Womenpreneur Asia Krista Goon

This episode features Mandy Pao from Hong Kong, the founder of The Aligned Entrepreneurs.


Mandy's entrepreneurial venture emerged from burn out that resulted from running her first business, a branding and marketing agency for 10 years.


Our conversation is particularly illuminating as Mandy bravely unravels the less-discussed facets of entrepreneurship.


She opens up about the pressure to conform in Hong Kong, where success is often equated with perpetual busyness and "the bigger, the better".


If you've found yourself questioning the relentless pursuit of growth or yearning for a deeper sense of purpose in your entrepreneurial journey, this episode is a must-listen.


Join us as Mandy shares her inspiring story of resilience, reinvention, and the pursuit of aligned success.


For the full show notes, visit WomenpreneurAsia.com


This episode is sponsored by RedboxStudio.com

The first episode of Season 8 features My Holland.


My is the CEO of EQuest Asia, a coaching and training business based in Vietnam. 


Despite never residing in Vietnam, My felt a profound calling to return to her ancestral homeland to establish her business.


She advocates for embracing happiness and fulfillment in the workplace while nurturing one's cultural identity, particularly among overseas Vietnamese and empowering women to find their voices. 


She is also a speaker, consultant and coach in corporate well-being, organizational change resilience and emotional intelligence.  


Born in France with Vietnamese heritage, My (pronounced "Mee" in Vietnamese) is a leader deeply immersed in cross-cultural experiences across various nations.


Interestingly, she was born on 20 March, the UN International Day of Happiness, a fact she interprets as more than mere coincidence. 


Her journey reflects a multicultural worldview, shaped by her upbringing in France, education in both France and the USA, and professional experiences spanning the USA, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, and New Zealand. 


It's a fascinating look at finding one's roots, embracing multiculturalism and being open to possibilities at every stage of one's life.


Get the full show notes: WomenpreneurAsia.com


This episode is sponsored by RedboxStudio.com

What goes on behind the Womenpreneur Asia podcast? What are my ups and downs in producing this show? And what have I learned throughout this journey of speaking to Asian women entrepreneurs in Asia? 


Hello and welcome to the final episode of Season 7 of the Womenpreneur Asia podcast and I am your host, Krista Goon. 


My mission is to uncover the stories and strategies of Asian women entrepreneurs in Asia to help you and inspire you as you navigate your business journey. This episode is sponsored by Redbox Studio. 


Today's episode is Episode 100 and I am happy you are with me and we’re getting into Episode number 100 together.


When I told Padmaja, a previous guest on this show, that I was hitting 100 episodes, she said we must do something together. And that is how Padmaja and I ended up recording this milestone episode. Padmaja is the CEO and founder of Siksha Group in India where they offer learning and development for companies across India and globally.


One of the best things about having friends across Asia is that I get a lot of support for my podcast. When I first mooted the idea in Hawaii in July 2019, my Asia Pacific friends said they loved the idea and many supported me through the first season.


And when I first started it, I just wanted to have a go and do something different - something that was technically challenging yet gave me a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. And 100 episodes later, I am still happy to do this although I need to carve time out to podcast. What you hear as an episode is just the tip of the iceberg. 


And having said that, I’m also officially announcing that I’m writing an ebook about podcasting so if you’re listening to this, sign up for my email updates at WomenpreneurAsia.com and I will keep you updated when that ebook is for sale plus some exciting plans for this year. 


The ebook was a result of many friends asking me how they too could start a podcast. It sounds sexy to start a podcast but I share with you in my ebook my own experiences of producing a podcast on my own. 


Today’s episode digs a little into those experiences - think of it as a behind-the-scenes of podcasting. 


Enjoy this episode! I will see you in Season 8 which starts in May.


This episode is sponsored by RedboxStudio.com


Find out more about Padmaja's story in Season 3, Episode 8.

Today’s episode is a little unusual as we feature someone who is not an entrepreneur but has an empowering message for everyone. 


Shivani Reddy wears many hats - she is a HR and Organizational Development practitioner, startup mentor, coach, speaker and finally, #IAmRemarkable ambassador.


Her 15 years of experience spans positions in renowned organizations such as Groupon, Societe Generale, NIIT Limited, and TDCX Malaysia.


Shivani is also the Partnerships Manager at Girls in Tech Kuala Lumpur and a Google-trained #IAmRemarkable facilitator. 


As a Google-trained #IAmRemarkable facilitator, Shivani is part of a global network of 4500 individuals dedicated to empowering women and underrepresented groups.


In this episode, we discuss #IAmRemarkable, a transformative workshop that she facilitates. 


The workshop advocates the value of vocalizing one’s accomplishments no matter how big or small. Acknowledging achievements, regardless of their perceived size, is a crucial aspect of building genuine confidence.


In this episode, we discuss #IAmRemarkable, a transformative workshop that she facilitates including the stories of transformation that these workshops have created.


For the full show notes, visit WomenpreneurAsia.com


This episode is sponsored by RedboxStudio.com

This episode features Brenda James, the visionary Founder and Principal Florista of Nook Flowers located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


Her floral business is unique in that stands apart from others on the twin pillars of creativity and sustainability or in her own words, "responsible floristry".


In this episode, we unravel Brenda's 15 years as a business owner and florist and uncover what makes this unique Malaysian floral studio what it is today.


For Brenda, Nook Flowers is more than a business—it's an extension of her ethos and values. The studio's grown not flown philosophy is seamlessly woven into its brand philosophy and operations.


And she closes Nook Flowers on Valentine's Day. It is a bold move, especially for a florist. Find out why in this episode.


For the full show notes, visit WomenpreneurAsia.com


This episode is sponsored by RedboxStudio.com


You are listening to Episode 12 of Season 7.

Today’s guest is a returning guest and I wanted to bring her back because she has a great story and a fantastic business.


And it’s all fully online. I love fully online businesses because I am a big advocate of this - after all my own business is all about the digital world! 


Today I am speaking to Michelle Hon who is the founder of MomBoss Academy in Singapore. If her name sounds familiar, yes, she was featured in Season 4, Episode 8 so if you want to know her backstory of how she ended up starting this business, check that episode out. 


Today, though, Michelle and I are going deep into her business. We’re going to talk about motherhood and the art of building a business - a lifestyle business - as Michelle calls it - right from home.


This is a conversation that you don’t want to miss but the key thing is that Michelle believes that moms can carve out a path for themselves without compromising on their family life. 


In this episode, Michelle enlightened us on the concept of building assets for your business. Your programs, services, and offerings can be valuable assets that generate revenue long-term. It's not just about creating something for now; it's about crafting a sustainable foundation that keeps giving.


You can also take a cue from Michelle's playbook and reverse engineer the process of building your business. Understand your target market, listen to their needs, and identify the problems you can solve. Success lies in aligning your offerings with what your audience truly desires.


Michelle shared an important strategy for pre-launching your offer to test the waters. Before fully committing, gauge interest, collect feedback, and ensure there's a market for your product. It's a strategic move that can save time, and resources, and set you on the path to creating something truly in demand. 


For the full show notes, visit WomenpreneurAsia.com


This episode is sponsored by RedboxStudio.com


To find out about Michelle and more, check out MomBoss Academy.