About
"I help founders and leadership teams grow profit and purpose — without the overwhelm."

Benn Lim is a certified Scaling Up Coach and former COO & Chief Impact Officer at Arowana, a globally certified B Corp operating as a venture capital and private equity group. With over 20 years of experience across capital markets, stakeholder engagement, leadership strategy, team development, and business transformation, Benn was recognised as Investment Firm Executive of the Year – APAC by CEO Monthly in 2022 for his leadership in sustainable business transformation.

Today, as founder of Ikigai Impact, he helps founders and leadership teams scale profitably and purposefully — without the overwhelm.

Ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy) is a Japanese concept meaning “a reason for being” — the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

Professional Highlights
• Recognized Leadership in Impact-Driven Investment: Awarded Investment Firm Executive of the Year – APAC (CEO Monthly, 2022) for excellence in sustainable business transformation and value creation.
• Strategic Capital Raising & Complex Transactions : Led multiple capital-raising initiatives during volatile markets, including structured funding rounds and cross-border transactions. Played a key role in capital strategy that supported international listings and strategic restructures.
• Business Turnaround & Value Preservation : Guided a private credit fund through COVID-related disruptions to deliver a 20% net IRR. Oversaw a strategic delisting process for a listed entity, aligning diverse stakeholder interests to protect long-term enterprise value.
• Cost Discipline & Operational Efficiency : Achieved a 29% reduction in operating costs over two years, maintaining a 20% net reduction across a three-year period — while preserving business continuity and investment capacity.
• Strategy Execution & Organisational Alignment : Designed and embedded quarterly OKR systems, KPI tracking tools, and execution rhythms across multiple businesses to support scalable, accountable growth.
• Talent & Culture Development : Implemented the ghSMART WHO hiring methodology and enterprise-wide leadership development programs. Strengthened team cohesion and retention through long-term incentive plans and values-based culture initiatives.
• Impact Strategy Integration: Led the B Corp certification process across multiple companies and developed enterprise impact reports. Developed group-wide frameworks for measuring and embedding environmental and social impact alongside commercial outcomes.
• Brand, Communications & Stakeholder Engagement: Directed brand transformation and strategic communications, resulting in a 270% increase in digital engagement. Managed reputation and alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Board Experience & Strategic Advisory: Served as a board member and strategic advisor across multiple ventures in education, fintech, sustainability, and circular economy — advising on growth strategy, governance, and investment readiness.
• Foundations in Wealth Management: Started in private banking and spent nearly a decade at UBS Wealth Management, where he advised UHNW clients and managed portfolios totalling ~$150M in funds under advice.

Personal Highlights
• Committed to Conscious Leadership: Trained in the HEART module (Hakomi Embodied Awareness Relationship Training), and a certified Hand-in-Hand Parenting Instructor. I bring emotional intelligence, presence, and systems thinking to how I lead, coach, and parent.
• Community & Family-Focused: Proud father of two boys (plus a fur baby). I introduced The Fathering Project to St Joseph’s Bulli, where I continue to volunteer and facilitate monthly father–child events. I also serve as a committee member of Healthier Illawarra Men, supporting men’s mental health, connection, and wellbeing across the region.
• Published Contributor on Inclusive Leadership: Contributed a chapter to From Bias to Equality, an Amazon best-seller on how leaders can build innovation and performance through gender-balanced leadership.
• Sustainability and Regenerative Thinking: Trained in biomimicry and circular economy strategy through Cambridge Judge and Biomimicry 3.8. Passionate about applying nature-inspired design to build resilient, regenerative businesses.
• Purpose-Driven Mission: I founded Ikigai Impact to help leaders scale without losing what matters. I believe real success lies at the intersection of profit and purpose — where your strengths meet the world’s needs.
• Rooted in Family & Wellbeing: Married to an integrative and functional medicine doctor — a daily reminder that health, balance, and wholeness are foundations for a thriving life and business.

Coaching Regions
Asia
Australia
New Zealand

Industry of Expertise
Accounting/Finance
Administrative/Clerical
Banking/Real Estate
Coaching/Business Consulting
Computer/IT/Software Development
Creative/Design
Customer Support
Education/Training
Engineering
Food Services/Hospitality
Human Resources/Training/Development
Installation/Maintenance
Insurance
Legal Services
Logistics/Transportation
Manufacturing/Production/Operations
Marketing
Retail