Cover Entrepreneur and mum-of-two Joan Chang, the co-founder of Lloyd’s Inn and Good Addition
Entrepreneur and mum-of-two Joan Chang, the co-founder of Lloyd’s Inn and Good Addition
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Entrepreneur and mum-of-two Joan Chang knows what it means to set boundaries and live with intention. From launching boutique stays with Lloyd’s Inn to creating clothing that works for real women at Good Addition, the Singaporean business owner shares how motherhood has changed her definition of success—and what she's no longer willing to compromise on
There are few things more grounding than having a child—except, perhaps, building a business from scratch. Joan Chang has done both. Twice.
The Singaporean entrepreneur is the co-founder behind Lloyd’s Inn, the design-led boutique hotel known for its minimalism and calm, and Good Addition, a fashion label focused on effortless pieces that make women feel like themselves again. And in the last few years, she's also become a mother of two.
“Motherhood didn’t come easy for me,” she says. “I had a tough pregnancy and had to go through multiple surgeries before I was able to conceive, so I definitely treasure motherhood more.”
These days, she speaks of her work and her family life with clarity and ease—but there’s no pretence that it all falls neatly into place. For Chang, balance is less about having it all, and more about knowing what matters enough to hold onto.
“In my twenties, I was more ambitious and competitive. In my thirties, just being blessed to be able to be on this journey to grow and raise my kids is enough for me,” she says. “The monetary pursuit is secondary.”
Read more: Lloyd’s Inn co-founder Joan Chang’s house is a modern minimalist dream
Above Chang and her family
Chang and her family
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Saying no, with purpose
That shift in mindset has carried into how she leads her teams. Chang is the first to admit she can’t do everything—and importantly, doesn't want to.
“I’ve had to work more efficiently, learn to trust and delegate more, and say no to more things or social events to protect my personal space,” she shares. Whether it’s turning down meetings or setting work takeovers while on maternity leave, her boundaries are clear.
“At work, given the number of businesses and things I manage, if I choose to attend every single meeting in the week and be involved in everything, I won’t have any time left for myself or my kids,” she says. “So I say no to set these boundaries and am clear about delegating ownership to those in charge, and trusting them with it.”
Even her so-called mum guilt has its limits. “From the get-go I’ve carved my boundary and personal space for myself that I don’t want to lose—even as a mum.”
Read more: Joan Chang, founder of Ove Collection, on the new Lloyd’s Inn in Kuala Lumpur
Above Chang has passed on opportunities that might have brought regional growth, but only at the cost of time with her children.
Chang has passed on opportunities that might have brought regional growth, but only at the cost of time with her children.
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Redefining success (on her own terms)
Chang is quick to point out that ambition isn’t off the table—it's simply reframed.
She has passed on opportunities that might have brought regional growth, but only at the cost of time with her children. She's skipped projects, meetings, and the chase for scale. “You can always earn more money but you can’t buy back time,” she says.
And while those decisions have come with trade-offs, she doesn't romanticise the sacrifice. “I’ve said no to meetings and projects that I would have loved to attend to grow and learn—because it takes time away from me spending time with my children.”
She wants her children to understand that. “I’d want them to know I made choices considering them in mind,” she says. “And hopefully they will appreciate and see my perspective as a mum.”
Designing with empathy
It’s no surprise that motherhood has quietly shaped both Lloyd’s Inn and Good Addition. The hotel has evolved to better accommodate families and new parents; the clothing line includes cuts that work for postnatal bodies without compromising on design.
“Even small things like storage solutions for pumping or breastfeeding mums matter,” she says. “And for clothes, the cuts can be made mum-tum friendly so they take you through pregnancy and postpartum and still look great.”
What makes Chang’s approach particularly modern is her willingness to acknowledge the emotional labour involved—both at home and in the workplace.
“Acknowledging emotions is an important aspect of empathy and seeing a different perspective,” she says. “Instead of downplaying emotion as a weakness, why not use it as a strength? It helps us remain objective while being in tune with people.”
Read more: Joan Chang launches online store with home accessories
Above Chang’s approach to leadership is more collaborative, less performative.
Chang’s approach to leadership is more collaborative, less performative.
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A different kind of leadership
Though she operates in a still male-dominated industry, Chang isn't interested in mimicking the status quo. Her approach to leadership is more collaborative, less performative. “I prefer a good team mix of men and women who can complement what I lack,” she says with a laugh. “I’m weak at project management or engineering-related things, but I can always deploy the guys.”
Ultimately, her focus now is to build sustainably—both as a business owner and as a mother. She hopes to encourage other women to pursue both without apology.
“Business you can start anytime,” she says. “Family takes time. And once you decide to prioritise that, everything else can wait.”
Her hope for the next generation? That more women will find communities that support both their ambitions and their family goals. And that they'll stop waiting for the right time.
“There is never a perfect time to start a family. Planning takes time, and sometimes that means you have to make space for it.”
In her case, that space is hard-won, clearly defined, and wholly her own.
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Andrea Saadan is the Senior Digital Editor of Tatler Singapore. She oversees all digital content for the website and currently leads the Beauty and Lifestyle verticals. As a child, she had always enjoyed reading and writing but it was only after she joined her college newspaper, The Spectrum, in Buffalo, New York, that she considered a career in journalism. Her love for all things beauty started from the age of two—when she was caught playing with (and damaging) her mother’s YSL lipstick. On top of her day job, she is also an unpaid beauty consultant for friends and family. Besides make-up, her obsessions include the wizarding world of Harry Potter, podcasts, ice-cream, her walking pad and watching endless re-runs of The Office (US).
