Scaling Smart: Knowing When to Grow and When to Pause

DATE: November 12, 2025

TIME: 7 PM - 8:30 PM (GMT +8)

VENUE: Launch Programme Room, National Library, Level 7

Bigger isn’t always better. This session dives into the critical art of scaling smart—when to double down, when to hold back, and how to avoid growing pains. Get practical insights on aligning growth with capacity, cash flow, and capability, so you scale with purpose—not pressure.

Agenda: 

• 19:00 – 19:05: Registration

• 19:05 – 19:45: Fireside Chat “Scaling Smart: Knowing When to Grow-and When to Pause”

• 19:45 – 20:00: Q&A

• 20:00 – 20:30: Networking

Speakers:

About Ms Jeslin Bay

Jeslin Bay is the Group CEO of BlackStorm Consulting, a leading business consultancy firm specialising in corporate strategy and market entry across Southeast Asia. With a robust background in project management and strategic planning, Jeslin excels in leading cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions that drive organisational success. She holds a degree in Business Administration from the National University of Singapore and has a proven track record of managing complex projects from inception to completion.

About Mr Paddy Tan 

Paddy is a seasoned serial entrepreneur and management consultant with over 20 years of experience in driving business growth and success.

Having successfully sold his mobile security software startup in 2011 after six years of operation, Paddy continued to invest in and exit multiple startups, demonstrating his ability to build and exit businesses effectively. He has collaborated with a diverse range of clients, including startups, government authorities, and deal makers, across various sectors such as IoT, FinTech, Education, and Platform ecosystems.

Known for his engaging and practical teaching style, he is also a dedicated mentor and advisor to several startups and accelerators. 

About Ms Navaneetha S Nath (Nava) 

Nava is a Changemaker, Social Impact Founder, and Board Advisor. She founded social venture ‘Together for Good’ seeking to leverage the power of collaboration to catalyse change for a better world.

Together for Good (TFG) looks at empowering individuals and organisations to live and do good better by co-creating a more conscious, capable, connected, and compassionate society. At present, TFG works with organisations to design programmes and solutions at the intersections of mental, social, and occupational wellness for youth, women, and leaders.

Recognising the profound value of collective wisdom and community, Nava actively contributes to various organisations across the region. She champions for cross-border knowledge sharing and resource mobilisation to drive meaningful progress.

Driven by a desire to support more purpose driven leaders and changemakers, Nava is pursuing her Berkeley Executive Coaching Certificate Programme and is a recent Southeast Asia Next Gen Leader with Temasek Foundation and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

About Ms Antara Sara Mathai

Antara co- founded Durianpay, a modern payments stack for Indonesia. Founded in 2020, the initiative received venture backing the same year and hit EBITDA + in 2024. As the CEO, she drove fundraising, overseeing finance, product development, hiring and investor relationships, interfacing with over 80 investors interested in the market.

Previously she was VP of Product at OnlinePajak in Indonesia, a B2B tax solutions venture, where she launched the payment product and managed the payroll business unit comprising apps for payroll and employee taxes.

She received an MBA degree from INSEAD and has led multi-cultural teams in fast growing start-ups across India, the United States and Indonesia.