Leslie Leong's guest appearances

Leslie Leong

Best of the WWEST

Buro.'s Brave Living with Simone Heng

Michele Romanow

Gail Anderson

Lori Brotto

Anne Simon

Ben Britton

Angelica Lim

Jessica Lu

Stacey Mulcahy

Jennifer Flanagan

Cybele Negris

Tracy Phillips

Aadita Chaudhury

Tara Robertson

Jo Miller

Aerin Jacob

OwlTail

Before 28HKS, Tippling Club, and Jigger &amp; Pony, there was Maison Ikkoku, the OG of Singapore’s craft cocktail scene. Sitting at its helm is Malaysian-born, classically-trained chef-turned-mixologist Ethan Leslie Leong.   Since his first big break in 1997 at the International Flair Competition in Birmingham, Ethan has nabbed more bartending awards, made his rounds in the nightlife circuit as a bar manager in the ‘90s, and gone on to create cocktails for F&amp;B establishments and brands including Chanel, Mont Blanc, Guess, and Penhaligon’s.   Of course, there’s no easy road to success. From juggling different jobs at a young age to enduring multiple challenges in business, the cocktail maestro recounts the triumphs and adversities he has faced in the 10th episode of Buro.’s Brave Living with Simon Heng.   1:23 Background Born in Malaysia and raised by his grandparents, Ethan grew up in a kampong with 13 other children in his family. His father was murdered when he was just a baby. To support the household, his grandfather would do all sorts of odd, hard-labour jobs. Not fond of school, Ethan abandoned his studies and began working in a restaurant at 17.   7:40 Started out washing dishes While he was serving up to 100 tables every day in a busy restaurant, his mother gave him a one-way ticket and $300 to help him move on to the next phase of his life. His first job was at an American steakhouse, and his next was bartending at a rowdy discotheque frequented by gangsters.   21:32 Learning to speak English and going to Birmingham Having moved from Malaysia to Singapore abruptly, Ethan didn’t speak a word of English at the time. Nevertheless, he went ahead to compete in the world finals of a bartending flair competition in Birmingham. Held in a stadium with four giant screens and packed with over 5,000 spectators, Ethan came in 13th.   26:54 Job-hopping He returned to Malaysia to open his very own bar, but business was slow to pick up. To continue operations, he worked in Singapore to support the bar’s finances. Things turned around after some time, but to his dismay, his name was removed from the bar by his business partner.   37:25 Maison Ikkoku Never one to quit, he set up Maison Ikkoku in Singapore with another partner, where he crafted drinks using natural ingredients. He later became the main shareholder of Maison Ikkoku after parting ways with his business partner. Maison Ikkoku then evolved from a cafe to a restaurant-bar. Most recently, Ethan re-branded the ground floor of Maison Ikkoku with a new concept called SLING, which serves renditions of Singapore’s national cocktail alongside Peranakan dishes inspired by his childhood.

Before 28HKS, <a href="https://www.buro247.sg/lifestyle/news/tippling-club-limited-edition-gin-bar-cocktails.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tippling Club</a>, and <a href="https://www.buro247.sg/lifestyle/food-and-drink/reviewing-live-twice-jigger-pony-group-s-new-elevated-izakaya-on-bukit-pasoh-road-singapore.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jigger &amp; Pony</a>, there was Maison Ikkoku, the OG of Singapore’s craft <a href="https://www.buro247.sg/lifestyle/food-and-drink/cocktail-bars-in-singapore-what-to-drink-at-the-city-best-speakeasies-lounges-and-watering-holes.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cocktail</a> scene. Sitting at its helm is Malaysian-born, classically-trained chef-turned-mixologist Ethan Leslie Leong.   Since his first big break in 1997 at the International Flair Competition in Birmingham, Ethan has nabbed more bartending awards, made his rounds in the <a href="https://www.buro247.sg/culture/buro-loves/buro-s-guide-to-the-best-clubs-party-nights-and-live-music-venues-in-singapore.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nightlife circuit</a> as a bar manager in the ‘90s, and gone on to create cocktails for F&amp;B establishments and brands including <a href="https://www.buro247.sg/watches-and-jewellery/news/chanel-pre-basel-j12-paradoxe-j12-x-ray.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chanel</a>, Mont Blanc, Guess, and <a href="https://www.buro247.sg/beauty/news/penhaligon-hidden-london-limited-edition-collectio.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Penhaligon’s</a>.   Of course, there’s no easy road to success. From juggling different jobs at a young age to enduring multiple challenges in business, the cocktail maestro recounts the triumphs and adversities he has faced in the 10th episode of Buro.’s Brave Living with Simon Heng.   1:23 Background Born in Malaysia and raised by his grandparents, Ethan grew up in a kampong with 13 other children in his family. His father was murdered when he was just a baby. To support the household, his grandfather would do all sorts of odd, hard-labour jobs. Not fond of school, Ethan abandoned his studies and began working in a restaurant at 17.   7:40 Started out washing dishes While he was serving up to 100 tables every day in a busy restaurant, his mother gave him a one-way ticket and $300 to help him move on to the next phase of his life. His first job was at an American steakhouse, and his next was bartending at a rowdy discotheque frequented by gangsters.   21:32 Learning to speak English and going to Birmingham Having moved from Malaysia to Singapore abruptly, Ethan didn’t speak a word of English at the time. Nevertheless, he went ahead to compete in the world finals of a bartending flair competition in Birmingham. Held in a stadium with four giant screens and packed with over 5,000 spectators, Ethan came in 13th.   26:54 Job-hopping He returned to Malaysia to open his very own bar, but business was slow to pick up. To continue operations, he worked in Singapore to support the bar’s finances. Things turned around after some time, but to his dismay, his name was removed from the bar by his business partner.   37:25 Maison Ikkoku Never one to quit, he set up Maison Ikkoku in Singapore with another partner, where he crafted drinks using natural ingredients. He later became the main shareholder of Maison Ikkoku after parting ways with his business partner. Maison Ikkoku then evolved from a cafe to a restaurant-bar. Most recently, Ethan re-branded the ground floor of Maison Ikkoku with a new concept called SLING, which serves renditions of Singapore’s national cocktail alongside Peranakan dishes inspired by his childhood.

