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Julia Korn is an executive career coach and the founder of the Women’s Leadership Accelerator, a community dedicated to the growth of female leaders. A self-described recovering people-pleaser, Julia has reshaped the career coaching landscape, earning recognition as a Business Insider Most Innovative Career Coach. She’s also a sought-after Forbes Contributor and was featured on global platforms such as BBC World News and Fox Business News, Her TEDx talk, Break Up With “Should” In Your Career, was named a TED Editors’ Pick of the Year. In this episode, we talk about:  Why the word ‘Should’ can be toxic for ambitious professionalsPivoting with purpose and building a career that feels aligned and authentic Turning off autopilot and how we can shift from passively living to actively choosingHow to build a “personal board of directors to maximize career success So if you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Is this really it?”,  this conversation might be the reminder you need that you’re so much more than your job title.Link to Julia’s TEDX Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgrcyGWYYPE&t=44sFind out about the Women’s Leadership Accelerator: https://juliakorn.com/CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/02xWljGMOwQEyKWRFFvN3e?si=f869d84b31464d6b ✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Is meaning and fulfilment at work a universal need, or just a nice to have? In this episode, Frank Koo, Founder & CEO of Nextplay, joins us to explore what it really takes to design a career that feels both successful and significant.With a career spanning IBM, Oracle, Pearson, and most recently as Head of Asia of Talent & Learning Solutions at LinkedIn, Frank shares how he made the leap from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, and what he’s learned about purpose along the way.You’ll discover:Why purpose isn’t found overnight but built over timeHow Frank’s SPICE Model (Stimulation, Purpose, Income, Connection, Esteem) can help you find meaning in your workThe trade-offs between income and impact and how to navigate themPractical tips to future-proof your career at any stageWhether you’re a fresh graduate, a mid-career professional itching for change, or a seasoned leader redefining success, this episode will leave you rethinking what fulfilment at work truly means.CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

We’ve all heard the career advice: “Find a mentor.” But here’s the twist.Mentorship alone won’t always get you the big opportunities. That’s where sponsorship comes in.In this episode, we sit down with Rosalind Chow, Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon, to unpack what really makes sponsorship such a career game-changer.Rosalind walks us through:🔠 The ABCDs of sponsorship—Amplify, Boost, Connect, Defend📢 Why “good gossip” can supercharge your visibility🎬 How a single story (hello, Sal Khan + Bill Gates) can change your trajectory🏢 The subtle but critical ways sponsorship differs from mentorship🚀 How you can actively cultivate sponsorship opportunities in your own careerWhether you’re a rising professional looking to get noticed, or a leader hoping to lift others as you climb, this conversation will help you see sponsorship in a whole new light.🎧 And stick around until the end: we’re giving away a signed copy of Rosalind’s book The Doors You Can Open to 3 Actsplore This Podcast listeners! CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

What if confidence at work starts in the bedroom? In this provocative conversation, entrepreneur Jingjin Liu challenges the myths that women must be “likable” to lead. From becoming the “triple only” in a male-dominated German boardroom to launching Asia’s first sexual wellbeing hub, Jingjin shares how respect, not approval - fuels true influence.We explore the hidden cost of the good-girl script, why asking for what you need at home is a rehearsal for boardroom power, and how redefining success after burnout reshaped her mission. Jingjin Liu is a trailblazing entrepreneur driving women’s inclusion and social justice across Asia. Founder of The ELEVATE Group, she’s reshaping workplaces and leadership, building real opportunities for women at every level of society. A serial entrepreneur, she co-founded ASBO Drives (acquired in 2019) and launched ZaZaZu, Asia’s first sexual wellbeing hub.Watch Jingjin's Ted talk here: Want to be confident at work? start in the bedroom CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/02xWljGMOwQEyKWRFFvN3e?si=f869d84b31464d6b ✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

