The Career Strategists

Don’t Be a Professional Victim.If your default response is “they won’t let me,” “I can’t,” or “it’s unfair,” this episode is for you.We unpack why capable professionals lose agency, fall into learned helplessness, and outsource responsibility to circumstances. Then we cut through the noise with practical ways to take back control.You’ll learn how to shift your mindset, set real boundaries, say NO without guilt, and stop letting other people define your career.No fluff. Just straight talk.Because hope isn’t a strategy. Action is.

Are you appearing 'too perfect' for the Interview? Hiring Managers can smell BS a mile away!Adrian and Yen share how 'Battle Scars' are valuable and make us stronger!

It's Jan 2026 - People are setting SMART GOALS as their New Year Resolution - and some have already failed! Try our Practical recipe that is focused on INPUTS and OUTCOMES instead!

Your career isn’t driven by your job description. It’s driven by the people who influence your success. Most professionals only manage one or two groups. The smart ones manage all five.There are the stakeholders shaping your career more than you realise. If you want true career velocity, you must manage all five. Ignore even one, and your career ceiling lowers without you noticing.🎧 Tune in. This episode might rewire how you think about influence forever.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth. Talk to people in their 50s and 60s and they’ll tell you, almost in a whisper, the same painful confession. “I kinda wasted my 40s.”What do they regret most?💥 Not taking risks when they actually had energy and options😴 Cruising when they should’ve been levelling up💼 Working too hard and missing their family’s best years📉 Not upskilling until the market punished them🪦 Staying stuck in roles or industries that were already dyingThis episode isn’t polite. It’s a slap, a spark, and a second chance.If you’re in your 40s, this might be the most important podcast you listen to all year.🎧 Tune in. Get uncomfortable. Then get moving.

Most people chase success the hard way - grinding longer, stressing more, and hoping something finally clicks. This episode flips that script.I break down three deceptively simple lessons that every ambitious professional thinks they understand… but almost nobody actually applies:✨ Celebrate progress - the quiet engine behind motivation, resilience, and long-term career momentum.⚡ Manage your energy - not just your time, because burnout doesn’t care about your Google Calendar.🎯 Know your real stakeholders - the people who actually influence your career trajectory (hint: it’s not always who you think).If you’re feeling stuck, tired, or overwhelmed, this conversation will give you the clarity and firepower to move forward ... sustainably and strategically.Perfect for mid-career professionals who want to level up without losing themselves.Ready to get ahead the smart way?

The news is full of Negative Stories. Deadlines are looming. Your phone won’t stop buzzing.And somehow… you’re supposed to keep it all together?In this energizing episode, we unpack simple, science-backed strategies to stay grounded, clear-headed, and calm—even when the world feels like it’s spinning off its axis.Whether it’s toxic workplaces, never-ending to-do lists, or just life being life, this one’s your mental reset.🧠 Breathe in. Hit play. Sanity starts here.

We’ve all been SOLD a LIE - It's TIME to Get Real! In this brutally honest episode, we tear down the myth of the purpose-driven career. You’ll hear why 76% of executives admit they’ve felt their careers had no purpose, what that really means, and why chasing purpose might actually make you miserable. We will unpack: - Why we crave purpose - The biggest misconceptions that make “purpose” the new corporate religion.- How to discover your own purpose — not from a TED Talk, but from real-world experience, curiosity, and grit. It’s raw, it’s real, and it might just change how you look at your career forever.

Be careful what you wish for - because in your career, getting what you think you want might be the very thing that holds you back.In this brutally honest and thought-provoking episode, Adrian Choo unpacks the five most common career wishes that sound good on paper but secretly sabotage your growth:1️⃣ “I wish I had my dream job.”2️⃣ “I wish my job were easier.”3️⃣ “I wish my boss would leave me alone.”4️⃣ “I wish I knew my end goal right now.”5️⃣ “I wish I could just take a long vacation.”With wit, wisdom, and real-world insight, Adrian flips each wish on its head ... revealing why the pursuit of comfort, clarity, and control often keeps professionals stuck.Tune in to learn how to replace these limiting wishes with powerful career strategies that drive agility, resilience, and long-term success.🎧 If you’ve ever caught yourself saying any of these five things, this episode might just change the way you see your career - forever.

You’ve climbed the ladder, delivered results, and paid your dues — yet the higher you go, the heavier it gets.In this episode, we unpack the five silent frustrations that mid-career executives rarely talk about — but every one of them feels:1️⃣ The constant pressure to deliver results (with less support).2️⃣ The fear of being replaced — by AI, a younger hire, or a cheaper alternative.3️⃣ The dread of being priced out of the market you helped build.4️⃣ The lack of professional development, as training dollars go to “emerging talent.”5️⃣ And the dreaded glass ceiling — or worse, the career cliff no one warns you about.If you’ve ever thought, “Is this as far as I go?”, this episode is for you.We’ll talk about what’s really behind these frustrations — and more importantly, what you can do about them.🎧 Tune in — it’s time to reclaim your career power before the system sidelines you.

