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Make It Work

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54 episodes · showing the newest 54

Why There Is No "Best" Way to Parent (And How to Stop Kiasu Burnout) | Yi Ling Teng | Ep 45

43 min

She read all the books before her first baby arrived. Then the baby came home, and nothing went according to the book. For 5 months, she and her husband struggled at home, sleep-deprived and arguing like never before. At their lowest, they even wondered whether they could go back to life before the baby. Today, they have three kids and Yiling, a former Singapore Exchange scholar, is in the business of helping other moms navigate the tricky waters of postpartum life. She is a certified postpartum doula (she calls herself a “stay-out confinement nanny” because more people understand the term) and the founder of Baby Planner SG. She goes into parents’ homes to help with breastfeeding, sleep, the return to work, and everything in between, all through the first thousand days. She started Baby Planner SG by accident. What began as helping friends and family through their first babies became a business she runs on one principle: never exploit parents when they need help the most. This episode is about letting go of “the best,” and finding what works for your family. What we get into: 🌑 The darkest season of her life after her first baby, and what got her and her husband through it 📚 Why no parenting book could prepare her, and how she used her corporate skills to find what actually worked 🛤️ Growing up on Singapore’s “one-track” path, and realising being a working mom is not the only option 🤝 Why parents resist asking for help, and how she mediates when grandparents and parents can’t agree 🧮 “Mom math” and how to plan breastfeeding and pumping around your return to work 🏠 The 10-year conversation that led her family to choose a single income and an HDB flat for life 📉 What she believes will actually move Singapore’s record-low fertility rate, and why we need to see the joy in parenting, not just the cost If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing because parenthood isn’t going “by the book,” this episode was made for you. 🎁 Make It Work listeners get 5% off anyt...

Laid Off One Month Before Giving Birth: How Make It Work Was Born | Sarah Wong on Community At Work

23 min

I lost my job one month before giving birth. It was 2022. I had just moved back to Singapore from the US with an 18-month-old and a second baby on the way. I still remember sitting in a half-furnished flat in the heat, eating instant noodles in my singlet with my hair in a messy bun, wondering who I was now that the job was gone. My career had been such a big part of who I was. When it was ripped out, I felt lost at sea. So I started talking to women who were a few steps ahead of me, one conversation at a time. Those conversations became Make It Work. This time, I'm the one in the guest's chair. I joined Brandon Lee on Community At Work to talk about how Make It Work began, what our community of moms is really looking for, and where I think communities like ours are heading. For the first time, I opened up about the actual pains of building this community. Like anything worth doing, it's taken a lot of late nights and tears. I'm thankful I got to share honestly about what keeps me up at night trying to keep this going. What we get into: 🌊 Getting laid off one month before giving birth, and the "period of wilderness" that followed 🎙️ How a handful of honest conversations turned into a podcast heard in 40 countries 🤫 Our mystery question feature, and the "selfish" things we carry as moms but rarely say out loud 🇸🇬 Why the tension between career and motherhood looks so different in Singapore compared with my experience in the American South 🧩 Why moms join asking for a 4-day work week script, and why that's never where the conversation ends 🌙 The real cost of keeping a community going: editing videos at 9pm, hunting for venues, and one very dodgy yoga studio 🧠 Matrescence, and why your brain literally rewires after becoming a mom 🤝 What institutions can do to back grassroots communities, including showing alternatives like job sharing 🤖 Our AI Moms Party, and why human connection matters even more in the age of AI 🪜 Why seeing your career as seasons will...

What Healing While Parenting Actually Looks Like (Therapist Explains) - Jen Loong-Goodwin | Ep 43

44 min

She grew up believing she was the least qualified person to become a mother. Childhood was difficult. The parenting she received was not the kind she wanted to pass on. And for a long time, she thought that past would follow her into the room where she would one day raise her own child. It did not. Jen Loong-Goodwin is a venture capital professional by day, a clinical therapist by night, and a content creator who refuses to let the working mom struggle stay silent. She founded LifeLoong Therapy after years inside high-performing corporate environments and time spent sitting with the clients those environments had quietly worn down. She also created Long Long Tales, a bilingual cartoon series helping mixed-race children find belonging in Chinese culture. She has worked across six countries. She navigated postpartum depression while completing her master's degree, clocking clinical hours, and flying for work. She pumped breast milk in cars in emerging markets, carried frozen milk through customs, and did almost all of it without saying a word about how hard it was. Because she was raised to believe that silence was a virtue. This episode is about what happens when you finally stop being quiet. What we get into: 🧬 Why she almost did not become a mom and the one thing her husband said that changed everything 🌊 Going through postpartum depression as a therapist and what it actually took to move through it 🤱 Her first day back to work after maternity leave was a 2-hour flight + 6-hour car ride + pumping 2L of milk per day away, and why she stopped doing it silently 🔇 The cultural weight of Asian silence and what it really costs working moms who never learn to advocate for themselves 🧠 What she means when she says your career might just be one big trauma response 🤖 How she uses AI not to do more but to protect the hours that matter most with her son 🌏 What it actually takes to raise a mixed-race child to feel like they belong 💼 Why women hit their creative peak b...

A Single Mom Who Rewrote Her Story And How You Can Too - Elise Tan, Founder of Asia Startup Network, Remarkable Women Asia| Ep 42

42 min

There is a part of women having it all that nobody talks about honestly. The postpartum depression that sent her to the hospital for a month. The marriage that counselling could not save. The Thursday nights her daughter went to her father, and she did not know what to do with the silence. Elise Tan has lived through all of it. And she built two communities from the rubble. She is the founder of Asia Startup Network, a community of 5,000 startups, investors, and ecosystem partners across the region, and Remarkable Women, a growing network of 1,000 women in tech and entrepreneurship. Before that, she was a Director at Vertex Ventures, one of Southeast Asia's best-known venture funds. What she built is impressive. Who she became is the real story. Because behind all of that is a single mom of a seven-year-old who went through postpartum depression, a sudden job loss, a painful separation, and a season of alcoholism, all at the same time. And instead of letting that define her, she used every single bit of it to build something real. She did not have the answers. She just refused to stay stuck. What we get into: 💯 Why she tried to score 100 at motherhood and what it cost her body  🪞 How her daughter became her mirror, reflecting back both the good and the parts she is still working on 💔 Why she calls divorce a pointless grief and what it actually takes to move through it 🍷 The Thursday nights her daughter left and what she reached for to fill the silence ✍️ How journaling 50 dates over four years helped her finally understand what she was actually looking for in a partner 🧘 Why she stopped believing the end justifies the means and what motherhood taught her about kindness over being right 🏃 Why she no longer believes in having it all at the same time and what she thinks we should be asking instead —----- CONNECT WITH ELISE AND HER COMMUNITIES 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisetanyl/ 👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gratitude_devotions/...

Lessons From 5,000 Moms - Liying Tay, Founder of Crunchmoms | Ep 41

43 min

This is a moment that every mom relates to - You wake up ready on your big day. The event, the pitch, the opportunity you have been building towards. And then your kid has a fever. That morning, Liying Tay made a call. And she still remembers the guilt. Liying is the co-founder of Crunchmoms, the MENA region's first women's networking platform for moms navigating ambition and family. She and her cofounder built it from a Monday morning coffee with eight women in Dubai, while carrying a newborn and planning her first summit, with no family nearby and no one to stay home. She did not build Crunchmoms because she had it figured out. She built it because she did not. That honesty is exactly why this conversation is worth your time. What we get into: 🤱 Baby-carrying through Zoom meetings and scheduling nap times around calls, because no one else was home 😔 The guilt of going to your biggest event when your kid wakes up with a fever, and choosing to go anyway 🔄 Why the 50/50 partnership ideal had to go, and what a fluid arrangement actually looks like week to week 📋 (My fave!) The Sunday family meeting that keeps two ambitious people from talking past each other all week 🧠 Why the second baby hit her with mom guilt ( the first one never did) and the one thing a friend told her that changed everything 🌍 The misconception about women in the Middle East that eight years on the ground completely dismantled 💡 What it actually means to own a task at home, and why planning it on a Google Doc is not the same thing as doing it If you have ever felt the tension between wanting to go 1,000 miles per hour at work and being called to be fully present at home, and wondered if that tension ever goes away, this episode is for you. —------------- Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:16 Who is Liying Tay 03:42 Building a Business in Chaos 06:40 The Hardest Season She Never Talks About 15:13 How Two Ambitious Partners Make It Work 21:18 Why She Wishes She Asked for Help Sooner 22:46...

You Don't Have to Choose Between Motherhood and Ambition| Prof. Winnie Jiang | Ep 40

57 min

There's a moment in early motherhood that most never admit out loud. The moment you look at your baby and think — I didn't sign up for this. When the career you spent a decade building feels like it's slipping away. When you wonder if choosing to have children was a mistake. Professor Winnie Jiang went there. And she came out the other side with the science to explain why — and what to do about it. I first reached out to Professor Winnie 2 years ago and it’s a conversation that was definitely worth the wait! Winnie is an organizational behavior professor at INSEAD Singapore, a Yale PhD, and one of the world's most influential management thinkers (Thinkers50 Radar Class). But in this conversation, she shows up first as a young mom of two under five — still in the trenches, still figuring it out, just like the rest of us. From Singapore's unique pressures on working mothers to navigating a dual-career marriage without letting resentment quietly build, we go deep on the things working moms in Asia rarely say out loud. What we get into:  😶 The shame of not wanting to call yourself a mother — and why it makes complete sense  💔 Why the "back to work after three months" fantasy falls apart, and what the timeline actually looks like  ⚖️ The invisible power struggle happening in dual-career marriages — and the conversation that can fix it  🧭 The six anchors of meaning that explain why your job can feel empty even when it looks great on paper  🤖 Why AI might give working moms something no one else has — time If you've ever felt like a worse professional for becoming a mother — or a worse mother for caring about your career — this episode was made for you. —------------- Chapters: 00:00 When Motherhood Feels Like a Career Killer  01:12 Introduction 02:59 Finding Your Spring After the Hardest Winter  04:05 Why Your Village Changes Everything  09:58 How to Find Meaning When You're Running on Empty  26:28 Why Work Feels Like a Relief (And That's Okay)  27:03 The 6 Anchor...