10: Ethan Leslie Leong: What grit looks like

It's time for another Yukon-focused Best of the WWEST episode! Host Alison Anderson talks with Leslie Leong about whether or not new technology really simplifies our lives, whether or not we should separate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) from the arts, and what needs to be done to advance women in STEM. Plus, you'll hear about some really cool art projects that Leslie has completed and is currently working on.  Leslie Leong is a Civil Engineer and visual artist living and working in Whitehorse, Yukon. She makes art in many forms, often with a technical focus and an emphasis on 3-dimensional work. Leslie’s engineering degree and experience has enabled her to do all of the wonderful and unusual things she has done, and continues to do. For a full transcription of this episode, click here. Relevant Links:  The Arctic Circle Residency Arts Underground Fort Smith, Northwest Territories "How climate change can cause depression, anxiety: ‘We will all be affected’" - Global News  Kintsukuroi Leslie's website Engineering and Geoscientists BC Ted Harrison Retreat Transport Canada Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories Women in Engineering and Geoscience Division (Formerly the Division for Advancement of Women in Engineering and Geosciences) Yukon Artists @ Work  Hosted by: Alison Anderson (@AlisonVAnderson) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

It's time for another Yukon-focused Best of the WWEST episode! Host Alison Anderson talks with Leslie Leong about whether or not new technology really simplifies our lives, whether or not we should separate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) from the arts, and what needs to be done to advance women in STEM. Plus, you'll hear about some really cool art projects that Leslie has completed and is currently working on. Leslie Leong is a Civil Engineer and visual artist living and working in Whitehorse, Yukon. She makes art in many forms, often with a technical focus and an emphasis on 3-dimensional work. Leslie’s engineering degree and experience has enabled her to do all of the wonderful and unusual things she has done, and continues to do. For a full transcription of this episode, click <a href="http://i.sfu.ca/CEOaMg" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. Relevant Links: <ul> <li><a href="http://thearcticcircle.org/program/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Arctic Circle Residency</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.artsunderground.ca/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Arts Underground</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.fortsmith.ca/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Fort Smith, Northwest Territories</a></li> <li><a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/4267136/climate-change-depression-anxiety-mental-health/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">"How climate change can cause depression, anxiety: ‘We will all be affected’"</a> - Global News </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Kintsukuroi</a></li> <li><a href="https://leslieleong.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Leslie's website</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.egbc.ca/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Engineering and Geoscientists BC</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.tedharrisoncabin.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ted Harrison Retreat</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/transport-canada.html" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Transport Canada</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.tuk.ca/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.egbc.ca/About/Our-Team/Divisions/Women-in-Engineering-and-Geoscience-Division" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Women in Engineering and Geoscience Division</a> (Formerly the Division for Advancement of Women in Engineering and Geosciences)</li> <li><a href="http://yaaw.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Yukon Artists @ Work</a></li> </ul> Hosted by: Alison Anderson (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/AlisonVAnderson" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@AlisonVAnderson</a>) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by <a href="http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Scott Holmes</a>Produced by: <a href="http://vanessavirtual.wordpress.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Vanessa Reich-Shackelford</a> Please consider leaving us a review on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/best-of-the-wwest/id1223781307?mt=2" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a> or <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/westcoast-women-in-engineering-science-and-technology/best-of-the-wwest?refid=stpr" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/wwest_sfu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@WWEST_SFU</a>, on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/@WWEST.SFU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@WWEST.SFU,</a> and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at <a href="http://www.wwest.ca" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">wwest.ca</a>.

Episode 44: Leslie Leong, Civil Engineer & Visual Artist