You Never Know with Nicole Lee

Nicole Lee
  • 4.5 (2)
  • CAREERS

You never know where one choice might take you. One story that could change your life. One conversation that shifts everything you thought you knew.I’m Nicole — host of You Never Know, a podcast with real conversations about life, career, finance, and health, featuring visionary people who’ve taken the unconventional road and embraced the unknowns.After 13 years at a top private bank and a transformational leap into fintech and entrepreneurship, I created You Never Know to inspire people to discover the different truths in life — and the infinite pathways that emerge when we look within.Thank you so much for being here. If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to like, comment, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need it today.With ❤️ from Singapore,Nicole

  1. 6D AGO

    #37 — Investing Mistakes Most People Make | Sameer Deshpande: “I Used To Convert My Short-Term Trades Into Long-Term Investments.”

    Many investors say they want to “make a lot of money.” But that’s not a strategy. Sameer Deshpande, Head of Wealth Management for Asia Pacific at Emirates NBD, reveals the investing mistakes that most people don’t realise they’re making. From turning short-term trades into long-term investments, to chasing yield over total return, to holding on to losing positions out of hope — we unpack the psychology that quietly erodes performance. We also explore investor behaviour in Asia, the evolution of digital wealth platforms and offshore wealth management, and why adaptability — and going beyond your specialization — will define long-term success in modern finance. If you care about thinking more clearly about money, risk, and long-term financial decisions, this conversation will change the way you invest. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:09 How to Anchor Investments to Clear Goals 04:16 Review Your Portfolio — But Not Every Day 05:48 Investing Mistake: Turning Trades into Investments 08:37 Investor Psychology in Asia: Yield, Loss Aversion & Concentration Risk 11:34 Yield vs Total Return: What Most Investors Get Wrong 13:44 The Truth About Digital Wealth Platforms 16:55 Will Human Advisors Become Obsolete? 18:04 What Is Offshore Wealth Management? 23:38 How to Choose the Right Financial Centre for Your Wealth 25:25 The Capability Wealth Managers Will Struggle to Build 27:11 Why Going Outside Your Comfort Zone Is Now a Necessity 29:52 What the Next Generation of Leaders Underestimate 32:09 The Most Underrated Leadership Skill: Adaptability 33:52 Why Skill Sets Matter More Than Titles 35:58 What “You Never Know” Means to Sameer 💌 If you’re new to this channel, I’m Nicole Lee. I spent 13 years in private banking, took a leap of faith into fintech, walked away without a job — and started the You Never Know Podcast to have real conversations that challenge the way we think, what we believe, and how we live. Today, through You Never Know Studios, I partner with leaders and organizations to shape strategic, credible narratives and video content that authentically resonate. --- 🔗 Connect with Sameer Deshpande 👤 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sameersdesh 🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co 👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme 📲 Instagram / TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme

    37 min

  2. JAN 28

    #36 — Former Hospital CEO: Future Of Healthcare is Hospital At Home | Dr. Timothy Low: “Most Western Drugs Have Side Effects.” “AI Cannot Hold Your Hands.”

    We trust hospitals with our lives — but what if the future of healthcare isn’t in hospitals at all? I sat down with Dr. Timothy Low, former CEO of Gleneagles Hospital and Farrer Park Hospital in Singapore, to explore what’s really changing in healthcare, and what most patients will never see. We talk about what goes on behind the scenes of running a hospital, why hospitals will get smaller, the differences between Western and Eastern medicine, alternative therapies like phototherapy, and how AI is reshaping the future of healthcare. If healthcare innovation, investing, and regenerative health spark your interest, I hope you enjoy this episode, and share it with someone who needs it today. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 03:10 – From GP to Hospital CEO 04:15 – What a Hospital CEO Actually Does 07:20  – What Patients Never See 09:10 – Why Hospitals Are Always Short of Nurses 13:50 – “Not Many Leaders Love Their Staff” 20:00 – The $1 Million Decision 23:50 – Why Healthcare Costs Keep Rising 26:25 – Can AI Replace Doctors? 30:45 – From Sick Care to Well Care 31:50 – What Is Phototherapy? 39:00 – How to Spot Real Healthcare Innovation 45:00 – Western vs Eastern Medicine 46:20 – Hospitals Will Get Smaller 50:10 – The One Thing Every Doctor Should Remember 50:50 – What “You Never Know” Means to Dr. Timothy 💌 If you’re new to this channel, I’m Nicole Lee. I spent 13 years in private banking, took a leap of faith into fintech, walked away without a job — and started the You Never Know Podcast to have real conversations that challenge the way we think, what we believe, and how we live. Today, through You Never Know Studios, I partner with leaders and organizations to shape strategic and credible narratives that authentically resonate — using video content to build trust, thought leadership, and connection. --- 🔗 Connect with Dr. Timothy Low 🌐 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtimothylow/ 📱Instagram: @askdrtimlow  📲TikTok: @askdrtim 📕Get his latest book, Patching Up Wellness:  https://forms.gle/7UXN8oQiqkFjfwRMA 🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co 👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme 📲 Instagram / TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme

