After two decades in corporate Human Resources (HR), 46-year-old Benjamin Lai made the bold decision to leave what was familiar and pursue fitness and rehabilitation coaching full-time.

His career change, however, wasn’t about walking away from one profession. It was about discovering a more meaningful way to help others grow. Today, through one-on-one sessions, group exercise classes and rehabilitation coaching, he helps clients become stronger, healthier and more confident.

In this edition of Coffee With, SG Lifestyle Features Writer Angela May Tan speaks with Benjamin Lai about purpose, perseverance and the courage to respond to his calling.

SGLS: What made you leave your HR career for something so different? 

Benjamin: Both careers are about helping people grow. In HR, I helped people develop professionally. Today, as a fitness and rehab coach, I help people grow physically, mentally and emotionally. Different role, same mission.

The turning point came when I realised the best parts of my week weren’t behind a desk. They were at the gym, helping clients push beyond what they thought was impossible and watching them achieve things they never believed they could.

I kept coming back to one question: If I could spend my life doing work that genuinely feels meaningful, why wouldn’t I?

SGLS: Leaving your corporate identity couldn’t have been easy. What fears did you have, and how did you overcome them?

Benjamin: My fears were instability, income, and, for a long time, I kept contemplating whether I was making a bold career move or having a very expensive midlife crisis. The corporate path was predictable. Coaching and entrepreneurship? Anything but.

What gave me confidence was knowing I wasn’t starting from scratch. I had spent years coaching alongside my HR career and working with real clients.

The biggest shift was my mindset. I stopped asking, “What if this doesn’t work?” and started asking, “What if I never give myself the chance to find out?” It was still scary—but absolutely worth it.

SGLS: What lessons from your HR background have helped you become a better coach?

Benjamin: People often think HR and fitness coaching are worlds apart, but they have more in common than you’d expect. HR taught me to listen, understand what motivates people and create an environment where they feel supported. Every client is different, so there’s never a one-size-fits-all approach.

Trust is equally important. Whether you’re conducting a performance review or coaching someone through their first set of squats, people thrive when they feel seen and trusted. Coaching isn’t just about exercise—it’s about building confidence.

Those lessons continue to shape how I communicate, lead and grow my coaching practice.

SGLS: Is there a success story that has stayed with you?

Benjamin: I have worked with clients recovering from injuries and others who never believed exercise was for them. Seeing them go from self-doubt to saying, “Actually, I can do this,” is incredibly rewarding.

One client’s journey has stayed with me—a lady recovering from an ankle fracture who had just been cleared by her orthopaedic specialist to exercise again.

While we focused on improving her mobility, range of motion and strength, the bigger challenge was rebuilding her confidence. Like many people recovering from a traumatic injury, she was afraid of moving or bearing weight on her injured ankle.

With consistent training, encouragement and the celebration of small milestones, she not only regained her strength but also her trust in her own body.

SGLS: What’s your coaching philosophy?

Benjamin: My coaching philosophy is simple: sustainability beats extremity.

The fitness industry loves quick fixes and dramatic transformations, but they rarely lead to lasting change. Fitness should enhance your life, not the other way around. It’s about building sustainable habits that fit into everyday life.

People often think they need to do more. In reality, they just need to do the right things consistently. It may not be exciting, but that’s what delivers lasting results.

SGLS: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about leaving a corporate job to pursue their passion?

Benjamin: I’d say: spend less time asking whether a career change is safe and more time asking whether it feels meaningful.

Stability matters, but you don’t have to quit overnight. Explore what genuinely excites you and gain experience before making a big move.

Career transitions aren’t always about becoming someone new. They’re often about becoming more aligned with who you’ve been all along.

For me, moving from HR to fitness wasn’t about leaving an identity behind. It was about finding a more meaningful way to serve others. That has made every challenge worth it.

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WhatsApp Benjamin at (+65) 9247 1469 to find out more about his classes and programmes.

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Interview by Angela May Tan, Features Writer, SG Lifestyle