Millennial vs. Gen X Motherhood: A Conversation with My Mom | Ep 39

44 min

In this special Mother's Day episode, I sit down with the OG of Make It Work: the woman who shaped me to uncover stories we’ve never actually talked about and how she ‘made it work’ as a working mom for our family of 5 back in the 90s. We dive into the hilarious, honest clash between Gen X and millennial "gentle parenting," where she shares her unfiltered take on my modern motherhood choices. We also unpack emotional childhood moments—including a surprising memory I had completely forgotten and remembered very differently! In a very personal and heartwarming conversation, we explored:  🕰️ How she navigated intense workdays and early motherhood (and why she refuses to use the word "burnout")  🤯 The hilarious generational divide over how millennial parents approach things—from assessing danger to baby-led weaning  💡 How we remembered the exact same core childhood memory entirely differently  🤝 The secret to our strong relationship today  🌟 How she survived the darkest tunnels of marriage and motherhood  🙋🏻‍♀️ Her answers to questions that listeners sent through! Whether you are navigating generational differences with your own parents (or children!) or just trying to survive the daily juggle, I think this episode will hit home for many of us. —------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 - Is It Burnout or Just Motherhood? 01:28 - OG of Make It Work 03:51 - When Ambition Meets Early Motherhood 07:49 - The Quiet Hard Parts of Marriage 19:14 - Two Generations, Two Very Different Approaches 23:57 - Growing Into Ourselves 24:51 - CCAs, Tuition, Pressure & Trying to Fit In 27:29 - What Gen X Really Thinks About Gentle Parenting  31:38 - The Memory We Remembered Completely Differently 38:37 - What Makes Us Work —------------------------- Watch more: From $2K Salary to Financial Independence: A Working Mom’s Playbook ft. SG Budget Babe: https://youtu.be/dJTtBomK9_s When You Show Up Anyway: A Mother’s Story of Loss and Leadership - Maria Li: https://youtu.be/Pwv8XfGJp9...

Navigating the ‘Singapore Script’: Career Pauses, Identity, and Ambition | Huda R Ep 38

57 min

What happens when the traditional career ladder meets the reality of motherhood? In this episode, I am joined by Huda R (founder of The Mum Collective and host of Mum Interrupted podcast) to unpack the reality of navigating ambition and motherhood in Singapore. Huda and I started on very similar tracks, climbing the corporate ranks before motherhood brought an unexpected forcing function to our lives. Today, we sit down to discuss how those parallel tracks diverged into different—but equally ambitious—destinations. We dive into how we are intentionally channeling our drive today: from my journey of building a portfolio career that protects my flexibility, to Huda’s path of homeschooling her kids and fostering deep connections through her Mum Circles. If you’ve ever felt torn between the career you built and the mother you want to be, this episode is your reminder that you can write your own script. In this episode which felt like two friends trading stories and comparing notes, we talked about: - The concept of "downshifting" — and why navigating a career pause is harder, not easier - Owning your decisions (and why it's okay to change your mind) - The very real tension of raising kids outside the mainstream in Singapore — enrichment classes, primary school pressure, and swimming against the tide - What "matrescence" is and why no one warned us about the internal shifts of becoming a mum - My journey from a borrowed microphone to nearly 40 episodes - Mum guilt and the mental load — what equity really looks like when both parents are working - Why community outside your usual circles can be the thing that saves you in a season of uncertainty - What a portfolio career actually looks like, and how the "wilderness period" can be reframed as an investment - Raising kids outside the structured preschool system in Singapore — what a typical day looks like for Huda - The "Singapore script" — how cultural expectations shape the way we judge ourselves and each other as mothe...

From $2K Salary to Financial Independence: A Working Mom’s Playbook ft. SG Budget Babe | Ep 37

49 min

From saving $20,000 on a $2,000 salary to making work optional while raising two young boys, Dawn Fiona Cher—better known online as SG Budget Babe—has spent the last decade helping others take back control of their money and mindset. A mom, author, Director of Government Affairs , and financial educator, Dawn continues to work in both corporate and content creation—not because she has to, but because it fuels her purpose. In this episode, I sit down with Dawn to talk about what it really takes to grow your wealth while juggling motherhood, ambition, and a life you actually want to live. She shares the turning point that made her chase financial freedom harder than ever (hint: it happened mid-breastfeeding), the unglamorous truth of building a side hustle, and how she successfully negotiated for flexibility at work after proving her worth. Dawn opens up about how her own childhood struggles with money shaped her, why time-blocking (not 5AM routines) keeps her grounded, and the life lessons she’s deliberately modeling for her kids. Her practical, no-nonsense wisdom is a refreshing reminder that success isn’t about balance—it’s about clarity, discipline, and alignment. In this energizing conversation, we explored: 📈 How Dawn reached financial independence in slightly over a decade (and still works by choice) 👶 The raw truth about managing work while mothering two young kids 🧠 Why “imposter syndrome” is actually a signpost—not a dead end 🗂️ How she schedules her chaotic week using time-blocking, not rigidity 💡 What it means to be visible, credible, and irreplaceable at work ✍️ Her journey from corporate employee to trusted voice in finance—and what’s next Checkout: 💻 Dawn’s 7-Day Investing Challenge (Discount code: MIW) →https://nas.io/budgetbabe/challenges/investing-101-crash-course?discountCode=MIW 📘 Take Back Control of Your Money by Dawn Fiona Cher → https://www.amazon.sg/Take-Back-Control-Your-Money/dp/9815323075 🎤Sarah’s interview with Dawn on The Fin...

Around But Not Present - A Working Mom's Honest Confession And More | Elena Chow Ep 36

49 min

From a 15-year career at Procter & Gamble to taking a 4 year career pause to be a stay-home-mom to building ConnectOne, a company that helps high-growth startups find and develop their teams — Elena Chow has spent decades helping others build meaningful careers, all while raising four children and navigating her own seasons of work and motherhood. In this episode, I sit down with Elena, who shares her rare honesty about the paradox of being around but not present, what “balance” really looks like in different seasons of life, and why sometimes, the bravest thing a woman can do is pause. Elena opens up about stepping away from corporate life, starting over as an entrepreneur in her 40s, and how faith, community, and purpose guided her through each transition. As a recruiter and pioneer member of the Portfolio Careers Asia group, she also shares her candid advice for mothers today — whether you’re taking a break, returning to work, or exploring a more flexible, fractional path. As a mother, founder, and mentor to many, Elena reminds us that having it all doesn’t mean doing it all — it means understanding the season you’re in, and choosing what matters most in it. In this heartfelt conversation, we explored: 💼 How Elena pivoted from corporate to entrepreneurship — and built Connect One from scratch 🧭 What it means to “fake it till you make it” with courage and humility 👩‍👧‍👧 The hardest lesson about being present as a working mom 💬 Why there’s no such thing as perfect work-life balance — only shifting seasons ✨ How women can thrive in today’s world of fractional work, portfolio careers, and flexible opportunities —----------------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 Debunking Work-Life Balance Myths 01:01 Introduction 03:14 How She Knew It Was Time to Leave Corporate 07:56 The Hardest Part of Being a Mom-Entrepreneur 16:08 What She Wishes She Knew Earlier 24:52 The Unexpected Way Her Kids Learned 26:25 Why Volunteering Changed Everything 27:16 Th...

When You Show Up Anyway: A Mother’s Story of Loss and Leadership - Maria Li | Ep35

43 min

What happens when a tech leader, mother of two, and expat in Singapore decides to redefine what “having it all” really means? From leading one of Asia’s most prominent startup platforms through an acquisition — to navigating miscarriage, maternity, and mom guilt — Maria Li, COO of Tech in Asia, has lived through the highs and heartbreaks of making both career and motherhood work. In this episode, I sit down with Maria Li, who moved from Silicon Valley to Singapore eight years ago, expecting to stay for a year or two. But somewhere between building a company, building a family, and building a village, Singapore became home. 🇸🇬 Maria opens up about the reality behind the title — what it means to lead through loss, to parent with purpose, and to show up authentically at work when life feels anything but perfect. She shares how community support, flexible work, and honest leadership helped her find balance in the chaos. As a mother and leader, Maria is rewriting the playbook for working women everywhere — reminding us that “having it all” isn’t about doing it all, but about choosing what matters most. In this heartfelt conversation, we explored: 💼 How motherhood reshapes your leadership and priorities at work 💬 Why being authentic at work makes you a stronger, not weaker, leader 👩‍👧‍👦The tradeoffs she has had to make to prioritize family in this season 💔 How Maria navigated a miscarriage while leading her company through an acquisition ✨ Why redefining “having it all” starts with owning your trade-offs and your truth —---------------------------------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:23 Meet Maria Li: COO and Mom of Two 03:05 How Singapore became home in ways she never expected. 06:46 What Maria learned about asking for help. 10:41 How becoming a mom reshaped her work — and herself. 23:27 Why stepping away might be the smartest move you make. 24:16 What employers really think about moms returning to work 27:59 How Maria learned...

Navigating Life's Transitions With Belief with Sarah Wong - On The Soft Power Project | Ep34

39 min

Working mothers, career transitions, and the power of becoming — Sarah Wong joins Sherry Fang on the Soft Power Project for an honest conversation about navigating uncertainty, motherhood, and identity. 🌱 In this special episode, the mic flips — and this time, I’m the one being interviewed. 🎙️ Sherry invited me to open up about the messy but transformative seasons of my life: moving countries while pregnant, juggling family responsibilities with career shifts, and rediscovering who I was when nothing seemed stable. These were the moments that looked like chaos on the outside — but in hindsight, they were shaping me from the inside out. And also laid the foundation for the Make It Work podcast! In this heartfelt conversation, we talk about: 👩‍👧‍👦 How becoming a mum shook up everything I thought I knew about who I was and what mattered most. 🌊 The shaping role of my faith in a season of uncertainty  💡 Why feeling “lost” can actually be the most powerful season of growth. ❤️ How I’m reshaping the way I speak to my children about who they are, not just what they’ll do. 🕊️ The surprising truth about boundaries, Sabbath, and modeling rest for the next generation. This episode is for anyone balancing career transitions, family life, and the constant juggle of being a working mom — or anyone who’s ever looked around at the chaos and wondered if it could lead to something more. If you’ve ever felt caught between roles, pulled by change, or unsure of your next step, this conversation is a reminder that you’re not alone. —------------------------------------------ Chapters:00:00 Introduction 01:58 Welcome to Soft Power Project 02:58 When Life Changes Direction 14:08 The Therapeutic Power of Podcasting 21:29 How Do You Create When Life Doesn’t Slow Down? 22:08 Why Your Wins Matter More Than You Think 23:34 Why Soft Power Matters More Than Ever 26:24 Are Your Boundaries Helping or Holding You Back? 35:12 The Next Chapter: Letting Go to Move Forward —-------------------...

