Meet Greg Chan

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Greg Chan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Greg, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I was a small kid, a small Asian kid in a predominantly white suburban town. I was also shy on top of that so nobody noticed me. I was literally invisible. But I watched what was going on in life. And I knew I wanted a piece of it. I watched and waited for my opportunity. You could say I ended up hanging around models because I wanted to be noticed myself, that I wanted status by association. But when I finally got the opportunity to unleash my creative skillset and work ethic I discovered the thing that I hadn’t expected. The models weren’t the quarterback and the cheerleader that I was jealous of, they were actually the ugly ducklings that didn’t know they were beautiful, just like me. They were weird looking and gangly. but they came together perfectly in fashion. Once I realized they were in many cases the high school outcasts I knew I had stumbled upon magic. That’s where I found my purpose was to help these awkward kids find their power, to show them that there was a place for them; show them that they are special and that the other models were like them, the land of misfit toys. Ive booked hundreds of ad campaigns and runway shows for brands like Calvin Klein, Dior, Prada, Dolce Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, Versace, Celine, Ralph Lauren, MAC Cosmetics, Abercrombie, Armani Exchange, Louis Vuitton, Nars, Coac, DKNY and more but the thing that drives me every day 20+ years later as an agent is to help young kids find their power. Every time i do that for someone I gain more power myself. Its bigger than any job I can book.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I have been a model agent for the past 25+ years, acting as Director, senior agent and scout for the biggest model agencies in the world including Wilhelmina Models, IMG Models, DNA Models, Soul Artist Management and Next Management. During the COVID quarantine in 2020 I had nothing to do because the world shut down. I realized I could help talent as Im someone that people do not have access to. I created a model mentor project called Asl a model agent where models all over the world could ask me ANY question and I would tell them my thoughts no bullshit, straight up honest how to do it. There is a model scam on every corner and even experts just don’t tell people straight up. If people were going to have access to me I wanted to make it count. I can attack and create a strategy for any situation. In my generation of agents we were taught to NEVER share our information, actually die with it. But when I look out the window and watch tv I see that the world is falling apart. Why would I die with it when there are so many ambitious kids out there that want to be better. And if they are ambitious enough to seek it why not share it? The project has gone viral and every day, Im helping someone be better. Ive had kids signed to major agencies, booked jobs, shoot beautiful images, built up their confidence, help them understand where they fit. You have the ability to book a face to face session with me so I can give you my guidance. There is no one in the world at my level sharing this kind of knowledge. I built another site called The Mother Agents, which is a directory of all the best mother agents, model managers and scouts in the world to help models find legitimate and proven management easier. And this year I launched a non profit called The Supermodel Project where we teach models how to give back. We host events from model beach cleanups to tree planting to feeding people in need. Were raising money to support model’s mental health with events and bringing in instructors and thought leaders to develop their skillset and create life strategies. It’s funny when you tap into this energy it doesn’t stop. We have more exciting projects that are being developed that has never been talked about.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. ambition-what is your emotional leverage? First of all you need to decide what you want, second, how you will achieve it. 3rd, why. WHY! Why do you want this? What will drive you everyday until you achieve it? You need to have emotional leverage to reach that goal. My work was driven every day to become the person I wanted to be and never go back to being invisible again. I wanted to make an impact!
2. authenticity- God I spent so much of my life trying to fit in to be cool; tried so hard to please others and get people to notice me. It took me a couple years to realize I had a gnarly skillset and was really fucking good. But it wasn’t until many years later that I began not to care what other thought about me. That I had somehow over years paved my own path, my own signature, my own style. I was sharp, intuitive, eccentric and risk taking. I polished my product like no one else. I began to really trust myself and lost the fear of being me. When I started being honest and vulnerable about my life and my craft and became more human than ever, that’s when my power truly soared. Do not ask permission to express your craft.
3. moldable/teachable: learn from others. Ask questions. If you don;t you’ll never know. This is one of the hardest things for me. Being small and shy I felt I had to figure everything out myself, that if I asked it looked like I didn’t know therefore I was weak. Find someone that you trust as a legitimate resource of information and utilize them, Stick with them because these people are usually moving fast in life and may not be there forever. Be open to new strategies and thoughts. It’s ok to adopt other’s tricks to add to your game and mold into your own. Don’t be afraid to learn from the greats.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. Watch the YouTube video “The power of vulnerability” at Ted Talk. It changed my life and it will set the tone for this book. I spent my whole life trying to show off to people that I was worthy and successful, but I didn’t believe it down deep myself. This book allowed me to know I am enough because I try my best every day, that I can be heart broken, I can make mistakes, I can fall and still be loved. It helped me to let myself as a whole be seen, not just the successful parts of me. This book was a fire starter.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.askamodelagent.com www.themotheragents.com
• Instagram: @askamodelagent @themotheragents
• Linkedin: Gregchanofficial
• Youtube: @askamodelagent
• Other: TikTok @askamodelagent

Image Credits

Jena Cumbo
Angela Cappetta
Andy Maser