In a world that often celebrates the loudest voice in the room, what happens when you lead with quiet confidence instead?💡 We discuss:✨ Why being quiet doesn’t mean being invisible✨ The dangers of overvaluing charisma in leadership✨ Practical ways to grow influence without changing who you are✨ The power of appreciating fully and adapting purposefully✨ What organizations miss when they overlook quiet talent✨ And how visibility can be reframed as service, not self-promotion RSVP Here: Actsplore This with Megumi Miki - Melbourne Edition (Community Meet Up)CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: ⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Layoffs are among the most difficult and disorienting experiences we face in our careers, and yet, they remain one of the least openly discussed. In recent months, it’s been hard to scroll through LinkedIn without seeing the ripple effects of widespread job cuts, especially across the tech industry.In this insight-filled and actionable episode, we’re joined by Lorraine K. Lee, award-winning keynote speaker and bestselling author of Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career. Lorraine shares her own story of navigating an unexpected layoff, and how it became the launchpad for a rewarding chapter of her career.A trusted voice on presence, influence, and personal branding, Lorraine has equipped leaders at Zoom, Amazon, McKinsey, and Cisco with the tools to go from invisible to unforgettable — and now, she’s sharing her practical wisdom with us.You’ll walk away with:A behind-the-scenes look at how Lorraine rebuilt her confidence and career post-layoffPractical tools for navigating career transitions with resilience and clarityThe EPIC framework to elevate your presence and tell your career story with impactStrategies to advocate for yourself with authenticity in uncertain timesWhether you’ve been affected by layoffs or are simply seeking a mindset shift for your next career move, this episode is filled with actionable insights to help you move forward with  purpose.Buy Lorraine's book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unforgettable-Presence-Influence-Catapult-Career/dp/1394281722CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

What happens when a former corporate exec walks on stage in a bathing suit... in front of 120 professional women? 🔥Penny Locaso — Happiness Hacker, Harvard writer, TEDx speaker, and authentic leadership trailblazer — did just that to prove one bold point: true change starts where your comfort zone ends.In this raw and revealing conversation, Penny takes us behind the scenes of her midlife awakening moment, the true motivation behind her quest to redefine success in her own terms and why self-compassion is the leadership skill we need more of, in our world today.We also explore:💥 How she turned public fear into a power move that still echoes today 🌀 Why the "perfect path" is a myth — and why your zigzag might be the key to fulfillment 🧭 What it really takes to rewrite your definition of success (hint: it involves grief, grit, and one hell of a truth bomb) 💡 How action — even messy, imperfect action — creates the confidence you're waiting forFrom grief to growth, bathing suits to boardrooms — this episode is a masterclass in becoming unapologetically you.Witty Warning: Listening may cause spontaneous courage, clarity, and the desire to radically rethink your personal definition of success.Remember: If you’re listening and something in this conversation lit a spark — don’t rush past it. Take a beat, sit in that discomfort, and see where it wants to take you.Resources: Expert ChecklistApply to be part of the ‘If not you, when who?’ leadership research project CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

In this episode, we’re sharing six mindset shifts that have helped us navigate change, growth, and new chapters. These aren’t just surface-level reframes, but meaningful shifts that have shaped how we show up in our work and personal lives. From embracing the discomfort of being a beginner, creating space for reflection, to leaning into difficult conversations - we reflect on what it really takes to grow with intention in the midst of life transitions. In this episode, we explore:Why it’s okay (and even necessary) to be bad at something newHow stepping away from constant productivity can unlock creativityWhat happens when we lead with curiosity And why action often creates clarity—not the other way aroundWe’d love to hear your mindset shifts too: what’s been helping you level up lately, in whatever season you're in? Connect with us on Instagram @actsplorethispodcast and join the conversation.PARTNER SPOTLIGHT:This episode was brought to you by Woon Advisory, your trusted partner for talent acquisition. Head to http://woonadvisory.com and hit the ‘Contact Us’ button for a complimentary Talent Strategy Session with Charles - make sure you mention ‘Actsplore This Podcast’ in the email title.

CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

What if the key to winning hearts (and boardrooms) isn’t data... but your X-Factor?Yamini Naidu is the world's only Economist turned Bollywood dancing business storyteller.In this high-impact episode, Yamini reveals how to ditch dull presentations and turn your message into something people feel—and remember. Whether you're leading a team, pitching an idea, or navigating career change, this episode will help you to discover and unlock your X Factor potential and become a more unforgettable communicator.🔥GIVEAWAY ALERT: Yamini is giving away 1 signed copy of her book X Factor: Unleash Your Presenting Superpower to the first Australian-based listener who shares a key takeaway from this episode on LinkedIn and tags her!Resources:100-Banned-X-factor-words-2023-Version.pdfYamini-Naidu-X-factor-101-ways-to-discover-.pdfCONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