Parenthood Across 10 Countries: The Village Every Parent Needs - Marina Lopes | Ep33

50 min

What happens when a journalist travels to 10 different countries, across cultures and continents, to gather the best lessons about parenting? From the way Swedish parents share the mental load, to the way Brazilian grandmothers descend on a new mother’s hospital room, to the way Mozambican villages raise children as a community — each culture holds a piece of wisdom that challenges how we think about raising the next generation. In this episode, I sit down with Marina Lopes — longtime journalist, foreign correspondent for The Washington Post, and most recently the author of Please Yell At My Kids. In her book, Marina does just that: capturing stories and insights from around the world to reframe how we think about parenting and community. For Marina, this journey began with her own contrasting experiences: an emergency C-section in Brazil, surrounded by forty relatives and neighbors in the hospital room… and later, the complete isolation of raising her second baby during COVID in the United States. 🌍💔 As a Brazilian-American married to an Asian-American diplomat, Marina has witnessed how families around the world nurture children, share responsibility, and create belonging. Her book reminds us that parenting was never meant to be done alone — and that building our “village” may be the most important parenting skill of all. In this intimate conversation, we explored: 👶 Why the “rosy” picture of motherhood can leave first-time moms feeling broken 🌍 What cultures from Brazil to Mozambique can teach us about raising children together 💡 How to split the “mental load” in marriage without resentment 🤱 Why your second child can sometimes heal the traumas of the first 💛 Why building your “village” might be the most important parenting skill of all —------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:24 Welcome to Make It Work 03:12 Covering Headlines While Navigating Home Life 06:03 Motherhood Struggles No One Talks About 13:25 What Parenting Across 10 Countrie...

29 Weeks Too Soon: Motherhood, Identity, and Building Something Radically New - Luanne Poh | Ep32

46 min

A pregnancy loss after a long journey of fertility struggles. And then her twins were born at just 29 weeks. And all this whilst building Singapore’s first of its kind artspace for children.  Luanne Poh, co-founder of The Artground in Singapore and mom to twin girls, has lived through the quiet struggles that many working mothers never speak aloud. For years, she juggled a high-pressure career in the arts at the Esplanade 🎭 while enduring the heartbreak of fertility challenges. A single pink line on a test changed everything—forcing her to confront the question: Was the way she was working destroying her dreams of building her own family? Leaving behind a decade-long career, Luanne stepped into the unknown - eventually co-founding Singapore’s first multidisciplinary children’s arts center and embracing a different kind of leadership: one shaped by motherhood, creativity, and resilience. All while parenting premature babies born at 29 weeks. If you’re juggling the balance between ambition, identity, and parenting, this episode is for you.  In this intimate conversation, we explored: 👩‍👧‍👧 What if you’ve only been a mom for as long as your child has been alive? 💔 How do you navigate the guilt, anger, and heartbreak of fertility struggles? ⚖️ Can you really walk away from a dream career for the chance at motherhood? 😰 Why does parenting feel more precious—and yet more pressurizing—than ever before? 🎨 How can creativity and art become bridges between parents and children? —---------------------------------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 “Mommy, you’ve only been a mom for 6 years” 01:30 Welcome to Make It Work 04:39 What happened after that pink line? 08:26 Why we started The Artground (and what it means to families) 14:58 How do you parent with love and limits? 24:01 Screen time rules: what works (and what doesn’t) 26:02 The unexpected rule that replaced screen time 30:15 What balance really looks like behind closed doors 33:47 Parenting pree...

From Stay-At-Home to Single Working Mom: What Divorce Taught Me (I Never Saw Coming) - Sherry Fang | Ep31

47 min

Sherry Fang, mom to an 11-year-old and based in Taiwan, has worn many hats—from stay-at-home mom to single mom, executive coach, podcaster, and brand specialist. At 35, her life was turned upside down by a painful divorce and the bold decision to start her own consultancy. Despite experiencing what she called a “violent year”, Sherry pushed forward with no formal business plans or prior experience to launch her consultancy and two impactful podcasts: The Executive Plus (Apple & Spotify Top 50 podcast with >1.3 million downloads), and The Soft Power Project, which explores the powerful transformations women undergo when they combine strength with softness. In this intimate conversation, we talked about: 👥 Can you build a career from nothing  💔 What if divorce and launching a company in the same year was the breakthrough you didn’t see coming? 👩‍👦 Is time the only measure of motherhood—or is independence the gift we don’t talk about? 😢 What changes when you stop hiding and let yourself feel everything? 🎨 What if the “right path” never felt right—because you were meant to create something entirely your own? —------------------------------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 What divorce taught me (that I never expected) 01:21 Welcome to Make It Work 01:59 Is life truly "starting over again and again"? 03:58 The "violent" year: Divorce, business, and transformation  07:39 What coaching revealed to me (it’s not what you think) 24:40 Why believe less, celebrate less? 25:16 How I juggle motherhood/career 30:08 Being a top podcaster:: lessons learnt 36:54 What is Soft Power all about? —------------------------------------------------------------ Follow Sherry here: 👋 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1xDeKFTTBH45GUbZL77V5G?si=1T26Ifd9QfaWPPnT_EFgGA 👋 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/soft-power-project/id1795635125👋 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoftPowerProject 👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soft_power_project 👋 LinkedIn...

From Silicon Valley Burnout to Podcasting Success: Sarah Wong's Journey! On The Adrian Tan Show | Ep30

42 min

In this special episode, the tables were turned and the mic was on me this time, as I joined career coach and HR guru Adrian Tan on The Adrian Tan Show to unpack the messy, beautiful journey that led to my own personal and professional transformation as well as the birth of the Make It Work Podcast. 👩‍👧‍👦✨ In this raw, honest conversation, I dive into: 🎙️ Redefining Purpose: How becoming a mum reshaped everything I thought I knew about success 🔄 The Pivot Point: Why the biggest career shifts often begin with deep personal transformation 🎨 Portfolio Life: My journey into crafting a career that’s part-time CEO, part-podcaster, part-community-builder 🤝 Power of Community: Real strategies for leaning on your tribe when everything feels up in the air 💌 Letter to Younger Me: The advice I wish I’d had before those first steps into motherhood and entrepreneurship Tune in for unfiltered reflections, actionable insights, and the reassurance that none of us have it all figured out—and that’s exactly where the magic happens. I hope it inspires you in your journey!  Connect with Adrian here: 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-adrian-tan-show/ 👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanadrian18/ 👋 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AdrianTan18 —------------------------------- Chapters 01:55 What’s This Interview All About? 02:36 Introduction To The Adrian Tan Show 03:02 Who is Sarah Wong, Really? 03:56 Sarah's Portfolio Career 04:38 Can You Truly Be Present at Work and Home? 05:24 What Snapped Sarah Onto a Different Path? 13:16 Starting the Podcast Journey 16:37 What's the Real Grind of Podcasting? 21:22 Why is Mentorship Crucial for Women in Tech? 23:03 How Do You Launch a Successful Mentorship Initiative? 24:12 What Support Do Mothers Truly Need? 25:28 What Are the Hidden Rules of Effective Networking? 30:36 How Do You Master Personal and Professional Demands? 31:02 Is 'Sabbath' the Ultimate Productivity Hack? 34:01 What Fuels Daily Energy and Focus?...

How This Mom Built a Million-Dollar Brand with Zero Marketing - Cheryl Yeo | Ep29

35 min

🎉 SPECIAL PROMO 🎉 Enjoy 10% OFF all products from iAM health! Just use the code “MAKEITWORK10” at checkout. Listen to  the remarkable journey of Dr. Cheryl Yeo, who transitioned from a stable career in a lab to building a thriving health supplement company while navigating the complexities of motherhood, (mostly) solo parenting, and personal growth. We talked about: 👩‍👧 The health scare with her child that sparked a bold career shift 🚗 Hustling through side gigs (including Grab Hitch!) to fund a dream from the ground up 📉 Facing rejection, failure, and zero business background—and pushing through anyway 🧠 Why probiotics are misunderstood—and how iAM Health is changing the game with science-backed strains (especially for Asians!) 💬 Her honest advice for working moms Dr. Cheryl Yeo, a mom of two with a PhD in Cellular Biology, worked in a lab before starting her company, iAM Health. Her decision was driven by the need for flexibility for her children and her passion for helping others through nutritional supplements. Without family in Singapore and a husband who traveled frequently, she lacked a traditional "village" support system. A scary incident involving her young son's seizure made her confront the conflict between her demanding job and her family's needs, solidifying her decision to make a change. Today, Dr. Cheryl leads iAM Health, an award-winning health supplement company known for its high-quality, research-driven probiotic products tailored to specific health needs. Despite starting with minimal marketing expenditure, the company experienced significant organic growth, now boasting revenue over a million. Her journey highlights the power of resilience, conviction, and finding balance in the challenging intersection of entrepreneurship and motherhood. —-------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapters: 01:08 Welcome to Make It Work Podcast 01:34 Dr. Cheryl Yeo: From PhD Lab to Probiotic Powerhouse 02:03 Why a Mother Le...

SME vs Big Tech: Why Small Might Be The BEST Career Move! - Louisa Lee | Ep 28

42 min

In this episode, we explore what it really looks like to grow a business, raise a family, and reclaim your identity along the way. We talk about: 🌱 Raising children and a business at the same time 💡 Why workplace flexibility isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for working moms 💼 How a 4-day work week can support mothers returning to work 🧭 The years she felt like a “vice captain” in her own business—and how she reclaimed her voice 😮‍💨 The power of learning how to breathe right (yes, really!) 👶🏼 How motherhood shaped her leadership in unexpected ways 🌟 Why Louisa believes you can do it all—and do it well For over a decade, Louisa Lee worked quietly behind the scenes of her husband’s dental practice DP Dental —never calling herself a co-founder, even as she helped build the business from scratch. A trained teacher by background, she didn’t plan to become an entrepreneur. But life had other ideas. While raising two boys and helping run the clinic alongside her husband, Louisa also carried the emotional load many working mothers know all too well: invisible labor, guilt, and the tension between being there for others and showing up for yourself. That all changed the day she stopped seeing herself as the “vice captain” and stepped fully into her role as co-leader. Today, Louisa is an award-winning entrepreneur (Entrepreneur of the Year 2017), advocate for working mothers, and champion of the 4-day work week—a structure she believes is game-changing for women navigating motherhood and career. 00:52 Welcome to Make It Work 01:03 Meet Louisa Lee: Teacher to Titan 04:27 The 4-Day Work Week: Built on Trust 09:33 Return to Work Advice for Moms: Hire for Will, Train for Skills 12:35 Find Your Fit: Why SMEs Might Be Your Best Bet 14:52 Is This Company Real? Aligning Values with Work 18:23 Myofunctional Therapy: Breathe Right, Sleep Right? 20:28 Practical Tips for Better Health 23:15 The Importance of Proper Breathing 25:50 The Dreamer, Doer, and Village: Juggling It...

