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An accountant by training but a lifelong learner, executive/career coach, and corporate trainer in practice, I have worked in financial services, consumer goods, hotel and property development/ management, and higher education sectors for more than 20 years. I was a lead independent director for two listed companies in Singapore for about 10 years, providing leadership and strategic advice to a team of experienced executive directors on succession planning, talent management, appointment of key management personnel, performance evaluation, remuneration matters, strategic planning, M&A, new business/market development, financial reporting and internal controls, and equity/debt funding. I offer a range of coaching services tailored to meet the specific needs of my clients, providing impactful solutions that drive results. My ability to adapt and integrate new methodologies ensures that I stay ahead of trends and deliver value beyond expectations. What truly sets me apart is my unwavering dedication to understanding the unique nuances of each client’s needs, which allows me to create personalized experiences that resonate and inspire. Collaboration and authenticity are the cornerstones of my practice. I wholeheartedly believe in building genuine relationships that extend beyond transactional interactions. By combining my skill set with a genuine passion for helping others succeed, I strive to create a positive and lasting impact in every engagement. Let's connect and explore the possibilities of achieving great things together.

Key Skills

Experience

Lecturer | The School of Positive Psychology

Jul 2025 - Present
Singapore

Lecturer | Nanyang Institute of Management

Jan 2024 - Present

Senior Executive Coach | Consultant | AIIR Consulting

Dec 2023 - Present

Associate Trainer | NTUC LearningHub

Jan 2022 - Present

Leadership Trainer | Executive Coach | RELEVANCE

Jan 2021 - Present

Director, Executive Coaching | Cornerstone International Group

Jan 2020 - Present
Singapore Cornerstone is a global member of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC), Cornerstone is recognized as having the highest level of quality in the industry. Cornerstone is also named by Forbes as one of the Best Management Consulting Firms in Executive Search in 2020 and ranked by Hunt Scanlon in the top Global 25 groups in 2018. https://www.cornerstone-group.com/coaches/kwan-james-dr/

Career Advisor | Workshop Facilitator | American Association of Singapore

Jan 2020 - Present
Facilitate career transition related workshops Provide career coaching and advice to expatriates seeking career opportunities in Singapore. https://www.aasingapore.com/crce-workshops/

Coach | Mind Gym

Jan 2018 - Present
Singapore Listed in UK, Mind Gym uses the latest psychology and behavioural science to create bite-size learning experiences that provides high impact on how people think, feel and behave and so improve the performance of companies and the lives of people who work in them: not just once but forever,

Principal Consultant | J&J Consultancy and Training LLP

Jan 2000 - Present
Singapore Provide executive coaching, career coaching and life coaching to senior managers and professionals during career transition, identifying their strengths, defining their leadership style and goals, communicating more effectively, and consider multiple perspectives in their decision making. I help my clients on specific areas of personal development, such as raising self- awareness, resilience, stakeholder management, improving performance, and personal wellbeing. Conduct corporate training on accounting and finance, soft skills, leadership development, employee effectiveness, and positive psychology. Offer management consultancy on management performance, change management and employee empowerment to leaders.

Adjunct Professor - Accounting & Finance (EMBA, GMBA) | & Sydney

Jan 2021 - Jun 2025
https://www.spjain.sg/faculty/profiles/james-kwan

Visiting Lecturer - Finance | Wuhan University of Technology

Feb 2024 - Jun 2024

Assistant Professor - Accounting and Finance | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Jan 2019 - Jan 2024
Singapore Facilitate face-to-face and online sessions of accounting and finance related modules for the MBA and BSc programmes.

Course Coordinator / Seminar Instructor (Accounting & Finance) | Nanyang Technological University Singapore

Jan 2016 - Jan 2024
Department of Accounting, Banking & Finance Developing course materials and facilitate group discussion/presentation in class for undergraduates using blended learning and game-based learning.

Lead Independent Director | Global Dragon Limited

Feb 2018 - Jun 2023
Singapore Chairman: Nomination Committee Member: Audit Committee Member: Remuneration Committee

Career Coach | Facilitator | Lee Hecht Harrison

Jan 2018 - Jan 2023
Singapore I employ various coaching models and positive psychology to provide personalized career coaching to my candidates undergoing career transition. Using effective self-discovery questioning techniques and brain-based coaching that involves positive psychology, I assist my candidates to identify various pathways to develop outcome based career strategies so as to achieve their career goals. I provide guidance to my candidates to craft customised resumes with unique selling propositions, increase their visibility and credibility in their social media profile that capture the interest of recruiters and hiring managers. Through effective coaching, I boost their confidence in managing their interviews and negotiations that could result in job offers. I also conduct workshops on career reflections and self-assessment, LinkedIn profile optimisation, interviewing for success, and strategic networking.

Senior Career Fellow | Nanyang Business School

Jan 2018 - Jan 2023
Graduate Studies Career Development Office Personal career coach to give postgraduates and undergraduates 1-on-1 career coaching support and to help them develop key skills and self- awareness in their career development journey. Provide psychometric assessments and professional advice to students on issues such as job search, resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, LinkedIn optimisation, professional development and etiquette, salary negotiation, etc.

Associate Business Consultant - Positive Psychology | Bailey & French - Consulting

Jan 2020 - Jan 2022
Singapore Using cutting edge positive psychology interventions in key areas of Performance Motivation, Strengths Based Leadership and Wellbeing, I provide solutions, training and coaching to enhance positivity for successful performance at individual, team and organisational levels.

Trainer | CPA Australia

Jan 2017 - Jan 2019
Conducted training on Corporate Governance for CPA Australia members.

Independent Director | Global Premium Hotels Ltd (GPHL)

Jan 2012 - Jun 2017
Chairman, Remuneration Committee Member, Audit Committee Member, Nomination Committee

Lecturer (Acounging & Finance) | Kaplan Higher Education

Jan 2004 - Jan 2016
Conducted accounting and finance lectures for undergraduates and postgraduates from Murdoch University, UCD, Portsmouth University, Bedfordshire University and Northumbria University.

ACCA Lecturer | SAA Global Education

Jan 1996 - Jan 2013
Conducted lecutures for ACCA students and have produced more than 40 prizewinners, including several Gold, SIlver and Bronze medalists. Subjects taught include F5: Performance Management; F7: Financial Reporting; F9: Financial Management; P2: Corporate Reporting; P4: Advanced Financial Management; P5: Advanced Performance Management.

Group Management Accountant | British American Tobacco

Jan 1997 - Jan 1999
Senoko Loop Prepared budgets and quarterly rolling forecasts, risk management, fixed assets accounting, costing and variance analysis.

Assistant Accountant | Sembcorp Industries Ltd

Jan 1995 - Jan 1997
Systems implementation, treasury, financial reporting and budgeting.

Education & Certificates

MSt Coaching

University of Cambridge
Jan 2027

Master of Liberal Arts, Ethics and Leadership

University of Chicago
Jan 2027

Master of Liberal Arts, Sustainabillity

Harvard University
Jan 2026

MA Adult Learning and Leadership

Columbia University in the City of New York
May 2025

MSc Educational Assessment

University of Oxford
Oct 2023

MSc Marketing

King's College London
Feb 2022

MSc Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology

University of East London
Oct 2021

MSc Digital Education

University of Edinburgh
Nov 2017

PhD Accounting and Finance

University of Western Australia
Mar 2015

Master of Business Research

University of Western Australia
Nov 2008

MBA - Investment & Finance

University of Hull
Jul 2002

MBA

University of Strathclyde
Jun 2000

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