New Horizons in Season 9 of Womenpreneur Asia
Welcome to the launch of Season 9 of Womenpreneur Asia! This episode marks an exciting evolution for the podcast as I take you behind the scenes, share my journey and what’s been happening in my podcasting life and introduce some fresh elements for this season.
Growth, Learning and Travel
I recount with fondness my participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework program, a transformative experience where I connected with peers from across Asia and the Pacific from various backgrounds in technology, Government and entrepreneurship.
As we travelled as a group within the US in October of last year from Washington DC to Atlanta and finally to Seattle, I deepened my understanding of entrepreneurship, geopolitics and trade on a global scale learning and listening to the various people we met as well as my brilliant peers from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines and Fiji.
This program offered me new insights and fresh ideas to empower women entrepreneurs resulting in an outcome that was a genuine surprise even for me. The one thing that I did right was to connect with some of the women participants before we each took our respective long-haul flights to the US. When we finally met, it was an easy continuation of our relationship that was built online prior. This made networking much easier.
As a result of connecting with likeminded entrepreneurial women – and here I would like to give a shout-out to three of them, Sharyne Fong of Fiji, Tanya Raj of India and Mona Celina Yap of the Philippines – we decided to embark on a collaboration on a regional level – the inception of NEW API (Network for Entrepreneur Women Associations in ASEAN, Pacific, and India).
Our alliance is dedicated to sharing best practices and fostering collaboration among women in the region and it is open to all women entrepreneur organizations from the ASEAN, Pacific and India regions.
It’s still early days yet but I am excited for this regional alliance as I have always believed women have plenty to share and we don’t have to reinvent everything from the ground up. If you would like to be part of this or find out more, here’s more information.
The Power of Regional Community Building
I consider NEW API one of my boldest announcements. Unsurprisingly, I have known for many years now that I am someone who can transform ideas into actionable projects, having demonstrated this through many business and community projects.
Some of them are unusual events and workshops for my business. Others are community projects such as saving books from being recycled as waste paper and channeling enormous amounts of money to charity. Some 18 years ago, I co-founded a women entrepreneur organization in Penang and today it is still active, bringing women in business together in the spirit of sisterhood. This podcast is one of them too. My intense focus, discipline and dedication is my strength, transforming an idea from a mere seed to a flourishing tree!
This NEW API alliance aims to create stronger support networks for women entrepreneurs across ASEAN, the Pacific, and India. By bringing together women organizations, New API envisions a future of shared learning, market access and regional collaboration.
My biggest learning and emphasis is that you don’t need to have everything figured out to start something impactful. Sharing my vision early has already garnered interest and support, proving the importance of crowd-sourced help and collaboration in turning ideas into action.
Introducing a New Format: Solo Episodes
When I began my podcast 5 years ago, I began with the interview-style format where I speak to guests and highlight their stories. Starting this season, I have decided to mix the original format with more of my unique insights and experiences through solo episodes. While interviews remain at the heart of Womenpreneur Asia, solo episodes will allow me to dive deeper into entrepreneurship topics, personal reflections and actionable advice.
Some themes to look forward to include:
- Strategic Planning for Entrepreneurs: How to align your business goals and online presence.
- Storytelling as a Business Tool: Crafting authentic stories that resonate with audiences.
- Lessons from Podcasting: My journey as a podcaster, including tips, lessons learnt, hacks and strategies for starting your own.
Evolution of the Podcasting Journey: Podcasting Power
My dedication and consistency in amplifying voices and creating a platform for women entrepreneurs season after season is reflected in my own growth as a podcaster.
After 5 years of navigating the highs and lows of podcasting and after producing 116 episodes to date, I have distilled my best learnings into an exciting new resource and ebook, Podcasting Power.
This ebook is designed for anyone ready to start their podcast and covers:
- Strategic Foundations: Crafting a podcast name, purpose and vision.
- Technical Know-How: Equipment, editing and publishing basics.
- Behind-the-Scenes Insights: Templates, checklists and actionable advice.
I have been asked countless times for my advice about starting a podcast.
Although I offer podcast consulting and coaching, I believe the best place for anyone interested in creating their own show is to start with this ebook. If you’ve ever wondered how to start a podcast or leverage it as a platform for visibility and impact, Podcasting Power is your step-by-step guide.
And you get the option of getting my other ebook about the strategy behind the podcast when you buy Podcasting Power. The strategy ebook is only available when you buy Podcasting Power.
A Podcast for Entrepreneurs, by an Entrepreneur
My journey with Womenpreneur Asia reflects first and foremost my passion for amplifying voices and fostering connections. From featuring inspiring women entrepreneurs to collaborating with other podcasters, my mission remains clear: to build a platform that empowers and inspires women in business.
Ready to Dive In?
This season promises to be a mix of inspiration, education and community-building. Whether you’re here for the interviews, the actionable solo episodes, or my new ebook, Podcasting Power, Womenpreneur Asia is your go-to resource.