced with oBike2018

    Iskandar Puteri’s green ecosystem enhanced with oBike

    https://www.iproperty.com.my/news/iskandar-puteris-green-ecosystem-enhanced-with-obike/ 5 April, Medini City, Iskandar Puteri: Iskandar Puteri’s green ecosystem was further enhanced […]

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  29. Thumbnail for C2C Connect2CxO Series – Connecting with Ian Goh, Country Manager of Obike Malaysia2018

    C2C Connect2CxO Series – Connecting with Ian Goh, Country Manager of Obike Malaysia

    A video interview about Ian Goh’s work leading oBike Malaysia, preserved from the C2C Connect2CxO series.

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  30. Several vandalised oBikes have been found at Flat Desa Rejang, Kuala Lumpur. oBikes is Malaysia’s first global dockless bicycle sharing service. — Picture by Ham Abu Bakar2018

    oBike plans to pedal on despite cases of vandalism

    https://www.malaymail.com/s/1589665/obike-plans-to-pedal-on-despite-cases-of-vandalism oBike plans to pedal on despite cases of vandalism Published 1 month ago on 3 […]

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  31. (Front row, from left) Yong, Goh, Beh, Chong and Law with (back row, from left) BookDoc adviser Datuk Dr. Mohandas Ramasamy, corporate vice-president Datuk Yew Cheng Hoe and business development vice-president Reuben Poh at the signing ceremony.2018

    Healthcare has its rewards

    https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/02/10/healthcare-has-its-rewards-app-signs-on-new-partners-to-further-motivate-users-to-hit-their-goals/ (Front row, from left) Yong, Goh, Beh, Chong and Law […]

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  32. Thumbnail for oBike Offers Bicycle Sharing Services For UMPians2017

    oBike Offers Bicycle Sharing Services For UMPians

    http://community.ump.edu.my/ecommstaff/includes/viewNewsToPublic.jsp?ref=24028 Kuala Lumpur, 26 October – Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and oBike, […]

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  33. Thumbnail for oBike may have the answer to our traffic and obesity problems2017

    oBike may have the answer to our traffic and obesity problems

    https://firstclasse.com.my/obike-bike-sharing-service-ian-goh/ Business Development Manager Ian Goh shares how the first dockless bike-sharing platform […]

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  34. Thumbnail for Why prioritising pedestrians over cars in Malaysia makes sense2017

    Why prioritising pedestrians over cars in Malaysia makes sense

    https://www.malaymail.com/print/features/why-prioritising-pedestrians-over-cars-in-malaysia-makes-sense Why prioritising pedestrians over cars in Malaysia makes sense BY IDA […]

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  35. Ian-Goh-obike-basikal-malaysia-12017

    oBike bike-sharing app gaining traction

    http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/08/31/obike-bike-sharing-app-gaining-traction Robin Augustin | August 31, 2017 The coming of MRT and extensions […]

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  36. Thumbnail for Want to ride a bicycle in KL City?2017

    Want to ride a bicycle in KL City?

    A local guide to riding bicycles through Kuala Lumpur and its city routes.

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  37. Thumbnail for oBike Malaysia 1st Station-less Bike Sharing2017

    oBike Malaysia 1st Station-less Bike Sharing

    https://www.slideshare.net/IanGoh2/obike-malaysia-1st-stationless-bike-sharing

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  38. Thumbnail for SANDAKAN2016

    SANDAKAN

    A visual travel story about Sandakan, Sabah.

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  39. Thumbnail for Kokol Adventure2016

    Kokol Adventure

    A few of us decided to embark on an adventure 20 minutes away […]

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  40. Thumbnail for Awesome Free Stuff From The Internet2016

    Awesome Free Stuff From The Internet

    Who doesn’t love Free Stuff? Here is list of free resources from Photography? Illustration✎ […]

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  41. Thumbnail for The Power of Passion2016

    The Power of Passion

    A big thank you to everyone that came last night to our […]

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  42. Ian Goh Kudat Milky Way2016

    Kudat Milky Way

    A night-sky photo essay from Kudat, Sabah.

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