Tan's Topics

My story

My name is Choon (first name) Young (middle name) Tan (last name). I have a background marketing and social media (though when I studied for an MA in Social Media, the only remaining platforms we have today that existed back then were Facebook and Twitter), having mainly worked in these departments over the years for retail and fashion companies.

However, my main skill and interest has been in writing and journalism, having freelanced or interned at a number of regional, national and niche websites and publications, which include Confidentials, Gay Star News, A News Education, Resonate, So So Gay (now defunct, former Travel Editor) and Nee Hao magazine (now defunct, former Features Editor). Hence the inception and legacy of Tan’s Topics.

Then, since the pandemic, my focus shifted to ED&I (equity, diversity and inclusion). This came about through three ways:

1. The inequities and inequalities we were now seeing on a much larger scale, coupled with settings that ranged from adverts to survey results and from workplaces to panels at events which were non-diverse and exclusive
2. A culmination of my own experiences of bullying, discrimination and harassment both in and out of work and witnessing non-diverse and toxic workplace cultures and behaviours
3. My own personal goal to firstly improve my public speaking skills and secondly, be a voice for people like myself and others who didn’t have the reach, platform or confidence to speak up and be heard

Through my work over the last three years I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone, been braver to talk and write about more so-called “controversial” (i.e. “woke”) topics, and broadened my knowledge, expertise and network deeper into the world of ED&I.

For the Tan’s Topics blog, this has been my USP, particularly my reviews; looking at things through a diversity and inclusion lens, critiquing representation (or lack thereof) of minority groups, and trying to inspire ways in which these can be turned around or uplifting ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) and LGBTQ voices and works.

Now I stand as a wearer of many hats; someone who is a skilled and experienced writer and marketer, as well as speaker and specialist on ED&I issues and workplace culture. I live and work by the mantra – which I try to impress on others who I work with and organisations I speak at – that their ultimate success relies on everyone understanding why a positive, supportive, diverse and inclusive workplace culture is paramount and I help them understand how they can play their part in making it so.

While my experience and expertise is wide but also ever-expanding, my specialities lie in assisting organisations in supporting and including ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) and LGBTQ colleagues. I also do a lot of work around intersectionality, mental health and wellbeing, neurodiversity, as well as tackling and preventing bullying, discrimination and harassment.

If you are keen to read more about the services I can now proudly offer you and your organisation, then look no further.