Vulnerability is Your Competitive Advantage, How Trust and Transparency Build Stronger Partnerships in Business and Life

FORWARD

“Alignment of values and shared growth trajectory is shown in the speed in which you find yourself truly open and revealing to one another. Like you and Jackie—you both became intensely bound together by sharing pain. And that is the best proof of friendship: when you share pain because you value how the other person will help you overcome it, without feeling like you may be burdening someone.”

My friend, Tim Henglien, and I were talking about what it means to build value-driven relationships. In our conversation of friendships built on values versus time - his explanation of building closeness he helped me find the fundamental truth of partnership. The essence and testament to a growing, trusting, and strong partnership - personal and business - is vulnerability.

Having friends across the world means a lot of WhatsApp conversations. Sharing this very real, very raw conversation - and yes, sometimes we do need to refer ourselves to “top alpha bitches”

Simon Says, Trust

In a meeting of the minds, Simon Sinek sat with Trevor Noah, said, “We don’t build trust by giving help, we build trust by asking for it.” (clip at Brilliant Minds)

This resonates deeply because trust—and by extension, strong relationships—are built not through acts of generosity alone, but through moments of vulnerability. Whether in friendships or business, the ability to be open about our needs, our gaps, and our uncertainties creates the foundation for true connection.

Business Vulnerability

In contrast, business relationships are often framed as transactional. The traditional business mindset asks: What can you do for me? What can I do for you? Is this exchange beneficial or equitable? In Indonesia, there’s a concept of karma in business dealings - if a deal comes to fruition, it is because it is naturally aligned, benefiting both parties - you’re happy, I’m happy.

But what if we reframe business relationships around vulnerability instead of just value exchange?

If I am open about what I do and do not know, and confident in my strengths while acknowledging my gaps, does that openness encourage others to step in and help? If I need something, can I trust that asking for support won’t be seen as incompetence but as an opportunity for collaboration? If neither of us ever allows for vulnerability, can we ever truly build a partnership that goes beyond mere transactions?

Economics 101: Business Relationships in Action

Vulnerability is at the core of economic trade. You have a skill, I have a skill, and together we optimize for each other. If I excel in one area and you in another, our openness to recognize these strengths allows us to create synergy rather than competition. By fostering an environment where everyone feels safe to share their capabilities and limitations, we build not just relationships but ecosystems of support and success.

A theoretical “real-world” example of economic trade illustrates the concept of comparative advantage. Consider a nation rich in corn but lacking sugar, and another nation abundant in sugar but without corn. Corn requires significant resources to cultivate, whereas sugar is more resource-efficient. By focusing on their respective strengths one nation producing corn more efficiently, and the other producing sugar can trade, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement that allows both to thrive economically. This is the essence of comparative advantage: even when one entity is more efficient at producing everything, trade enables both to benefit by specializing in what they do best.

The same principle applies to business and personal relationships: when we are open about what we need and honest about where we excel, we create the conditions for meaningful exchange. Vulnerability allows us to move beyond ego or self-sufficiency and instead optimize for collaboration. Just as nations trade to balance resources, individuals and businesses build partnerships by leaning into each other’s strengths and filling in the gaps where needed.

Corn Goes Global! An opportunity to share my love of corn from Bali, Malaysia, and Cambodia.

Five Steps to Building Relationships Through Vulnerability

Ask for Help: Trust is built when we allow others to help us. Whether in friendships or business, asking for support invites people into our world.
Share Your Struggles: True connection comes from shared experiences, including challenges. Be open about what you’re working through.
Listen Without Judgment: Vulnerability flourishes in spaces where people feel heard and not judged.
Reciprocate: When someone is vulnerable with you, respond with openness. Trust deepens when there is mutual sharing.
Reframe Relationships: Move beyond the transactional mindset and recognize that true partnerships thrive on trust, transparency, and shared values.

In Action: Creating Your Boardroom

Starting DrinkFolks was a crash course in vulnerability. As a sole founder, I wasn’t just building a business, I was stepping into an industry I had never navigated before. I knew I needed more than just a team of experts, I needed true partners. People who weren’t just transactional but invested in helping me grow.

That’s how I found Ocean Blue Innovation (OBI).

In the early days, I was deep in research, overwhelmed by the complexity of manufacturing and production. I did not even know where to begin with co-packers—what were the typical MOQs? What should I expect? I came across an article from Marty’s startup resources, a comprehensive guide designed to help new CPG founders get started. It wasn’t just a list of facts; it felt like someone was pulling back the curtain, offering clarity in an industry that often keeps newcomers in the dark.

I knew immediately that this was the kind of guidance I needed - not just technical expertise, but people willing to teach, to answer my questions without ego, to help me fill in the gaps where I lacked experience.

From the very first conversation, I saw that Marty’s team embodied the same values he upheld - kindness, patience, and a genuine investment in the process. They treated me like a founder on a journey they believed in. Their warmth and thoughtfulness turned what could have been a purely transactional vendor relationship into a true partnership, one built on mutual trust and respect.

Vulnerability in business isn’t about admitting failure, it’s about recognizing where you need support and being willing to ask for it. By leaning into that, I didn’t just find a R&D team; I found collaborators who have helped shape DrinkFolks in ways I couldn’t have done alone.

Live from the OBI lab

Personal Vulnerability

In personal relationships, take Jackie and me, for example. One morning, she called and asked if she could come over to my apartment before work. Her three-year relationship had just ended, and she needed a space to process her emotions. In her simple ask, she conveyed so much more: Can you hold space for me? Can you give me an objective opinion? Can you be the friend who listens?

By opening up to me, she allowed me to step into a role of support. But more than that, she set the foundation for reciprocity—for me to trust her in return. In her vulnerability, she showed me that asking for help is not a weakness but an invitation for deeper connection. It reinforced the idea that being vulnerable is not about oversharing; it’s about acknowledging when we need support and trusting someone enough to help us fill in the gaps.

Left: Jackie, Me, Tim, and Allysha during celebrating Jackie's birthday over Uno in Hong Kong. Right: Jackie and I in one of our epic talks

In the end, vulnerability is not about exposing our weaknesses; it is about creating the conditions for real, meaningful connection. Whether in personal relationships or business, it is the bridge that transforms interactions into true partnerships.

Tiffany Tang
Corn Lover
Vulnerable Being
Founder, DrinkFolks

The Hidden Currency of Success: Vulnerability