“I believe that we leave a legacy, big or small, with everyone we interact with,” muses Teo Jia En. The creative entrepreneur and mother of three was raised to create and measure impact beyond wealth, investing in “a strong values and beliefs system that people will remember you for” on the daily. “Kindness, integrity, generosity and respect are key values instilled by my parents, and these not only manifest in my actions and interactions, but also serve as a lighthouse to guide me when times get tough,” she adds.

As someone whose father was involved in the palm oil business, Teo grew up being sensitive to sustainability issues, even at a young age. Over the years, her dedication to understanding these issues led her to enrol in environmental studies courses and immerse herself in extensive reading. “I think about sustainability more than people might realise. It’s a complex and nuanced topic that requires vigilance,” says Teo, who co‑founded Crane, a co‑working space and community platform, with her husband Federico Folcia in 2019. When the Covid‑19 pandemic hit the following year, the couple started Crane Living to sustain the business, which has since burgeoned into a lifestyle destination for eclectic, well‑crafted homeware.

Teo underscores the essence of balance in her approach. “There’s a trade‑off to everything we do,” she says. “We take and we leave behind. So it’s about balancing—how do we consume, but in a less hurried and harried way? How do we grow while being mindful of the impact we have on the environment?”

This thoughtful perspective extends to her personal life, where she prioritises quality purchases over impulse buys. She also applies this guiding tenet to her businesses, ensuring minimal waste and promoting circularity wherever possible, and focusing Crane’s content and programming on growing a stronger, deeper creator community to drive impact for good.

Before embarking on her own entrepreneurial journey, Teo devoted eight years to working alongside her father managing the investments for the family office, imbibing his values‑driven ethos in business. “I learnt lessons from my parents that I apply to my work today. One is to follow my gut instinct and not let myself be paralysed by overanalysis,” she shares.

Back in 2020, the pandemic threw a spanner in the works of Teo and Folcia’s fledgling business, but that didn’t stop the couple from quickly pivoting to make things work. “Crane started less than six months before Covid-19 hit, which changed the world completely”, she recalls, “Crane was meant to be all about human connection and sharing of experiences, which was the complete opposite of what was possible. We had to constantly innovate and function as leanly as possible, converting our club space into a mini grocery store to operate as an essential service. We also launched Crane Living during this time, catering to everyone’s desire to upgrade their homes”.

Besides agility and passion, emerging from this episode crystallised one thing for her: That nothing mattered more than family and health.

The couple have three young daughters—Ella, 9; Ines, 7; and Eva, 4—with whom they share an open and honest relationship. “We talk to our kids a lot and don’t sugar‑coat what people may feel are adult issues. They know when we’re anxious or stressed, and I try to share with them the reasons,” she says. By being completely transparent, and demonstrating their own weaknesses and vulnerabilities, the Folcias hope that their daughters will embrace making mistakes as part of growth and be unafraid to ask for help when help is needed. “We’re far from perfect, but where we can, we try to lead by example,” says Teo, citing agility and sincerity as solid principles.

From speaking to friends who work with family, however, she is also patently aware that family dynamics vary considerably, and that there is no one‑size‑fits‑all formula. “For our family, [we communicate as often as possible], and try to be understanding and empathetic. We try our best to raise confident, secure kids who will hopefully thrive in the world on their own two feet,” she offers.

“My youngest daughter was born with some mild disabilities—she has moderate hearing loss and also some mobility issues on her left side. However, she has never let herself be held back by her issues—she attends multiple therapy sessions weekly with gusto and enthusiasm, and has learnt from a young age to stand up for herself. She’s confident and secure, and honestly, this inspires all of us. We used to worry that she might be disadvantaged because of her issues, but she has shown us how to embrace differences, and that she is much more resilient than we had ever expected,” expresses Teo. “As a result, the older kids are more empathetic and caring, and have also grown up to be more independent.”

Another lesson gleaned from the Covid‑19 outbreak was the stark realisation that life is inherently chaotic and unpredictable. Teo extends this insight to her views on investing, contending that the financial landscape can be equally tumultuous. In this unforeseeable terrain, she underscores the vital role of a well‑defined values system serving as a steadfast north star.

This core belief not only keeps her firmly grounded, but is also crucial in guiding her investment decisions. With this resolute framework in place, she believes that even in the face of potential missteps, the clarity of purpose endures, making it easier to navigate the turbulent waters of investment with unwavering conviction—especially where succession planning is involved.

In her personal capacity, Teo is a progressive investor with DBS Private Bank. She appreciates the bank’s forward-thinking, open‑minded spirit, and for being at the forefront of meeting the needs of a modern family office. “I think a family office is a good way for families to put more structure in place for their investments and assets. It can also be a way to crystallise the family values and put them into practice,” she expounds.

It is in this vein that DBS Private Bank seeks to support their clients to grow and preserve their family legacy over the long term. Head of Family Office at DBS Private Bank, Yvonne Lim says: “In an increasingly complex global environment, some of our clients are taking a fresh look at how their family offices need to evolve. Beyond investment management, we are seeing more family offices take on expanded roles, including family governance and philanthropy advisory. Centralising the management of such matters can help ensure that all aspects of the family’s financial affairs are aligned with family values and longer term goals. As Singapore’s leading family office practice, we are very much committed to supporting our clients through this highly personal and customised journey”.

This article is presented in partnership with Tatler Singapore.