Mother’s Day Special: A Poem from Me to You

2 min

If you’ve been following Make It Work, you’ll know I usually bring you stories from other mothers and other women — their pivots, their resilience, their brilliance. But for this Mother’s Day, I did something a little different. This episode is a poem I wrote — a slice of my heart, and an honest tribute to what motherhood has been for me. It’s about the mess, the detours, the ups and downs… and the quiet, sacred work of becoming someone new. To every mother on that journey: this is for you. 🧡 Chapters 00:35 My Poem #MakeItWorkPodcast #MothersDay2025 #SpokenWord #ModernMotherhood #MakeItWork #SarahWong #MotherhoodUnfiltered #ParentingPoetry

Children' s Book Author: Why The Stories We Tell Our Kids - And Ourselves- Matter! | Ep27

30 min

🎉 SPECIAL PROMO 🎉 Enjoy 10% OFF all children’s titles by Ames Chen at https://graceworks.com.sg/store/ for the entire month of May 2025! Just use code “MAKEITWORK” at checkout. —------------------------------------------------------------ She didn’t set out to be a children’s author. She just wanted to survive motherhood. After being told she might never conceive, Ames Chen’s entry into motherhood was already complicated. A difficult pregnancy followed. Isolation crept in. So she started writing letters—first, just to her daughter. What started as a private act of reflection became the early beginnings of writing for thousands of other children. Today, Ames is a mother of three and the author of over 10 children’s books—many of which explore themes of social inclusion, empathy, and the stories we often overlook. (Fun fact: several are personal favorites in my own home!)  A true multi-hyphenate, Ames is also a communications trainer for youth, and member of a church missions team. Ames, who is also my childhood friend, shares a deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to mother with purpose—and live with conviction. In this episode, we talk about: 🌱 Why writing through pain can unlock your purpose 📚 How real conversations with migrant workers shaped a children’s book series that’s now read in schools 🌍 What happens when your kids witness humanitarian work firsthand 🛠️ The small, old-school parenting hacks that build real independence 💬 How her family lives by the motto: “Live simply to love generously.” While many of us talk about juggling the different parts of life, Ames’s story is about convergence—how she brings together her work, her faith, and her family in intentional, deeply connected ways. Why not also consider supporting Ames’ then 8 year old Mya’s work “The Runaway Dream” , an e-book about “her beloved refugees” after visiting a refugee centre. All proceeds go towards the centre. Connect with Ames: 📧 Email: ameschenjie@g...

The Architect's Secret: How to Design a Calm Home (And Life) That Actually Works for Your Family! | Ep26

36 min

Winnie Tam is a designer-architect and a mom of an almost 2-year-old, based in London, UK. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she moved to the United Kingdom for college and launched her career at globally renowned architectural firms. In 2022, she founded 14 AM, an architecture and interior design studio focused on creating restorative spaces for city dwellers.  Blending her Eastern upbringing with a Western lifestyle has shaped the way she approaches both design and motherhood—sometimes challenging societal norms and even making her question whether she was "doing the right thing." In this special episode, Winnie takes a hands-on approach, personally analyzing my living room setup (!!) and sharing expert insights on how to improve it. If you love what she does, great news—she's offering a masterclass for anyone looking to design their own restorative spaces at home. 🎟️ Use code “MIW25” for £25 off her two-hour live course with Q&A: "Cultivating Your Sanctuary: The Architect's Guide" (Regular price: £150) 👉 Sign up here : https://www.fourteen-am.com/course-1 In this episode Winnie and I also talked about: 🌟 How becoming a mother reshaped her approach to designing restorative spaces for city dwellers. 🌟 How cultural differences in motherhood shaped her experience, from Hong Kong to London, and influenced her career. 🌟 The challenges she faced while building her business and becoming a mother, and the key realizations she gained along the way. 🌟 How to design child-friendly, restorative spaces that are both practical and calming for busy families. 🌟 How motherhood and career enriched each other, providing unexpected lessons and growth in both areas. Connect with Winnie: 👋 Email: winnietam@fourteen-am.com 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/winniewingyitam/ 👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fourteen.a.m/ 👋 Website: https://www.fourteen-am.com/ —------------------------------- Chapters: 00:44 Intro to Make It Work 00:56 Winnie’s Intro 02:16  W...

Find True Flexibility At Work! Innovative Strategies for Modern Moms!

1 hr 3 min

Almost every working mom has, at point, wondered about the elusive work-life balance, wondering if there's a way to find true flexibility at work. That’s why we brought together this amazing panel of experts to share their stories, insights, and advice as we dive into fresh, game-changing ideas on how to juggle career and motherhood—whether you're exploring portfolio careers, solopreneurship, job sharing, or planning your return to work. 💡💪🔗 Check out the highlights of our oversubscribed virtual event - Innovative Work Strategies for Modern Moms. Speakers are incredible former podcast guests: 🌟 Niti Nadarajah - Freelance legal counsel, coach and speaker. Check out our previous episode with Niti - Why We Get Stuck In Life And How To Get Unstuck! 🌟 Khatija Aslam – Founder of Moxy, a platform for workplace equity, and marketing job-sharer at Zespri. Check out our previous episode with Khatija - Job Sharing Saved My Career! Why Women Should Question The Feedback They Receive! 🌟 Sara Pantry – Workplace leader at LinkedIn, community leader, and matrescence practitioner. Check out our previous episode with Sara - On Matrescence: The Transformations of Motherhood⁠ 🌟 Karen Tay - Founder of Inherent Journey, Fractional C-suite & Coach Check out our previous episode with Karen - ⁠On Limits, Burnouts, & Workplace Adversity Get ready for real stories, real struggles, and real solutions for making work work alongside motherhood. Chapters: 00:00 Intro01:02 Episode Introduction - What is This Event All About02:19 Start of Event 03:26 Our Guests & Answering "One Thing They Wished They Knew Before Becoming A Working Mom"13:20 3 Big Questions14:24 Qn 1: How Do You think About Your Both/And of Career & Motherhood26:33 Qn 2: How Do You Find Flexibility At Work - In Corporate34:08 How To Find Flexibility At Work - Outside Corporate47:26 Qn 3: How Do I Stay Relevant During A Career Break52:49 Last Words —------------------------------- Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work what...

Making Periods Sustainable, Stylish and Stress-free

8 min

This International Women’s Day, we at Make It Work are excited to support @summerwine.shop, a female-founded, innovative and socially conscious period lingerie brand! SummerWine is all about making periods sustainable, stylish and stress free. 🌸 Say Hello to Effortless Periods with SummerWine! 🌸 Busy moms, we get it—your period shouldn’t slow you down! That’s why SummerWine, a female-founded brand, has created period wear that keeps you looking and feeling amazing, even on your heaviest days. 💃✨ 💡 Why You’ll Love It: Stylish options, from chic underpants to lingerie-inspired designs, perfect for women always on the go. No more dealing with fussy pads, tampons, or cups—just wear, feel safe and dry, wash, and reuse. Anti-UTI coating and fabrics blends that are moisturizing, summerwine lingerie is hygienic, sustainable, and designed to make your life easier (and comfier!). 🌍 💖 Your Purchase Makes a Difference:For every pair of SummerWine underwear you buy, a portion goes toward alleviating period poverty for women in rural communities, in support of NGO @theskyisthelimit. Together, we’re making periods more sustainable and impactful! 🙌 🛒 Shop Now:Visit @summerwine.shop or SummerWine.shop to place your pre-order today! 🎁 Special Offer:20% off for 2 pieces and more with the code MIW20! Let’s revolutionize periods—because they can be sustainable, sexy, and stress-free! 💕 #makeitworkpodcast #perios #periodunderwear #leakproof #nopads #notampons #mensuration #mensurationcup #business #video #pomote

Top LinkedIn Voice & HR Expert: How To Successfully Navigate Your Career Comeback - May Palabrica

33 min

May Buendia Palabrica is a mom of 3 based in the Philippines with 15 years of experience in human resources. Currently, she serves as the Assistant Vice President of HR Relationship Management at Citibank. May’s career journey is unique, taking an unconventional path that included stepping away from her corporate career after 8 years to pursue her passion for entrepreneurship. She successfully runs her own kids' gown business, even designing for high-profile clients in the Philippines. However, the pandemic posed a challenge for her business, prompting her return to the corporate world in 2020. Today, May is also a coach for moms who are re-entering the workforce, helping them navigate career transitions while balancing family responsibilities. In 2023, she was recognized as one of the top 20 Filipinos on LinkedIn for her impactful content and professional contributions. In this episode, May and I discuss: 🌟 How she made bold career pivots from corporate to entrepreneurship and back. 🌟 Advice for those pursuing a non-linear career path 🌟 What the Philippine work environment for moms looks like and how it’s changing. 🌟 How she built her personal brand and used LinkedIn to grow professionally. 🌟 The LinkedIn strategies can boost your profile and create engaging content. Connect with May on: 👋 LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/maypalabrica/ 👋 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/may_palabrica/ 👋 Website: https://linktr.ee/maypalabrica —------------------------------- Chapters 00:51 Welcome to Make It Work 00:57  Hello May Buendia Palabric 02:31  May's Return to Corporate 04:54  Challenges During the Pandemic 05:52  Support Systems and Resilience 06:47  Navigating Career Pivots 09:01  Balancing Family and Career 11:00  Advice for Working Mothers 12:34  The Philippine Work Environment for Moms 14:47  Coaching and Career Guidance 19:43  Building a Personal Brand 23:37  LinkedIn Strategies and Content Creation 29:14  LinkedIn Strategies and Content Creatio...

Bonus for YOU!: Work Options Beyond the 9 to 5 - A Unique Virtual Event!

2 min

Hello mommas ⭐ Ever wondered about different working arrangements beyond the full time hustle?💻 💼 It's a little bit of a different episode today because I wanted to introduce our first-ever virtual session on Innovative Work Strategies for Modern Moms! This means so much to me because I’ve been there. Becoming a mom can feel so overwhelming that figuring out how to thrive at work again just gets pushed way down the list (that was me 🙈). Truth is —almost every working mom has, at point, wondered about alternatives to their pre-mom work life. That’s why I’m beyond excited to bring together this amazing panel of experts to share their stories, insights, and advice as we dive into fresh, game-changing ideas on how to juggle career and motherhood—whether you're exploring portfolio careers, solopreneurship, job sharing, or planning your return to work. 💡💪🔗 Register here - https://lu.ma/fh14fmpq 🎤 Our incredible speakers: 🌟 Niti Nadarajah – Freelance legal counsel, Coach & Speaker 🌟 Khatija Aslam – Founder of Moxy & Marketing job-sharer at Zespri 🌟 Sara Pantry – Workplace leader at LinkedIn & Matrescence practitioner 🌟 Karen Tay - Founder of Inherent Journey, Fractional C-suite & Coach 📅 Monday March 3, 2025 | 8:00 PM (GMT+8) SG time #iwd2025 #acceleratingaction #workingmoms #event #work #job #career

Why We Get Stuck In Life And How To Get Unstuck! - Niti Nadarajah | Ep24

40 min

Niti Nadarajah is a mom of 2 based in Melbourne, Australia. Born to Indian migrant parents, she nailed it in school, earned herself a law degree, and climbed the corporate ladder to become Senior Counsel at a big multinational. But despite all that, she felt stuck and uninspired. So, she took a leap and stepped off the corporate treadmill. Today, she is a freelance legal counsel, coach, and passionate advocate for empowering women, helping them "to get unstuck". She is passionate about DEI work, supporting moms returning to work, as well as those who have suffered pregnancy loss.  In this episode, Niti and I chat about: 🌟 How Niti transitioned from a full-time legal career to freelance counsel and the trade-offs she had to accept while building a business to empower women. 🌟 How her Asian upbringing impacted her parenting and how this shapes her advice for other women. 🌟 How Niti helps women get "unstuck" and her number one advice for those feeling stuck in their personal or professional lives. 🌟 The power of sharing personal stories and vulnerability to empower women and create meaningful change. Connect with Niti on: 👋 LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/niti-nadarajah/ 👋 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/storiesbyniti/ 👋 Website: https://www.coachingbyniti.com/ —------------------------------- Chapters  00:49 Welcome and Guest Introduction 01:45    Hello Niti The Multi-Hyphenate! 02:42   Transformational Journey That Brought Me To Coaching 07:04    Early Motherhood & Possible Postpartum Depression 14:20    Advice on Navigating Back To Work Transitions 19:59   Influences of My Asian Upbringing 23:08   Leaving a Legal Career To Coach: Was It Worth It? 25:13   Being My Boss Was Harder Than I Thought! 29:41  How Sharing My Own Stories Online Grew My Business 31:46  How Do Women Get Stuck? 34:28  Advice for Those Feeling Stuck 36:53  Through The Eyes of My Child… —------------------------------- Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It W...