What does it take to go from starting out in a foreign country to shaping national policy and earning one of the UK’s highest honors -the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)? In this episode, we get up close and personal with the remarkable Jane Chelliah-Manning, who is the Assistant Director, Senior Policy Lead at the UK Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy. With over 2 decades in the UK public sector, Jane has played a key role in major policy developments, from navigating Britain’s exit from the European Union to shaping responses during the pandemic.In this episode, Jane gets real about the ups, downs, and game-changing moments that defined her career in the UK public sector, where she eventually earned an MBE for her work, joining the ranks of a few Malaysians who have received this award.  Tune in as Jane shares powerful mindset shifts around feminine leadership and what it truly takes to drive meaningful impact.CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Anne Marie Chaker went from breaking news at The Wall Street Journal to breaking personal records on the bodybuilding stage, and her story is anything but typical. After weathering a series of personal curveballs, a lift session in a hotel gym flipped Anne Marie’s whole world. Now, she’s living proof that it’s never too late to build strength, own your power, and rewrite your story.In this conversation, Anne Marie get real about her journey turning struggle into strength. In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to rise from rock bottom, why embracing discomfort is the ultimate superpower, and how your toughest seasons can fuel your biggest transformations. We also dive into insights from her upcoming book, LIFT, where she challenges the “skinny ideal” and explores the untapped power of muscle & why women should focus on building rather than shrinking themselves.CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Happy International Women’s Day from us to you!🌷This week’s episode is an Actsplore This Podcast Favourite - a re-release in conjunction with International Women's Day on 'Owning Your Story & Billion Dollar Goals’.If there's one person who embodies dreaming big, wild, and audacious, it's none other than Malaysian born and bred, Washington based Sarah Chen-Spellings!In this wide-ranging and unfiltered conversation, Sarah shares the formative experiences that drove her to start Lean In Malaysia and Beyond the Billion, the highs and lows of her career trajectory smashing the glass ceilings, how she redefines failure, the value of authentic leadership, and much more.CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

NGL - 2024 has been a year of HUGE change for us 🙈😌From changing jobs to moving countries on totally opposite sides of the world to each other, we’re learning to ride this rollercoaster 🎢 of change with our arms lifted high and as open as possible!🙌🏻While change is never easy, it’s always an opportunity to grow 🌱.In this episode, we dive into the twists and turns of navigating these life transitions as well as explore what it takes to embrace change while staying grounded.Join us as we share our experiences and tips to help you navigate your own transitions (big or small!) with ease ✨CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

This week’s episode is a re-release of one of our favorite conversations on Career Prototyping with the incredible Bill Burnett. This conversation feels especially timely as we reflect on fresh starts and set intentions for the year ahead. We speak to Bill Burnett, the co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Designing Your Life and Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford University, to understand how design thinking can help us create a life and career that is both meaningful and fulfilling!In this actionable and insight-filled episode, Bill unpacks how we can apply the concept of prototyping in our own lives to test out ideas and how we can reframe the dysfunctional beliefs that hold us back. (Spoiler alert: stay tuned to hear how you can better manage your energy as Bill walks us through his Energy Engagement map at the end!)CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Featuring our beloved friend and pod guest extraordinaire, Crystal Cha, we explore how life changes, global events, and personal growth shape our narratives. In this episode, Crystal shares her journey and the inspiration behind her brand new 'Ground and Grow Guided Journal', offering a unique blend of storytelling and actionable prompts for self-reflection, just in time for the start of this new year 2025 and in whichever season in life you may be in. 🌬🔥🌏💧 With insights drawn from nature's elements—wind, fire, earth, and water, we discuss the importance of pausing amidst life's chaos to cultivate mindfulness and purpose. Specially for our Actsplore This Podcast listeners, the first 15 listeners who DM us (on Instagram): “YES, I’M READY TO GROUND AND GROW ✨” will receive a free downloadable copy of Crystal’s exclusive Ground and Grow Guided Journal! CONNECT WITH US HERE: ✨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actsplorethispodcast/ ✨Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/02xWljGMOwQEyKWRFFvN3e ✨Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/my/podcast/actsplore-this/id1576842664 ✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com ✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Let’s be real, sharing the personal stuff can feel daunting, but we wanted to bring our #ActsploreThis fam along as we dive into the highs, lows and in betweens of life in our 30s! In this episode, we reflect on this new chapter: shifts in our career, evolving family & friendship dynamics, and how our relationships have evolved since our 20s. It’s raw, real and relatable as we unpack themes of grief, growth and the messy yet meaningful journey of figuring it all out. HIGHLIGHTS: 00:37 Reflecting on our 30's era 03:46 Career pivots and lessons learnt 10:05 Evolving family dynamics 18:40 Navigating friendships in our 30s 25:02 Relationship insights and personal growth 32:20 Advice to Our Younger Selves CONNECT WITH US HERE: ✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos ✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube ✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts ✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com ✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

