Loretta Chen

Loretta Chen (born 2 December 1976), is a Singaporean theatre director, television presenter, radio personality and author. She was the Group Business Development & Creative Director of The Activation Group, a regional creative agency and production house. She is currently based in Honolulu but is Visiting Professor at the School of Leadership and Organisational Studies at the University of Southern Maine.[1] She is also Adjunct Professor in Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and University of Hawaii.

Loretta Chen
Chen interviewed in 2019
Born (1976-12-02) 2 December 1976
Singapore
Alma materAnglo-Chinese Junior College
National University of Singapore
Royal Holloway, University of London
University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation(s)director, presenter, executive, author
Spouse
Lee Eungsuk
​
(m. 2015)​
RelativesEdmund Chen (brother)
Eric Chen (brother)
Xiang Yun (sister-in-law)
Websitewww.drlorettachen.com

She is currently Co-Founder and CEO of Smobler, a metaverse architecture firm backed by The Sandbox and Brinc, both portfolio companies of Animoca Brands.

Education

Chen studied at Anglo-Chinese Junior College and graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a degree in English Literature and Theatre Studies. She completed her master's degree at Royal Holloway, University of London. She began doctoral studies at the University of California, Los Angeles but transferred to NUS, graduating with a PhD in Theatre (Critical Theory).[2][3]

Career

Chen was the Treasurer of the Association of Singapore Actors (ASA). In 2008, she was selected by the Mayor of the Northwest CDC to sit on the Arts and Culture Committee. In 2009, she was shortlisted as one of the Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) candidates for the Arts in Singapore, though an outspoken gay and human rights activist.[4]

Writing career

Chen published her first book in 2014 with an autobiography, Woman on Top, about her family life and business career.[5][6]

In 2016, Chen wrote The Elim Chew Story: Driven by Purpose, Destined for Change, a biography about Elim Chew, a female entrepreneur who started the streetwear retail chain 77th Street.[5]

In 2017, Chen published a book, Madonnas and Mavericks: Power Women in Singapore, about 17 Singaporean women who have reached the peaks in various fields such as business, politics, advocacy, sports, lifestyle and the arts. The book includes Jennie Chua, Olivia Lum, Ivy Singh-Lim, Halimah Yacob and Sylvia Lim.[7][8]

Chen published her fourth book, Mana Wahine: Power Women in Hawaii in 2019.

In December 2022, Chen published M/OTHER, a book inspired by her mother who survived a brain tumor,[9] which explores the concept of motherhood and features interviews with parents who have faced challenges or have themselves challenged the norms. The book is a finalist in the Singapore Book Awards.

Personal life

Chen has two older brothers, the elder of whom is former actor Edmund Chen,[3] the other brother, Eric Chen, manages The Activation Group alongside her.[10][11]

Chen is based in East Honolulu, Hawaii.[12]

Bibliography
  • Woman On Top: The Art of Smashing Stereotypes & Breaking All the Rules. Marshall Cavendish. 2014. ISBN 9789814516310.
  • The Elim Chew Story: Driven By Purpose, Destined for Change. Marshall Cavendish. 2016. ISBN 9789814771085.
  • Madonnas and Mavericks: Power Women in Singapore. Marshall Cavendish. 2017. ISBN 978-981-4751-22-3.
  • Chen, Loretta (2019). Inspiring Women of Hawaii. MUTUAL PUB. ISBN 978-1-949307-12-2.

References
  1. "Rant and rave: Loretta Chen". Today Online. 26 July 2014.
  2. Chua, Charlene (14 July 2014). "Theatre director Loretta Chen says family support saved her during darkest days". The New Paper. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  3. Chua, Charlene (14 July 2014). "Theatre director Loretta Chen says family support saved her during darkest days". The New Paper. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  4. Leong, Wee Keat (15 May 2009). "Three NMP hopefuls come under fire". Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  5. "Power women". The Edge Singapore.
  6. "WP's Sylvia Lim talks about romance with boyfriend in new book on power women in Singapore". AsiaOne. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  7. "New book pays tribute to 'power women' in Singapore". sg.style.yahoo.com. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  8. "Madonnas and Mavericks: Power Women in Singapore". Augustman Singapore. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  9. "Inspired by her own mother, Loretta Chen wrote a book about the mums who fall between the cracks". CNA. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  10. Migration (13 July 2014). "Theatre director Loretta Chen tells all about suicide attempt and $1-million debt in memoir | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  11. Lee, Lynn (3 June 2005). "POLITICS To HOUGANG with LOVE ...from THE CHENS". The Straits Times. p. 32.
  12. "My Perfect Weekend with entrepreneur, professor and author Loretta Chen". Straits Times. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
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