How To Turn Your Career Pause Into Your Greatest Advantage! - Anh Bourcet | Ep23

34 min

Highlights of our episode “Ep 23: How To Turn Your Career Pause Into Your Greatest Advantage! - Anh Bourcet": 🌟 How to handle career transitions and rediscover your professional identity after leaving a senior role. 🌟 What it takes to build a personal brand and leverage your network for career growth. 🌟How to navigate between corporate life to being self-employed and back to corporate 🌟 What the HOPE framework is and how it helps women navigate career-life integration with flexibility. 🌟For a special 20% discount on Anh’s book “Journeys of Women Leaders Pushing Boundaries in Asia and Healthcare”, use the code hFA84rLzMNKpGb at this checkout  page https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-97-0009-7. Valid till Feb 17, 2025! About Anh…. Anh Bourcet is a Vietnamese-French mother of two teenagers, currently based in Dubai where she has called home for a year now. With a career in healthcare that spans continents, Anh has lived in Europe, Asia, and now - the Middle East. She has spent years as a Market Access leader in the healthcare industry, working on patient access to health care innovations. As a female leader in an environment that’s still largely male-dominated, particularly at the senior levels, she has also co-authored a book on Women Leaders in Healthcare In Asia. Look out for her very personal chapter on her motherhood experience and how she struggled with her own biases at work! After spending nearly a decade climbing the corporate ladder, Anh made a difficult choice to halt her progression to accommodate a global move for the family. After a confronting period of self-discovery, she started freelancing as a healthcare market access consultant. Today, she is also a speaker, and university lecturer, specializing in healthcare market access.  Connect with Anh on: 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anh-bourcet 👋 Website: https://www.has4p.com 👋 Email: anh.bourcet@has4p.com —------------------------------- Join our free Mommas Mak...

Welcome to Make It Work! (Updated 2025)

1 min

👋🏽 Hey there, I'm so glad you're here! ✨ Make It Work 🎙️is your go-to podcast for real conversations with ambitious women redefining success to make space for what matters most—family. 💼💖 🎙️ You can expect bite-sized but power-packed episodes (45 mins) designed for busy mommas on the move. New episodes drop every other Wednesday! 💡 On my socials, you’ll also find specially curated parenting humor, work-life wisdom hacks, and the best podcast highlights! Follow along for laughs, tips, and stories to help you make it work! 🌟 And a little about me, Sarah Wong... 🌟 Mom of 2 - Life now with 2 kids under five = beautiful mess 🧒🏻👧🏻 🌍 Home - I’ve lived and worked in Singapore (my current home), India, France, and the U.S. 🎓 Work - INSEAD MBA & first female hire at a Silicon Valley health tech unicorn 🦄. Currently building a dynamic portfolio career! 💡 Interests: Health tech, mentoring women, work-life integration, the future of work, and faith-driven work. 🧗‍♀️ Rock Climbing Buddy? Always looking for partners who don’t mind a kid or two tagging along. ✝️ Faith: Follower of Christ (am married to a pastor - which alone could be another podcast..😅) 📌 Connect with me in all these places! DM or email me with questions, collab, or just to say hi. 💌 Anyhow, I’m so grateful you’re here. Here's to you, Making It Work! 🧡💙 PS. The podcast started in September 2023, not 2022! 🤦🏻‍♀️ (hello #mombrain) (intro, podcast, mom, mum, motherhood, about me, parent) #intro #makeitworkpodcast #podcast #workingmoms #mom #mumpreneur #aboutme

Job Sharing Saved My Career! Why Women Should Question Feedback They Get! - Khatija Aslam | Ep22

39 min

Khatija Aslam is a job-sharing Global Innovation Marketing Lead for Zespri and Founder of Moxy, a platform that ignites important conversations about building inclusive workplaces. Originally from Pakistan, Khatija is a mom of 3 girls. She grew up in Malaysia and has called Singapore home for over 18 years now. With close to 15 years in corporate life, Khatija was inspired by her own experiences and the stories of other career-driven women, to found Moxy, with the goal of creating environments that support all working women, particularly mothers, in balancing their career and family responsibilities. Moxy has partnered with organizations like Lean In, LinkedIn, and others, striving to foster meaningful behavior change and push for more family-friendly workspaces.  Khatija and I chat about: 🌟 What job sharing is, how she found her job sharing role and advice if you are looking for such roles 🌟How to tell you boss when you are pregnant 🌟 How Moxy’s card game has helped to spark uncomfortable but much needed conversations around building inclusive workplaces for working moms 🌟How she shares the mental load with her spouse in their own family life 🌟Questions to ask in a job interview to find out exactly how females-friendly workplaces really are. ⁠If you want to get help / advice on how to navigate asking for a part time or job share role then get in touch with Khatija 👋 Connect with Khatija: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khatija-aslam/ 👋 Moxy: https://itsmoxy.com/ Helpful resources: 1) Simple questions to ask your future employer : @64b59b9fcb2a3337b2bd1322/t/664c9484cdb56372e43152c6/1716294789224/MU+x+TMP+-+TOOLKIT+PDF++%281%29.pdf 2) The flexibility advantage blog - if you are thinking about what flexibility means the momproject provides a good framework https://blog.themomproject.com/flexibility-advantage-0 Report here - https://work.themomproject.com/hubfs/WerkLabs/The%20Flexibility%20Advantage_Werklabs.pdf  Some resources on Asking for Flexibil...

Breakups And Busts: Bouncing Back Better with Lily Kew| Ep21 (Part 2 of 2)

22 min

SPECIAL PROMO FOR SINGAPORE-BASED LISTENERS of 35% off ANY FACIAL FOR 1ST TIMERS TO KEW ORGANICS & SUGAR K SPAS ! To enjoy this amazing promotion, WhatsApp MIW35 to +65-8805-0065 to make an appointment or quote MIW35 when booking online. Offer valid until 30/6/2025. For more information, please visit http://www.keworganics.com —----------------- Lily Kew is an award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Kew Organics and Sugar K, two popular organic facial spa brands in Singapore. For over a decade in the wellness industry, Lily has built a thriving business that offers organic skincare treatments with their focus on natural, effective treatments and products through three outlets and an online store. Beyond her professional achievements, Lily’s personal journey is equally inspiring. She has experienced a unique relationship dynamic—having married, divorced, and remarried the same person.She also first became a mother at 45 years old and went on to have a second child at 48 years old. In our raw and wide-ranging conversation, Lily also shares on: 🌟 How she balances the juggling demands of entrepreneurship and motherhood. 🌟 Lily discusses her experiences and reflections on becoming a mother later in life, and how this has shaped her perspective on parenting and life. 🌟 What are the Lily’s experiences to gain practical advice on achieving success and personal growth. 🌟 The emotional and professional challenges she faced when her family business partnership fell apart, and how she navigated this difficult period in her life. Check out our latest episode “Breakups And Busts: Bouncing Back Better with Lily Kew“ now available on: 🎙Apple (audio only)- https://tinyurl.com/2ypqmafn 🎙Spotify (video+audio) - https://tinyurl.com/24dm6vfv 🎙YouTube (video+audio) - https://tinyurl.com/24jwedlj Connect with Lily on: 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-kew-b256499b 👋 Kew Organics : https://keworganics.com 👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keworganics Follow a...

Breakups And Busts: Bouncing Back Better with Lily Kew | Ep 21 (Part 1 of 2)

22 min

SPECIAL PROMO FOR SINGAPORE-BASED LISTENERS of 35% off ANY FACIAL FOR 1ST TIMERS TO KEW ORGANICS & SUGAR K SPAS ! To enjoy this amazing promotion, WhatsApp MIW35 to +65-8805-0065 to make an appointment or quote MIW35 when booking online.  Offer valid until 30/6/2025. For more information, please visit www.keworganics.com. —----------------- Lily Kew is an award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Kew Organics and Sugar K, two popular organic facial spa brands in Singapore. For over a decade in the wellness industry, Lily has built a thriving business that offers organic skincare treatments with their focus on natural, effective treatments and products through three outlets and an online store. Beyond her professional achievements, Lily’s personal journey is equally inspiring. She has experienced a unique relationship dynamic—having married, divorced, and remarried the same person.She also first became a mother at 45 years old and went on to have a second child at 48 years old.  In our raw and wide-ranging conversation, Lily also shares on: 🌟 How she balances the juggling demands of entrepreneurship and motherhood. 🌟 Lily discusses her experiences and reflections on becoming a mother later in life, and how this has shaped her perspective on parenting and life. 🌟 What are the Lily’s experiences to gain practical advice on achieving success and personal growth. 🌟 The emotional and professional challenges she faced when her family business partnership fell apart, and how she navigated this difficult period in her life. Check out our latest episode “Breakups And Busts: Bouncing Back Better with Lily Kew“ now available on: 🎙Apple (audio only)- https://tinyurl.com/2ypqmafn 🎙Spotify (video+audio) - https://tinyurl.com/24dm6vfv 🎙YouTube (video+audio) - https://tinyurl.com/24jwedlj Connect with Lily on: 👋 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lily-kew-b256499b 👋 Kew Organics : https://keworganics.com/ 👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keworganics/ Follow a...

