Fanny’s Candour at Work
When Fanny Tham co-wrote the first chapter of CreativesAtWork 10 years ago, she was in the midst of wrapping up her prequel to the CAW as a freelance producer with leading advertising agencies. In the years leading up to 2012, she was at different levels of the creative value chain, producing 6 broadcast channels, launching Singapore’s first sports-dedicated online TV channel before Netflix was a thing, and working on Singapore's first Stereoscopic 3D multi-camera live recording.
In this interview, we ask Fanny our burning questions about the backstory and the developing narrative of CAW.
1. You’ve had an illustrious career in the creative industry before co-founding CAW. Can you share what got you started on this journey?
It was really more of a push factor. I came out to freelance as the company I was with was not doing well. As a producer, I was getting jobs directly from clients when I was with my previous company. So I did the same thing as a freelancer. As the clients started to give work to me, I assembled teams comprising ex-colleagues who had also gone into freelancing, to complete each project.
With our initial success, my partners in crime encouraged me to get more jobs for them. That was how the informal form of CAW started. As more jobs came,I want to make this into a business with real structure. I spoke to Jayce about what I was doing. She was interested in it, and the rest is history.
2. Looking back at the past 10 years, what are some of the challenges that you and CAW have grown from?
It has been a constant challenge to work efficiently so we can fulfill client demands in two key aspects. The first would be meeting tight timelines and the second would be working within budgets.
It’s no longer a question of whether we can do it - because with the quality base of freelancers we have, we can do anything the clients want. But the number one challenge is how we can do the job faster and within budget. All these stem from experience.
To get real, managing cash flow requires some tightrope walking. Clients’ credit terms are stretching longer to 60 days. Through the years we have tried to solve it by launching new models of working with clients from longer terms projects to retainer models.
3. What were some of the memorable projects/milestones that you are proud of?
Some projects easily come to mind but then again, it’s hard to put place one over another since they are all our babies. In terms of impact, here are the milestones we’re proud of:
We produced the opening video for the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting which required us to coordinate filming across 9 ASEAN countries
We launched Storeys, an initiative aimed at driving positive change in Singapore through 16 original short films
We published our book, The Business of Freelancing [Visual: amzn.to/33mJQf]
We triumphed over Covid-19! Apart from taking some of our projects, such as our training workshops online, we also launched BRIDGE where we supported and matched freelancers with SMEs on marketing initiatives that helped freelancers apply new skills while opening up revenue streams for the SMEs. Together with more than 270 freelancers, we implemented over 30 projects.
4. Have there been regrets?
No regrets at all but if there’s something I would do differently, it would be to be more aggressive when we first started with our business expansion. At that time, we were focused on delivering quality work to our clients and working within our resources.
5. Progressive clients spur us to push the envelope and inspire us to do our best work. Which were some of the clients you were grateful to have worked with?
That would be my very first client, ABR holdings. I will forever be grateful to them for being the first to sign on the dotted line with us.
Ironman and Starhub were also one of our first clients to vest their faith in us. They believed in us when the term freelancing was unheard of and for that, I will be forever grateful.
6. Likewise, teamwork makes the dream work. What are the qualities of freelancers that have brought about great chemistry and outcomes?
I had discussed meeting timelines and budgets. In this regard, flexible and collaborative creatives are invaluable in helping to create solutions.
The second inconvenient truth would be that we operate in a VUCA world. Technological disruptions that facilitate greater productivity could also displace your role in some aspects. Freelancers who are adaptable and go beyond their call of duty are the ones who keep getting more work in the short term. They are also the ones that reap new skills to keep themselves in the game in the long run.
7. What gets you psyched up for the next decade?
Turning freelancers into successful business owners!
8. We saved the best (gossip) for last. How was it like to grow a business with your sister?
It has been smooth! People are often curious about how it is to work together with a sibling and if it has created tension in our relationship. But it has not! I think the key to CAW’s success is that we are so different from each other while still retaining the same values and goals. Our differences complement each other and our similarities help us come together in striving toward the same vision. In the event of disagreement, the importance is to listen and understand. Since we have the same end goal in sight, we just have to adopt an open mind to see which will bring us closer to that end.
Harness our next lap as we co-create the future of work!
Missed out on our first 10 years? Fret not as we’re about to get better in our drive to uplift the CAW ecosystem of freelancing! You can have a quick review of our key milestones here.
Submit your resume to us and we’ll link you up with clients to help you get started. In the meantime, tune in to our latest podcast on how freelancers can leverage NFT and other new technologies. You can also join our Facebook and Discord communities to mingle with other freelancers! At CAW, the world is your oyster.
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