Free Guide
The Expat Leader's
90-Day Playbook
Arriving in Asia Without Blowing Your First Year
The canonical advice is "listen for 90 days." That advice is incomplete. This playbook gives you a structured alternative, built from 15 years in Asia.
No spam. One guide and a short follow-up series.
Get the Playbook
No spam. One guide and a short follow-up series.
The Gap
The playbook no one gave you
You have the credentials, the mandate, and the timeline. What you don't have is a playbook for what actually happens when you land. No one told you that:
Projecting confidence too early can damage your credibility in environments where trust is earned relationally
Processes that worked in New York or London may create friction in Asia or Singapore
"Listening for 90 days" sounds safe but produces insight without traction
Early impressions in Asia are sticky. Once a perception forms, it's difficult to change
Inside the Playbook
What you'll learn
Days 1-30
Orient Without Overreaching
Define success before you chase it. Find your cultural translator. Calibrate before you perform.
Days 31-60
Build Before You Lead
Local systems, career planning, and why performance alone won't earn trust cross-border.
Days 61-90
Start Leading, On Your Terms
How to know you've built credibility, not just survived. The launch pad, not the finish line.
The Reframe
Active Learning, Not Passive Listening
Two-way doors, small experiments, and well-designed action over cautious observation.
Is This For You
Accepting or considering a leadership role in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, or broader Asia
A senior lawyer or executive entering a culture where the rules of credibility are different
Moved abroad without a structured plan and feeling the friction
Leading talent development and want to support incoming expat leaders
About the Author
Brandon Whittaker is an ICF-certified executive coach in Asia. Harvard Law JD. Former Simpson Thacher (NY/Tokyo), UBS (3 continents), A&O Shearman, Mayer Brown. He coaches lawyers and senior leaders navigating high-stakes transitions in Asia.