Ask Me Anything (Part 2): On Tips, Lessons, and Dreams

7 min

Ask Me Anything Part 2 is here! I answer the questions: Chapters: 00:20 - Top tip for structuring your day 02:01 - How do you stay calm in frustrating calls? 03:06 - Lessons to tell my new mom self 06:33 - Do you have a dream guest? #askmeanything #askmequestions #qanda #qandasession #questionsandanswers #questions #mom #momlife #momlifestyle #parenthood

Ask Me Anything (Part 1): I Didn't Expect It Would Be So Personal!

6 min

You asked and I answered in this first part of Ask Me Anything! 💙 Watch to the end to hear what has been the most unexpected thing for me since starting this podcast! I hope you enjoy this slice of my personal story! ✨ Chapters 00:25 - How Did You Start The Podcast? 03:09 - How Do You Choose Your Guests? 05:50 - Which Has Been Your Favourite Episode To Record? #askmeanything #askme #askmequestions #qanda #qandasession #question #questions #questionanswer #podcast #podcasts #mom #momlife #parents

The Importance of Not Taking Yourself Too Seriously with Merve Hokamp| Ep20

38 min

Merve Hokamp, is a mother of two, an avid traveler, and an expat originally from Istanbul, Turkey now living in Dublin and married to an American. She is an ICF (International Coaching Federation) -accredited executive coach and the founder of Leadrise Coaching. Prior to that, she completed her MBA from INSEAD, and spent 11 years at Google leading Customer Success and Project Leaders in global teams and also counts management consulting in her professional experience. Today, Merve empowers corporate and business leaders to elevate their careers, build high-performing teams, and drive impactful change. Beyond her professional achievements, Merve brings a deeply multicultural perspective to her life and work, and is a strong believer in the Ikigai framework to help one find purposeful work. Merve is passionate about fostering cultural diversity, creating spaces for reflection and growth, and empowering leaders to root themselves in self-awareness before rising to new heights of success. When she's not coaching, Merve can be found planning her next world travel destination, immersing herself in a good novel, or doing yoga to center her mind and spirit. In our wide-ranging conversation, Merve also shares on: 🌟 How she balances family and her business, even if it means working more hours. 🌟 Her number one productivity hack - separating "manager time" from "maker time" 🌟 Why asking the right questions can be empowering as a manager and how to do that well  🌟Her experiences in bringing her children up in a multicultural environment 🌟  The importance community in her life as a expat mother 🌟  Merve’s ABCDs for building a strong personal brand at work Connect with Merve Hokamp on: 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mervehokamp/ 👋 Leadrise Coaching: www.leadrisecoaching.com 👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadrisecoaching/ 👋 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553448626981  Follow and connect with us! We’d love to hear any...

On Why Every Mom Needs Unsexy Role Models with Sher-li Torrey| Ep19 (Part 2 of 2)

22 min

“One of the messages I share with a lot of women that I meet is that, when you are making a decision of whether you want to continue working, stay at home, or be a mompreneur, at any point in time, you have to really know what it is that you want for your life stage. It's very easy to be influenced by what  you hear around you, right? But ultimately, you know yourself best. You know your own family best as well, what works best. “ If you missd Part 1 of the episode, listen here  👉 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/makeitworkasia-podcast/episodes/On-Why-Every-Mom-Needs-Unsexy-Role-Models-with-Sher-li-Torrey--Ep19-Part-1-of-2-e2nehe1 Sher-li Torrey is a Singaporean mom of 2 - a 16-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. She is best known as the founder of Mums @ Work and Career Navigators, organizations dedicated to supporting and empowering mothers as they return to the workforce. Inspired by her own journey to find flexible work arrangements as a young mother 14 years ago, Mums@Work has since grown into a vibrant community of almost 70,000 members. The platform offers flexible work solutions, a portal for Mumpreneurs to list their services, volunteer opportunities, workshops for working mothers, and returneeship programs to help those transitioning back into the workforce after a career break. With more than a decade of experience working with mothers and partnering with public and private organizations, Sher-li has become a pivotal figure in advocating for this important demographic in Singapore and beyond. In our two-part conversation, she candidly shares: 🌟 The role of work in providing an identity beyond caregiving 🌟 The power of learning to let go and asking for help 🌟 Her "40 Women Over 40" initiative and why every woman needs unsexy role models 🌟 Insights and lessons she never expected from her journey with other moms 🌟 Learning about the different Asian ecosystems in supporting working mms Check out our latest episode “On Why Every Mom...

On Why Every Mom Needs Unsexy Role Models with Sher-li Torrey | Ep19 (Part 1 of 2)

24 min

Sher-li Torrey is a Singaporean mom of 2 - a 16-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. She is best known as the founder of Mums @ Work and Career Navigators, organizations dedicated to supporting and empowering mothers as they return to the workforce. Inspired by her own journey to find flexible work arrangements as a young mother 14 years ago, Mums@Work has since grown into a vibrant community of almost 70,000 members. The platform offers flexible work solutions, a portal for Mumpreneurs to list their services, volunteer opportunities, workshops for working mothers, and returneeship programs to help those transitioning back into the workforce after a career break. With more than a decade of experience working with mothers and partnering with public and private organizations, Sher-li has become a pivotal figure in advocating for this important demographic in Singapore and beyond. In our two-part conversation, she candidly shares: 🌟 The role of work in providing an identity beyond caregiving 🌟 The power of learning to let go and asking for help 🌟 Her "40 Women Over 40" initiative and why every woman needs unsexy role models 🌟 Insights and lessons she never expected from her journey with other mums Connect with Sher-li on: 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherlitorrey/ 👋 Mums at Work: https://www.mumsatwork.net/  Follow and connect with us! We’d love to hear any feedback, comments, or suggestions from you. 💼⁠ LinkedIn⁠ 📷 ⁠Instagram: 🎵 ⁠TikTok⁠ 🍏 Apple 📥 ⁠Email⁠ Chapters  00:00 Episode Snippet 00:27 Introduction to Make It Work 00:37 Hello Sher-Li 01:42 Balancing Work and Family Life 02:13 Daily Routines and Time Management 04:04 Non-Negotiables and Flexibility 05:22 The Importance of Asking for Help 09:21 Unsexy Role Models and Other Inspirations 11:03 When We Transmit Our Insecurities To Our Kids 15:57 When I Hit Rock Bottom 21:21 Advice To My Younger Self 23:25 Finding Purpose and Career Transitions #MakeItWorkPodcast...

On Matrescence: The Transformations of Motherhood with Sara Pantry| Ep18

38 min

“…I'd always had a successful career and was always achieving and they just collided. I didn't feel like I could be the mother that I wanted to be, I also felt like at work I wasn't the person that I was before and that was when I started to get panic attacks, and that was the point where I was like, this isn't how life is meant to be like this.” Sara Pantry is a UK transplant in Singapore for the past 8 years and mother to a 3 year old.  She is a Senior Workplace Leader at Linkedin and a passionate advocate and expert on the topic of matrescence, a term that refers to the profound developmental transition a woman undergoes as she becomes a new mother who is navigating the early stages of motherhood. Her work sheds light on how this period impacts not only a woman’s identity but also her mental and emotional well-being. As a Matrescence Practitioner, Accredited ICF Coach and LeanIn Circle leader, Sara has been at the forefront of exploring and discussing this important phenomenon, providing invaluable insights into the complex interplay between motherhood and personal growth with a community of mothers in Singapore. We’re excited to dive into this conversation and explore how matrescence can help us better understand the journey of motherhood. In our enlightening conversation, Sara also shares on: 🌟 Motherhood: Understanding what makes transitioning into motherhood so difficult 🌟 Navigating maternal load with her partner and working on  resolving resentment in parenthood. 🌟 Her experiences and unexpected learnings from creating a LeanIn circle for mothers in Singapore   🌟 The significance of having peer-to-peer mentoring at the workplace who can support and understand the transition back to work after maternity leave. Also available on: 🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085 ▶️YouTube : https://youtube.com/@makeitwork.podcast Connect with Sara on: 👋Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/she_thrives_tribe 👋Instagram:...

On Parenting Well In A Digital Age with Carol Loi | Ep17

37 min

Carol Loi is a much sought-after expert in an all-important area that has profound impact on our lives as modern working parents - digital wellness. From learning how we and our children can develop healthy relationships with our devices, to figuring out how AI will affect our kids - Carol has the answers. She is a Singaporean mum of 2 young adult daughters and has been teaching on digital wellness for the past decade. Blending her personal story with the tools and advice that she regularly gives to families and organizations, you’ll hear fantastic implementable steps on how we can better parents in this digital age. Come listen! In this very practical and insightful interview, Carol also shares on: 🌟 Mom guilt and Carol’s strategies for managing and transforming guilt into positive actions 🌟 Digital Wellness:How to develop a healthy relationship with digital devices in the home 🌟 Interesting and implementable family rhythms to help build trust   🌟 The significance of having family SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for safety and communication 🌟The value of regular feedback within the family, similar to work appraisals. Our latest episode “On Parenting Well In A Digital Age with Carol Loi" is available on: Connect with Carol on: 👋Carol's linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolloi/ 👋Carol’s linktree: https://linktr.ee/carol_loi #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMoms #DigitalWellness #FamilyFirst #ParentingInTheDigitalAge #WorkLifeBalance #MentalWellbeing #LeadershipInParenting #ParentingTips #MomGuilt #DigitalParenting Chapters 00:37 Episode Introduction 01:33 Hello Carol 01:38 Carol's Background: 20 Years In Public Service 04:05 Balancing Technology and Family - My Role As your Cheerleader 10:09 The Power of Family Protocols 16:59 Dealing with Mom Guilt 24:20 Ever Heard of the Family Member 360 Appraisal? 27:46 My Three "R"s: Relationship, Reasoning, Rhythm 34:11 Digital Wellness Tips 35:48 Closing Thoughts and Contact Information —--...

On Raising Kids Whilst Building Empires with Chris Edwards | Ep16

33 min

Chris Edwards, originally from Australia, lived in Singapore for 11 years, where she had her three kids and launched the well-known Honeycombers website. She is now based in Byron Bay, Australia, and most recently has launched her fourth business, Launchpad, an all-in-one platform and community looking to provide the necessary tools and support for impactful entrepreneurs. From advice on finding good people in your life to tips on how to juggle it all, this conversation is packed with valuable insights. Hint: there’s more “life” in the “work-life balance” equation. In today’s candid and thought-provoking conversation, Chris delves into: 🌟The importance of prioritization and why she lives by the 80/20 rule 🌟Work-life balance or “life-work balance” as she likes to call it and starting the day by doing something enjoyable 🌟How she effectively retired her husband from his corporate job and how they balance roles in family life 🌟Valuable strategies that can be leveraged both in the workplace as well as around the dinner table 🌟Last but not least, the significance of surrounding yourself with good people in life and how she does it Don’t miss out the special promotion for listeners to gain ONE MONTH FREE access to Chris’ Launchpad community of business owners (now 700+ members strong)! Use the promocode ‘makeitwork’ (not case sensitive) to join the “world’s kindest startup community”! Connect with Chris on: 👋Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris_edwards_au/ 👋LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisedwardshoneycombers/?originalSubdomain=au 👋Launchpad: https://thelaunchpad.group/ #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMoms #CareerJourney #Inspiration #FamilyFirst #Solopreneur *Special thanks to Bianca Boranda for helping with this episode!* Chapters 00:00 Episode Snippet 00:33 Introducing Make It Work 00:46 Introduction and Welcoming Chris 02:08 Hello Chris 03:19 Balancing Work and Family Life 05:03 Productivity Tips and Prioritization 12:20 How Do...

