What happens when you walk away from a successful 10+ year corporate career to start over — as a student, in a new country?

Meet Janissa Ng — a former Senior Account Director from Singapore who took a bold leap to rebuild her career in sustainability. After over a decade in corporate communications, she left everything behind to pursue a Master’s degree in Germany, eventually crafting a remote, purpose-driven portfolio career on her own terms.

In this episode of On My Own Terms, Janissa opens up about her journey of starting over, finding freedom through flexibility, and redefining what success means in your 30s and 40s. If you’re feeling stuck, burnt out, or wondering whether it’s too late to start over — this conversation is your permission slip to rethink what success looks like.

💬 In this episode, we talk about:

• What inspired Janissa to leave her corporate career and move to Germany

• How she managed studying abroad debt-free in mid-career

• The challenges of starting over and finding purpose again

• Building a remote, portfolio-style career in sustainability

• The reality of burnout and how to create meaningful work-life balance

• Why it’s okay to stop chasing titles and start designing your own path

This is an honest, heartfelt story for anyone in their 30s or 40s who’s questioning their path, craving change, or looking for meaning beyond the 9-to-5.

🎧 Watch till the end for Janissa’s lessons on freedom, identity, and building a career that feels truly yours.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

03:01 Meet Jan: Sustainability Communications Consultant

04:34 What Made Jan Leave Singapore to Start Over in Germany?

05:25 How Do You Turn Passion for the Planet Into a Real Career?

13:54 Was Going Back to School After 10 Years Worth It?

34:35 Is Singapore Really Ready for Sustainability and ESG?

35:53 How ESG Really Works Inside Companies

38:05 Can Startups Solve What Big Corporates Can’t?

40:10 Building ‘Human and Heard’ — A Venture Rooted in Purpose

51:13 Lessons on Burnout, Freedom, and Redefining Success

Where to find Janissa:

Website: https://bit.ly/4nYc3N5 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janissang/

*Executive branding sprint (ideal for people in career transitions) at exclusive rate for podcast audience (YOU) → Quote “Podcast Executive Branding” when you contact Janissa

🎯Find practical tools and resources to guide your journey:

Check out: https://bit.ly/3CTMZRW

📩 Follow us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onmyowntermspodcast

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/on-my-own-terms-podcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnMyOwnTermsPodcast

Email: johnlimcy@gmail.com

Support the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/onmyownterms

📌 References (AI):

• ChatGPT (OpenAI): Conversational AI platform for idea generation and workflows. https://chatgpt.com

• WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature): Environmental organization where Janissa previously worked, focused on wildlife conservation and sustainability. https://www.worldwildlife.org

About the host John Lim:

Born and bred in Singapore, John is a husband, father and a curious business and tech enthusiast. John began his career in banking, co-founded Singapore’s largest indoor laser tag events company, led regional business development for a tech startup, and took a leap into e-commerce just before the Covid pandemic hit. Just when he thought he was crushing it at his dream company, he got laid off in the tech winter. In his journey, he's embraced uncertainty, growth, and reinvention—and he’s on a mission to help others do the same.

#CareerTransition #Sustainability #RemoteWork #MidCareerChange #SingaporePodcast #WomenInWork #OnMyOwnTerms #Germany #Singapore