Grace Ann Chua
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Hello! I’m Grace, Co-founder and CEO of Friendzone. Over the past 7 years, I’ve led Friendzone’s growth from a grassroots passion project into a bootstrapped social enterprise with a dedicated team of staff and interns.
My background spans from community development, workshop design, and marketing communications, but what drives me most is helping people build healthy relationships and communities where they can thrive.
Alongside my work at Friendzone, I am a relationship and dating coach at htht.co!
Outside of work, I enjoy rock climbing, swimming, and reading; and spending time with my husband, parents and friends :)
What do you do at Friendzone? What excites you the most about the work?
At Friendzone, I wear many hats — from forging partnerships and creating content to hosting workshops and leading our marketing and sales. My core focus though is strategy: innovating, optimising, and identifying ways to help Friendzone scale sustainably and ensuring our impact on the ground.
What excites me most is seeing participants’ perspectives expand, their capacity to connect deepen, and their friendships grow in fresh ways.
I also love watching our team discover their strengths, grow in confidence, and work together in alignment. We’re very different, yet complementary. It is SO fun to work with the Friendzone team :D
How has Friendzone grown under your leadership?
Since our beginnings in neighbourhood gatherings, Friendzone has expanded into new “zones of life” — industries, schools, life stages, and hobbies.
We’ve also launched Friendship School, offering workshops and courses on topics such as networking, sustaining friendships, and navigating conflict.
Today, Friendzone is a social enterprise with 7 staff and 7 interns. What started as a small community event with cushions and fairy lights has become an ecosystem of programmes and content designed to equip young adults with the skills and confidence to build meaningful relationships.
In three words, how would your friends describe you?
“Passion Made Possible”
Any closing words of wisdom?
Done is better than perfect.
Enjoy your friendships. You’re not alone. Rely on others. Share how you feel, hold space for others, and celebrate together. Remember that friendship is both novelty and intimacy — so go out there and meet new people, while deepening bonds and having new experiences with old ones.
Pace yourself. Take care of your whole self (emotionally, spiritually, physically, intellectually, relationally and mentally).If you’re too tired, you can’t enjoy the experience. Life is long and there’s lots to do. Things are also seasonal, so enjoy each season and embrace it for what it is. You can have it all, just not all at once. It is wonderful to be alive and living on this earth.