On Limits, Burnouts, & Workplace Adversity with Karen Tay | Ep 15

36 min

Karen Tay is a Singaporean transplant in San Francisco, USA, and a mom of two. She is the founder of Inherent, a platform dedicated to supporting women through career transitions and workplace challenges. In our intimate conversation, Karen shares her journey from being a senior public servant in the Singapore government to joining corporate America and becoming an entrepreneur. We discuss her viral Her World article entitled  “Modern Motherhood: The Blessings of Not Having It All”, revisit some of her darkest times in her personal and professional life, and explore the lessons she's learned since then. Join us as we reflect on her work supporting women through workplace adversity and uncover enduring wisdom about navigating difficult transitions, career breaks, and making impactful comebacks. Tune in! Karen also opens up on:  🌟 Navigating the challenges of balancing career aspirations amidst limitations in moving to the US as a young family  🌟 Her personal journey through burnout during COVID  🌟 The importance of healing and nurturing personal relationships during times of strain  🌟 Lessons from providing first aid to women in workplace adversity through Inherent  🌟 How to navigate career breaks and make a comeback Connect with Karen on: 👋Karen's linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenzytay/ 👋Inherent website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inherentjourney/ Other resources mentioned: 📚White Paper with Princeton University on Supporting Women Leaders through Workplace First Aid: Pilot Findings - https://drive.google.com/file/d/11rbHF6CGh5_6jj7H7cMg7Kt2M0CvqUTd/view 📚Couples That Work by Jennifer Petriglieri Chapters 01:09 Hello Karen 02:34 A Day in the Life of Karen 03:47 My Productivity Hack: Calendar Blocking 04:45 The Pottery Connection 06:49 From Optimising Life to Learning To Enjoy Limitations 13:03 Having The Freedom vs Giving Yourself The Freedom 18:17 Struggling with Burnout: A Personal Journey 19:10 Healing and Rebuildin...

Strength Through Vulnerability: How A Difficult Pregnancy and Loss Shaped Me with Amra Naidoo | Ep14

35 min

Amra Naidoo is an Australian mother of an 18-month-old, currently based in Bangkok, Thailand, after years of living and working in Singapore. She is also the co-founder and General Partner of Accelerating Asia, a leading early-stage venture capital fund in Southeast Asia. In our conversation today which is full of personal and professional inspiration,  Amra shared openly about many areas including how, despite her priding herself being an avid fitness enthusiast (practicing Muay Thai, Brazilian Jujitsu, aerial arts, AND yoga sometimes 6 days a week), her pregnancy, recovery and a miscarriage later literally stopped her in her tracks and taught her some of life's toughest lessons. 🥋🤰🏽✨ In our conversation, Amra also opens up on: 🌟How Accelerating Asia’s 4 day work week and unlimited leave has impacted productivity 🌟Why she decided to move to Thailand from Singapore whilst pregnant and cultural differences observed 🌟Her unique philosophy in hiring nannies  🌟Her story of a difficult pregnancy, recovery and miscarriage later on 🌟The importance of consciously designing one's life and career. Connect with Amra on: 👋Amra's linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amranaidoo/ 👋Amra's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amranaidoo/ 👋Accelerating Asia website: https://www.acceleratingasia.com/ 👋AA's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accelerating_asia/ Chapters 0:00 Episode and Guest Introduction 01:06 Hello Amra 02:39 Daily Routine and Productivity Hacks 06:50 Why The Move to Thailand 13:09 My Company’s 4 Day Work Week & Unlimited Leave Policies 16:47 Becoming A Mom: What I Didn't Expect 25:08 Why I Hated Pregnancy... And Lessons Learnt 33:34 Final Thoughts: Not 1 but 2 Takeaways For Listeners —------- Follow along! We’d love to hear any feedback, comments, or suggestions from you. ➡LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/  ➡Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/ ➡Email: makeitwork.asia@gmail.c...

Relaunching Careers: Personal Lessons and Cross-Cultural Insights From Enabling 4,000 Professionals With Carolina Yeo | Ep13

33 min

Carolina Yeo is a Singaporean mom of two living in Germany, and founder of &ahead, a talent platform that has enabled more than 4,000 professionals who have taken career breaks to relaunch their careers.  Our episode covers a wide range - Carolina reflects on her early corporate life in talent management that brought her all around the world before becoming a young mom in a country where she could barely speak the language- whilst working on her startup. Drawing from her experience of working with thousands of career relaunchers in Singapore and Germany, Carolina also shares about how the two countries' societal contexts impact career and family choices, and why she thinks fathers need more support as caregivers.  In our conversation, Carolina also opens up on: 🌟Her global journey from Singapore to Germany 🌟Simultaneously managing the zero-to-one phase of baby and startup 🌟Finding community and family overseas 🌟Empowering career transitioners through the &ahead platform 🌟How policies in Germany and Singapore affect career and parenting choices 🌟Her Takeaway Lesson: The importance of cheerleaders in your journey Connect with Carolina/ &ahead on: 👋Website: https://andahead.com/  👋LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinayeo/ #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMoms #CareerTransition #Inspiration #FamilyFirst #Entrepreneur Chapters 00:00 Episode and Guest Introduction 01:02 Hello Carolina 01:13 Carolina's Global Journey: From Singapore to Germany 02:31 The Birth of an Entrepreneur: Starting a Business Abroad 09:34 Navigating Career and Motherhood: A Personal Tale 11:56 Building a support network overseas 19:47 Germany and Singapore: structural differences impacting parents 24:31 The Need: More Progressive Parental Leave Policies 27:30 Advice for Returning to Work: Overcoming Fear and Finding Support 30:48 The Importance of Cheerleaders in Your Journey —------- Follow along! We’d love to hear any feedback, comments, or suggestions from you....

Redefining Success: Through Corporate Leadership, Fractional Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Motherhood - Rachel Tan | Ep12

31 min

Rachel Tan, an e-commerce whiz based in Malaysia, has made waves in leadership positions at the likes of Shopee, L’Oreal, Nuffnang and Oxwhite, the Malaysian retail company famous for selling 2,500 white shirts in just three hours. She's also the founder of In Real Life, a digital publishing platform, which was sold in 2020. But that's not all. Rachel's story takes a unique turn after welcoming three children into her life.  She realized the potential to merge her love for nurturing kids with her marketing prowess, leading to the birth of The Nurts, an innovative venture that offers books, toys, and games designed to foster precious parent-child bonds.  For those intrigued by the concept of fractional work, Rachel also shares her journey of securing a two day a week marketing leadership role at Oxwhite, whilst growing The Nurts, her own business inspired by her kids. Rachel is also extending a special offer to listeners of Make it Work for products purchased on The Nurts' online store. Valid until 30 June 2024, use the code, MAKEITWORK10 for a 10% discount with a minimum spend of RM 120 (~ USD25)!  In our conversation, we chat about: 🌟Juggling Mum-preneurship and 3 kids 🌟Fractional Work: How Rachel Found a 2-day-a-week Marketing Leadership Role 🌟Combining Work and Play: Starting The Nurts 🌟The 3 Most Important Relationships  🌟The Importance of Knowing Thyself 🌟How to Overcome Self-doubt Connect with Rachel on: 👋The Nurts https://www.thenurts.com/ 👋LinkedIn ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheltan88/ 👋Email: rachel@thenurts.com #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMoms #CareerJourney #Inspiration #FamilyFirst #FractionalLeadership #TheNurts Chapters 0:00 Make It Work Introduction 00:02 Episode and Guest Intro 01:32 Hello Rachel 01:46 Rachel's Journey: From Marketing to Motherhood and Entrepreneurship 03:58 Childcare Arrangements - A Different Experience with Each Child 05:53 Starting a Business Amidst Family Life 07:35 Rachel's Career Shifts and Emb...

Building The Support System For Moms That We Always Wanted with Rajani Patel And Anu Shenoy From Veira Life | Ep11

30 min

Rajani Patel and Anu Shenoy are the co-founders of FemTech Startup Veira Life. Presently based in Singapore, they have diverse backgrounds - Rajani was an engineer turned stay home mom and later pursued a career path in early childhood education whilst Anu is a former management consultant. What they share in common is that they both took career breaks to care for their children and later found their second calling to start Veira Life, an online platform which provides personalised coaching for mothers from pregnancy through to their post-natal journey, early childhood parenting and transitioning back to work. Or in their own words, creating the support system they wish they’d had. Join us as we chat about how they are filling a gap for women and empowering spouses along the journey too.  Today, Veira Life is extending a very special offer to listeners of Make it Work. Use the code MIWFREE to get access to all their virtual prenatal classes FREE when you register on their website. In our conversation, we also discuss: 🌟How they navigated multiple career changes 🌟Veira Life: Anu and Rajani’s venture to change the way support is given to mothers 🌟The biggest lesson learnt after interviewing hundreds of mothers across geographies and age groups 🌟What keeps them motivated as first time entrepreneurs in their 40s and 50s Connect with Rajani and Anu  on: 👋Veira Life’s website https://veiralife.com/ 👋Rajani’s LinkedIn ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajani-patel-4141876/ 👋Anu’s LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anupamashenoy/ #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMoms #CareerJourney #Inspiration #FamilyFirst #Veiralife #CareerTransitions Chapters 0:00 Make It Work Intro 00:12 Episode and Guest Introduction 01:36 Hello Anu and Rajani 04:44 Challenges Faced as Working Mothers 06:32 Rajani: Figuring Out A New Career After 8 Years As SAHM  10:05 Anu: New Motherhood Taught Me A Tough Lesson: To Be Kinder To Myself 15:21 Veira Life: Providing The Support For Mothers We Wish We Ha...