It's been a hot min, fam and we're back with a belated episode: Ask Us Anything & Life Updates with Sarah-Ann and Janice.Huge thanks to our listeners for submitting a range of deep & thought-provoking questions to us, from the best and most underrated piece of career advice we've received, to our audacious goals, how we nurture our inner selves and the 'What Ifs' if life hasn't brought us to where we are today... Spoiler alert: stick around for some major life updates! It's been a long time coming and we're grateful that you're sticking around!💖Thank you for all the support we've received so far - #staytuned for our next episode on 'Life in our 30s'!CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram✨Spotify✨Apple Podcast✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee

Freda Liu is one of the most recognisable voices in Malaysia. She has lived and breathed business in the past decade with Malaysia’s only business radio station BFM 89.9, and  is currently the producer and presenter of The Shift Asia, a podcast platform that focuses on ESG, SDG, sustainability, and embracing fresh & innovative strategies in business practicesBesides being the author to 7 books, she is a powerhouse communicator and has been skillfully merging her experience as a journalist, broadcaster, emcee, moderator over the years. In this episode, Freda shares her journey from early storytelling competitions to a surprising career in broadcasting, and the pivotal moments that shaped her trajectory in media. We delve into her bold career moves, including joining BFM 89.9, and the lessons she learned from conducting thousands of interviews.Freda opens up about how she navigated personal challenges, including her divorce, and how she transformed adversity into strength. Freda also shares some tips on how you can use the Wheel of Life exercise to find  fulfillment beyond work. HIGHLIGHTS: 3:30 Freda’s divine pivot into the world of broadcasting 6:40 Why it’s crucial to try different things 9:42 Freda’s annual practice for intentional growth 13:07 What being ‘Better and not Bitter’ looked like & what her divorce taught her18:28 Her daily monologue whilst navigating grief 20:46 Saying YES to joining BFM 89.926:38 Freda’s very first BFM interview 30:40 The Wheel of Life and how this practice changed her life 33:41 Freda’s self care mechanism 38:59 How Freda is ‘Elevating’ herself this year  CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram✨Youtube✨Spotify✨Apple Podcast✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee

Peter Yong (aka Mr Money TV) grew up believing that money was the root of all evil. So how did Peter eventually go on to become a wildly successful personal finance YouTuber with a 7-figure media empire?!In this unfiltered conversation, we dive into the twists & turns in Peter’s journey (spoiler alert: he had multiple pivots in his career before building Mr Money TV..one of which involved a lucrative stint selling insurance!) Peter shares about the challenging beginnings of building Mr Money TV, balancing multiple odd jobs to keep the venture alive, the brutal lessons he learnt as he scaled the business and how he plans to advance his mission of demystifying the complex world of finance for the average Malaysian through accessible and engaging content.Episode Highlights: 2:00 Growing up with very little money 4:04 Mr Money was a bad boy?!5:42 What his dad’s bankruptcy taught him 6:55 Peter’s first job…in HR? 8:00 Peter grew up thinking that money is the root of all evil 10:41 The life lesson that his first job taught him13:23 Brutal realities of being an insurance agent 15:10 The secret to getting good at something 18:00 Uploading his first YouTube video 20:00 Working multiple odd jobs to sustain Mr Money TV 21:35 The moment he decided to go all in 24:42 How Peter found his co-founders 29:35 Navigating difficult conversations  32:28 The most brutal lesson he learnt building Mr Money TV36:50 Peter’s ‘Ikigai’40:11 Unpacking the content creation strategy of Mr Money TV 42:13 How Peter successfully monetised his podcast 44:14 Taking advice from the people around him..and an MIT professor!46:46 What’s next for Mr Money TV?Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/B1iVwpIFMFsCONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram✨Youtube✨Spotify✨Apple Podcast✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com✨Buy us a coffee