About
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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