Building Your Professional Village: Navigating Career Shifts, Parenthood, and Workplace Dynamics with Nila Bhattacharyya | Ep10

34 min

Nila Bhattacharyya is currently based in Bangalore India with her husband and 3 year old. Prior to embracing motherhood, Nila's career spanned diverse roles; from serving as an oil rig engineer in Brazil to working as a global-traveling management consultant based in the United States. However, following the arrival of her first child, Nila made a pivotal decision to return to India, leaving consulting and starting a new career in product management for a healthtech company headquartered in the United States. Join us to hear how and why Nila made these significant shifts to balance family needs whilst staying true to her career ‘north star’. In today’s honest and practical conversation, Nila also shares about: 🌟The structured framework guiding her career transitions 🌟Candid observations of parenting in the US vs India 🌟How she expanded the proverbial village to her workplace, breaking taboos by integrating pregnancy openly into professional life early on 🌟How embedding frameworks such as “Jobs To Be Done” and “Operational Key Results” help her prioritize her parenting goals Connect with Nila on: 👋Email: nilanjana.bhattacharyya@gmail.com 👋LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/in/nilanjana-b-3b36651a #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMoms #CareerJourney #Inspiration #FamilyFirst #UStoIndia #CareerTransitions Chapters 00:00 Make It Work Introduction 00:11 Episode and Guest Introduction 03:07 Motherhood: An Internal Shift In Perspective Toward Work 05:58 It Takes A Village.. Which Includes Your Workplace 09:03 Getting Help And Figuring My Priorities 09:57 Exploring Career Options - Why I Pivoted Into Product After Motherhood 15:55 Making A Geographical Shift For Family - A Move Beset With Doubt 18:19 Parenting in US vs India/Asia: Some Big Differences Observed 22:28 My Spouse Is My Biggest Cheerleader 26:54 Looking Back, What Would I Do Differently? 29:51 How I Embed Jobs To Be Done and OKRs In Parenting 31:54 Key Takeaways: New Ways to Define and Grow Your Village —------...

Unexpectedly Flourishing: The Unforeseen Benefits of a Career Downshift with Sharon Fan | Ep9

26 min

Sharon Fan, a Canadian-Taiwanese, had lived and worked in Asia, North America, Europe before taking charge as the Managing Director of the Taiwan office of a fast growing regional health tech startup. Leading a growing team, she dedicated herself to 15-hour workdays until a significant change reshaped her priorities: motherhood. Opting for a transformative career pivot, Sharon chose to return to her former company, embracing a downshift, including a 50% pay cut, to transition into an individual contributor role. How and why did she do it? And what are her thoughts on it, since making the shift 2 years ago? In our eye-opening conversation today, Sharon also shares about: 🌟Her challenges as a first time mom (“the minutiae of it all”) 🌟Why she embraces the concept of a career downshift and her unique perspective on it 🌟How she balances traveling for work and leisure for up to 30% of a year with her spouse and toddler 🌟Interesting aspects of the work culture in Taiwan that affect family life Connect with Sharon on: 👋LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonfan/ #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMoms #CareerDownshift #Inspiration #FamilyFirst # Chapters 00:00 Make It Work Introduction 00:11 Episode & Guest Introduction 02:01 Day In A Life 03:56 Why Motherhood Was So Tough For Me 06:49 Why Taking A 50% paycut Was Worth it 11:17 Why I Love The Term "Career downshift" 16:02 Work-life Integration In Taiwan 20:21 Working With My Spouse 25:53 Outro —------- Follow along! We’d love to hear any feedback, comments, or suggestions from you. PS. We are always looking for great stories to be featured!  ➡LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/  ➡Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/ ➡Email: makeitwork.asia@gmail.com

How To Find A New Way Of Being When Life Gets Disrupted with Claire Harbour (2 of 2) | Ep8

18 min

Claire Harbour is a mother of four, an avid traveller with an equally interesting career path. She has worked as a strategy consultant, a retail director and a headhunter. Now as a coach, she is on a mission to help women cope with change and find their very own ‘a-ha’ moments in life. Claire recently completed The 100 Women project, where she coached 100 young women in 100 days What has she learnt along her journey? We chat about: 🌟Ashley Connell’s story: empowering women to fulfil unmet needs for small businesses 🌟Building a priorities list to dump, delegate or delay 🌟Practical exercise: Plan your ideal ordinary day 🌟What she has learnt from coaching 100 women in 100 days and creating ‘The Safe’, a sharing community for women  🌟Figuring out your values so you can be honest about what you want and live with purpose Connect with Claire on: 👋Claire’s website ⁠www.claireharbour.com⁠  👋The Safe ⁠https://the-safe.mailchimpsites.com/⁠ 👋LinkedIn ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairemjharbour/⁠ #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMoms #CareerJourney #Inspiration #FamilyFirst #Coaching #DisruptYourCareer Chapters 00:00 Make It Work Introduction 00:10 Episode Intro 01:00 Ashley Connell: Training SAHMs for business owners 03:06 Build a priorities list: dump, delegate or delay 07:45 Embrace your new identity as a mother, grief the loss of your old identity 08:33 Practical exercise: Plan your ideal ordinary day 10:29 The 100 Women in 100 Days Project 15:22 The Safe: A community for young women to reflect and explore 16:29 Key takeaways  Special credits to Kash Baden in helping with the production of this episode! —------- Follow along! We’d love to hear any feedback, comments, or suggestions from you. PS. We are always looking for great stories to be featured!  ➡LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/  ➡Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/ ➡Email: makeitwork.asia@gmail.com

How To Find A New Way Of Being When Life Gets Disrupted with Claire Harbour (1 of 2) | Ep7 (Special Series Part 4)

23 min

In Claire Harbour’s own words, she “fits in everywhere and belongs nowhere”. Claire holds French and British passports but really is the quintessential global citizen, having lived in almost 20 countries and can speak 8 languages. Claire started her career in Asia, was once the General Manager for Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy in the UK, and since entering coaching 20 years ago, she has now coached over 2000 people. All this whilst single-handedly raising four children (who are now well-adjusted adults!). Amongst the many hats Claire wears, she is currently advisor to the Harvard Business Review,  has written a book and co-hosts a podcast both entitled “Disrupt Your Career”, a program interviewing those at the forefront of talent and career management. Claire is especially special to me because she was one of my first cheerleaders in starting this podcast! I cannot wait to share Claire’s unique wisdom and style in this podcast with you. In our conversation, we chat about: 🌟The secret ingredient that helped her cope as a single working mother of four: her client relationships  🌟What she learned from her children as they pursued unconventional paths 🌟Why asking for what you need is so important - and powerful 🌟Setting priorities so you can dump, delegate, delay 🌟Figuring out your values so you can be honest about what you want Connect with Claire on: 👋Claire’s website www.claireharbour.com  👋The Safe https://the-safe.mailchimpsites.com/ 👋LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairemjharbour/ #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMoms #CareerJourney #Inspiration #FamilyFirst #Coaching #DisruptYourCareer Chapters 0:00 Make It Work Introduction 01:09 Hello Claire 03:39 Claire's journey: Moving out of the corporate world 06:46 Finding work-life compromise with 4 children 09:07 Am I just my work? 13:44 Letting my children pursue unconventional paths 17:16 Coaching hat on: Cultural differences observed across clients 21:20 Learning to ask for what you need —...

Why My Crazy Schedule Actually Gives Me Life with Joanne Tan | Ep6 (Special Series Part 3)

25 min

Joanne Tan leads an unconventional life as a working mum by most standards in Asia but is totally thriving in it. She moved to Singapore from Australia four years ago with her family, is a certified and practising counsellor of her own practice The Cultivated Life Project, and also homeschools her three boys (3, 6 and 8 years old). Yes.. I know.. How on earth does she do it?? Join me in today’s refreshing conversation to find out! We also chat about: 🌟How and what drives her everyday- juggling between homeschooling and counselling 🌟Her biggest challenge is managing conflicting ideals and desires but emphases the importance of trusting in God's guidance 🌟Common challenges from working mum clients such as adjusting to new relationships and a new identity, the practical challenges of balancing work and family life 🌟The differences between coaching and counselling and how to decide which is appropriate for you 🌟Advice to her younger self Connect with Jo on: 👋Jo’s website www.thecultivatedlifeproject.com 👋Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mrs.jo.tan/ 👋Email: Thecultivatedlifeproject@gmail.com #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMoms #CareerJourney #Inspiration #FamilyFirst #Counselling Chapters 0:00 Make It Work Introduction 00:12 Episode & Guest Introduction 00:47 Hello Jo 02:14 Day In A Life 04:57 My Biggest Challenge: Too Many Ideals! 06:35 Motherhood Felt Like My Life As I Know It Was Coming To An End 09:45 Why I Homeschool My Kids 11:43 Advice To My Younger Self 12:35 Common Things I Hear From My Clients: How Tos, Identity, Loneliness 17:22 How I Counsel My Clients: Looking Inward and Looking Upward 19:03 Difference Between Coach and Counselor 20:35 How Do You Choose Between Finding A Coach vs Counselor? 23:15 Takeaway For Listeners 24:15 Connect With Jo About —------- Follow along! We’d love to hear any feedback, comments, or suggestions from you. PS. We are always looking for great stories to be featured!  ➡LinkedIn: https://www.li...

Becoming a Parent Unleashes Superpowers You Didn’t Know You Had with Vandana Ahuja | Ep5 (Special Series Part 2)

22 min

Welcome to Part 2 of our Special Coaches & Counselors Series!  Originally from India, Vandana Ahuja, HR Adviser, Executive Coach has now called Singapore home for over 6 years. Formerly a Human Resources leader in corporate teams for three decades, Vandana currently runs her own HR consultancy Metamorph Dynamics Consulting. Vandana is also a certified executive coach with the International Coaching Federation. In this helpful conversation, I had the special privilege to tap into Vandana’s professional experience to shed light on: 🌟The evolution of HR policies and corporate initiates through the decades to support dual working families 🌟The changing attitudes of working parent employees as well as modes of working 🌟Common questions and challenges that her working mum clients bring to her as well as her coaching secrets in address them 🌟The importance of finding a sounding board as well as how to employ some simple techniques to work through the all-to-familiar feeling of being overwhelmed Check out our latest episode “Becoming a Parent Unleashes Superpowers You Didn’t Know You Had with Vandana Ahuja”. Come join us to get some practical tips on how to make it work!  Available on: 🎙Spotify (video+audio) - https://tinyurl.com/24dm6vfv 🎙Apple (audio only)- https://tinyurl.com/2ypqmafn 🎙Google (audio only) - https://tinyurl.com/29pallco 🎙YouTube (video+audio) - https://tinyurl.com/24jwedlj Connect with Vandana on: 👋Website: https://metamorphdynamics.com/contact/ 👋LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vandana-s-ahuja/ 👋Email: vadynamics27@gmail.com #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMoms #CareerJourney #Inspiration #FamilyFirst #Coaching Chapters 00:00 Make It Work Introduction 00:49 Hello Vandana 02:29 Day In A Life 03:21 Challenge As A Young Working Mum In Mumbai & Delhi 04:47 Changing HR Policies Through The Years 06:41 Have Attitudes of Working Parent Employees Changed? 13:42 Coaching Hat On: What Are Common Questions From Working Mum Clients?...

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