You’re hustling hard - inbox exploding, meetings stacked, deadlines closing in. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: being busy isn’t the same as being valuable.In this thought-provoking episode, we pull back the curtain on one of the biggest traps in mid-career life ... working hard on the wrong problems. Adrian breaks down the five invisible forces that keep smart professionals spinning their wheels instead of moving forward:1️⃣ The Trap - Mistaking Activity for Progress: Why motion without direction is career quicksand.2️⃣ The Urgent vs Important Test: A wake-up call straight from the Eisenhower Matrix - where does your time really go?3️⃣ The Interesting vs Necessary Filter: How to stop chasing shiny distractions and start doing the work that truly moves the needle.4️⃣ The Operational vs Strategic Divide: Are you the firefighter... or the architect?5️⃣ Picking Your Battles Wisely: The difference between being indispensable and being promotable.🎯 If you’ve ever ended a week wondering, “Why do I feel exhausted but not accomplished?” — this one’s for you.🔥 Listen now to learn how to realign your focus, elevate your impact, and finally start working on the right problems.

Retrenchments are never easy.But here’s the kicker: many companies unknowingly behave poorly during the process - and end up making themselves look bad in the eyes of employees, customers, and even future talent. 😬In this episode, I reveal the common mistakes companies make during retrenchments - from tone-deaf communication to bad timing - and how leaders can avoid turning a tough moment into a reputational disaster.✅ If you’re in leadership or HR, this is your playbook for handling retrenchments with dignity, fairness, and responsibility.

The headlines scream doom, but the truth is more nuanced. The market isn’t collapsing — it’s punishing the unprepared. Outdated skills and “wait-and-see” career management? That’s what’s getting people stuck. This episode cuts through the panic to reveal the reality: Are your skills mismatched? Are you accessing the hidden markets? Is there Silent hiring, and why clarity and strategy beat fear every time.If you’ve been asking, “Is the job market really that bad?” — the answer might surprise you.

Do We Really Need Friends in the Office?Is quitting a job because you feel lonely a valid reason… or just an excuse? In this episode, we unpack the “no friends at work” dilemma — from the risks of mistaking colleagues for confidants, to the reality that your so-called “office buddy” might actually be gunning for the same promotion as you. We’ll talk trust, competition, and whether the workplace is for building friendships… or building your career.

"What if I don't get the Promotion?""What if I DO get the Promotion?"How many sleepless nights have you wasted stressing over things that might happen – the job you applied for, the boss who might not like you, or that AI will steal your job? (The last one probably true) In this episode, Adrian and Yen cut through the noise and show you how to stop playing out worst‑case scenarios in your head, reclaim your mental bandwidth, and focus on what actually matters.If you’re tired of second‑guessing every career move and sabotaging your own confidence with “what ifs,” this is your wake‑up call. No fluff. No platitudes. Just straight‑talk strategies to ditch the imaginary problems and take real control of your career.

Thinking of leaving the hustle for a simpler, saner work life?Sounds tempting… but hold up.Before you trade your title for tranquility, this episode unpacks 5 must-consider factors that could make or break your downshifting decision. From money and identity to future career risks, we cover the stuff no one talks about.Because escaping the rat race is smart — but doing it blindly? Not so much.Hit play before you slow down the wrong way.

Think your C-suite title guarantees a smooth interview? Think again.In this no-fluff episode, we expose the surprisingly common mistakes even seasoned leaders make during interviews—like over-relying on their resume, dodging tough questions, or coming off… well, a little too polished.Whether you're gunning for your next big role or just dusting off the blazer, this episode will help you avoid the traps that silently kill your chances.Because at the executive level, it's not just what you say—it's how you say it.👔 Press play before you step into that boardroom.

Jobhunting sucks when you're in your 40s - a 45 yr old client told me that the headhunter said he was "TOO OLD"! But what are you doing wrong? What can you do better? - Are you over-relying on your CV? - Are you too shy to network for leads? - Or are you really too old in your ways to learn new job-hunting techniques? Watch this episode and find out how you can get hired quicker!

Shopee sued an ex-Employee last January for a Non-compete when he joined their rival, TikTok. They lost. If you're about to sign an offer letter with a non-competition clause, are you at risk of a lawsuit? What are the red flags to watch out for... and what should you do? Adrian The Career Strategist shares these secrets with you

Have you wondered how much a Board Member is paid? Or how much (or little) work they're required to do?Or whether they can actually end up in Prison if things go wrong?In this insightful episode, we talk to Carmen Wee, veteran HR Leader and Board Member of several major companies, on these questions and more!