BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Open For Business  >  From Athlete to Founder: Why This Medalist Dove Into Business

From Athlete to Founder: Why This Medalist Dove Into Business

Ryan Kee, Co-Founder, Sailfish Swim Academy | Ethan Chew, Co-Founder, Sailfish Swim Academy

16-Dec-24 10:00

From Athlete to Founder: Why This Medalist Dove Into Business

“Just keep swimming”, in this episode of Open For Business, we explore how SEA Games medalist Ryan Kee turned his passion for swimming into a thriving business.

Sailfish Swim Academy was established in 2016 by SEA Games medalist Ryan Kee to tackle multiple challenges: reducing drowning incidents among children, creating career pathways for ex-athletes and fresh graduates, and discovering talent for Selangor through Persatuan Renang Amatur Selangor (PRAS).

Operating across seven locations in the Klang Valley, the academy offers lessons tailored to children as young as four months old.

In this episode of Open for Business, we speak with Founder Ryan Kee and Managing Director Ethan Chew about Sailfish’s journey—from its humble beginnings to becoming a thriving academy. We discuss their approach to program development, building a mission-driven team, navigating the challenges of scaling, and their ambitious plans for expanding swim education in Malaysia.

Produced by: Carol Wong

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  marketsmanagingeducationsportsentrepreneurs

Tags:  medallistswim schoolPRASswimmingsea gamesbusiness





Play / Pause

Listen now : Discovery Hour: An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in...

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Dilin Wu, Research Strategist, Pepperstone tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

George Chen of The Asia Group discusses the impact of the new US-Taiwan trade deal on the global semiconductor industry.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Julia Goh, Senior Economist, UOB tells us the outlook for Malaysia's economic growth in 2026.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Zeth Lim of Verdant Solar Holdings discusses the company’s journey since its ACE Market debut last October, including the post-listing share price slump and its prospects in the residential solar market.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Dr. Azmil Tayeb, political scientist and associate professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia, discusses the political implications post-UMNO General Assembly.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dr Consilz Tan, Senior Lecturer at Xiamen University Malaysia, explains the falling homeownership rates among the M40 group.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Dilin Wu, Research Strategist, Pepperstone tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

Pinnacle Perspectives

Aparna Bharadwaj of Boston Consulting Group discusses their new report Trade in Transition: How to Prepare for a Patchwork World Order.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Doctor Anywhere ‘s Lim Wai Mun on scaling to 6 countries and their $80M pivot from tech-only to owning brick-and-mortar clinics.

11:05 AM

P&L

NEXEA’s Adrian Waters on the hard math of corporate innovation. He unpacks why 80% of pilots fail and the "sunk cost" trap of zombie projects

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Lawyers Ong Johnson and Lo Khai Yi break down the Online Safety Act 2025 and 10 essential takeaways for companies navigating the new digital compliance landscape.

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Zeth Lim of Verdant Solar Holdings discusses the company’s journey since its ACE Market debut last October, including the post-listing share price slump and its prospects in the residential solar market.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Earth Matters

RimbaWatch files Malaysia’s first climate greenwashing lawsuit. We unpack what the case means for climate claims, accountability, and regulation with legal advocate Kuberan Hansrajh Kumaresan.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Why is slang like 6-7 so popular among kids? We find out from a teenager and child development experts.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Today I Learned

How To Smoke The Last Cigarette of Your Life

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

8:00 PM

A Bit of Culture