Empowering Conversations

My Holland is the CEO of EQuest Asia who currently splitsher time between Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City. Born in France, she speaks French like a Parisian and she is slowly getting to know Vietnam, the birth country of her parents. As a result of global work experiences and multicultural appreciation, she advocates for embracing happiness and fulfillment in the workplace while nurturing one's cultural identity, particularly among overseas Vietnamese and empowering women to find their voices. She is a speaker, consultant and coach in corporate wellbeing, organizational change resilience and emotional intelligence.

When I told Padmaja, a previous guest on this show, that I was hitting 100 episodes in this season, she said we must do something together. And that is how Padmaja and I ended up recording this milestone episode. When I first started podcasting, I just wanted to have a go and do something technically challenging yet gave me a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. And 100 episodes later, I am still happy to do this despite the fact that I really need to carve time out to podcast.

As a Google-trained #IAmRemarkable facilitator, Shivani is part of a global network of 4500 individuals dedicated to empowering women and underrepresented groups. In this episode, we discuss #IAmRemarkable, a transformative workshop that she facilitates. The workshop advocates the value of vocalizing one’s accomplishments no matter how big or small.

Brenda and her sister, Belinda embarked on a journey in 2008 to open Nook Flowers, a business that is an extension of their identity and a testament to the power of principle-driven entrepreneurship. At the heart of Nook Flowers lies a commitment to responsible floristry. Brenda emphasizes the importance of locally grown flowers and the responsibility that business owners and clients share as socially-conscious citizens of the planet.

Today’s episode is packed with practical strategies and takeaways as we deep dive into Michelle Hon’s business. If she sounds familiar, you might have listened to her in Season 4 where we were first introduced to her entrepreneurship journey.

Hana Chua is the Director of Business Finance at Kebun Kota Sdn. Bhd, Pahang, Malaysia. The family business that she is in comprises many moving parts - from aquaculture to sustainable farming to creating ripples in the local cafe scene with their cafe arm, Roots. Hana opens up about her experiences as a young woman navigating the complex waters of a family business deeply rooted in sustainability.

Soundari Mukherjea is the CEO of Soundbytes11 based in Hong Kong. where she works with leaders and teams to harness the power of storytelling to drive business outcomes. Soundari shares invaluable insights into the art of business storytelling, emphasizing its role as a dynamic tool in the leadership toolbox. As Soundari says, changing minds isn't about presenting ideas; it's about influencing with a good story.

Genevia Chin, the founder of Wonkie Ice Cream, wants to bring joy through her alcoholic ice cream with a touch of whimsy. Starting as a home-based business in Penang, Malaysia, she has expanded her business during the pandemic lockdown, proving that pivoting and adapting to changes can be a great thing for a business. This is the story of Three Tiers Ice Cream, now rebranded as Wonkie.

As the principal and founder of JC Legal, Janice has not only defied traditional norms but has also brought a fresh and fabulous perspective to the legal industry. In 2018, after the birth of her son, she founded JC Legal, marking the beginning of an innovative and exciting chapter in her career. JC Legal is not your typical law firm as this episode attests.

Helen Tan is a fashion entrepreneur with a purely online fashion business started in 2005 with her sister, Helene. Doublewoot started life as a pre-loved clothing shop on Blogspot gradually blossoming into a sustainable global brand over 18 years. This is a must-not miss episode as we speak about the pivotal role of influencer marketing in Doublewoot's success.