    52 min

  3. 12/29/2025

    #35 — Inside a 15-Year-Old’s Head: AI, School & Meaning of Life | Joshua Goh: "I Don’t Want a 9–5 I Don’t Enjoy." “I’m Scared About My Future.”

    What does the world feel like to a 15-year-old today? In this episode, host Nicole Lee speaks with Joshua Goh, a student from National Junior College in Singapore, about growing up in a time of rapid technological change, rising competition, and the pressure to figure out the future earlier than ever. They talk about AI, school, emotional intelligence, and career paths — and the deeper tension between wanting to enjoy being a kid and feeling the need to prepare for what lies ahead. This isn’t a conversation about having all the answers at 15. It’s a conversation about curiosity, self-awareness, and how the next generation is making sense of the world around them. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 03:20 Networking as a kid & caught between worlds 05:10 Questioning life at 13 06:15 Life is like playing Minecraft 08:00 Balancing being a kid vs staying ahead 10:40 AI and a more competitive future 13:20 What school really means today 14:40 Does the education system prepare kids for the future? 17:20 Losing a carefree childhood 18:25 Emotional awareness at a young age 22:10 Understanding insecurities and healing 24:10 What success means to the next generation 28:30 One subject that should be added in school 30:10 What adults should know about kids today 👍 If you found this episode meaningful, like, subscribe, comment, and share it with someone who needs it today. 🔔 Follow Nicole Lee and the You Never Know Podcast, where we talk about life, career, finance, and health with visionary people who’ve taken the unconventional road and embraced the unknown. --- 🔗 Connect with Joshua Goh 🌐 LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-goh-joon-kai/?originalSubdomain=sg⁠ 🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co 👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme 📲 Instagram / TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme

    31 min

  4. 12/18/2025

    #34 — Sales Is Like Dating: Rejection, 38x Returns & Private Markets In Asia | Jahnavi Bhagwati: "Learn To Walk Away." "Find Ways To De-Risk."

    Sales is like dating. You read the signals. You invest the time. And sometimes, you get ghosted. In this episode of the You Never Know Podcast, host Nicole Lee sits down with Jahnavi Bhagwati, founder of Koka Capital, as she shares candid insights on sales and private markets in Asia from over a decade in finance and deal-making at Goldman Sachs, Nomura, and Bank of Singapore. From learning how to set boundaries as a young saleswoman, to why investors in Asia are increasingly drawn to private equity despite illiquidity and risk, this conversation unpacks the realities behind headline-grabbing returns, why AI continues to dominate attention in private markets, how investors can better discern quality investment opportunities, and what it really takes to build a business when income is uncertain and rejection is constant. If you’re interested in sales, finance, private markets, or entrepreneurship, this one’s for you. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:35 From modelling & acting to banking 03:55 What being a woman in finance really means 05:50 Sales, boundaries & self-respect 11:35 Femininity, power & how to show up at work 13:30 Leaving banking & building Koka Capital 16:55 Entrepreneurship, runway & surviving the early years 20:55 Trust, relationships & how deals really work in Asia 23:30 Why checks move faster in Asia 25:40 Why investors in Asia are drawn to private markets 27:15 Illiquidity, exits & managing private equity risk 29:20 Do brand names matter more than fund performance? 31:20 How investors decide where to allocate 34:35 US vs Asia: where capital is flowing 36:30 AI investing: hype, momentum & discernment 39:40 Advice for entrepreneurs starting out 44:30 Rejection, ghosting & why sales is like dating 46:35 What modelling taught her about rejection 47:30 Motherhood, ambition & balance 🌐 Jahnavi Bhagwati is currently Founder of Koka Capital — a capital introducer and M&A advisor for private and listed investment opportunities. 👍 If you found this episode meaningful, like, subscribe, comment, and share it with someone who needs it today. 🔔 Follow Nicole Lee and the You Never Know Podcast, where we talk about life, career, finance, and health with visionary people who’ve taken the unconventional road and embraced the unknown. --- 🔗 Connect with Jahnavi Bhagwati 🌐 LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/jahnavi-bhagwati-a06112118  🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co 👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme 📲 Instagram / TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme

    49 min

  5. 12/02/2025

    #33 — How To Get Promoted In Banking | Philip Kunz on Pay, Politics & Leadership: “Sucking Up To Your Boss Doesn’t Help Much.” “Your Peers Are The Most Influential As You Rise In Leadership.”

    Veteran banking leader Philip Kunz dismantles the biggest myths about rising in banking — from promotions and politics to influencing people who don’t report to you. Across 40 years in wealth management, Philip held senior leadership roles at UBS, ABN AMRO, and Credit Suisse, led Global Private Banking for South Asia at HSBC, and is now Senior Advisor & Group Head Southeast Asia at Nomura International Wealth Management. In this episode, we dive into what it really takes to rise — and stay — at the top of global financial institutions: how to navigate complex matrix organizations, what to do when politics and perception turn against you, and the real responsibilities that come with senior leadership beyond the title. If you work in banking, finance, wealth management, or any large matrix organization, this episode will reshape how you think about career growth, influence, and leadership. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 02:50 – Can you be “nice” and still make it to the top? 05:18 – Kind vs soft: authenticity, respect & tough conversations 06:48 – Navigating complex matrix organizations 08:32 – Influencing without authority: why peers matter most 11:30 – Standing out among ambitious peers 14:28 – Promotions: merit, perception, relationships 19:25 – Pay, entitlement & sustainability in private banking 24:10 – Promotion frameworks, transparency & manager responsibilities 28:25 – What is politics in the corporate world? 33:28 – How to recover when perception turns against you 37:45 – At the top: does it get easier or harder? 40:25 – Tough decisions: retrenchments & impact on people 42:12 – The privilege and burden of senior leadership 44:50 – From apprentice to MD 46:40 – What keeps Philip going 48:28 – Traits of the most respected senior leaders 50:05 – What “You Never Know” means to Philip 51:45 – Closing 👍 If you found this episode meaningful, like, subscribe, comment, and share it with someone who needs it today. 🔔 Follow Nicole Lee and the You Never Know Podcast, where we talk about life, career, finance, and health with visionary people who’ve taken the unconventional road and embraced the unknown. --- 🔗 Connect with Philip Kunz 🌐 LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/philip-marcus-kunz-9b0b45186  🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co 👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme 📲 Instagram / TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme

    51 min

  6. 11/16/2025

    #32 — Addicted to Burnout? Why Overachievers Can’t Stop | Pei Chan: From Hedge Funds to Breathwork "I Couldn't Recognize Myself After Being Made Redundant."

    Former Singaporean hedge fund executive Pei Chan opens up about her addiction to corporate burnout, the shock of being made redundant, why she transitioned to teaching breathwork full-time — and how success without self-awareness can quietly destroy you from the inside out. After nearly two decades in London at some of the world’s top hedge funds including Millennium, UBS O’Connor, and Balyasny, Pei had everything she thought she wanted — until redundancy and emptiness forced her to face what she’d been running from all her life: her unprocessed childhood grief. Now a certified Transformational Breath® and Rapid Transformational Therapist, she helps others reconnect with themselves through the power of the breath — guiding high achievers to feel again, become more self-aware, and achieve success more sustainably. We dive into: 🔥 The hidden cost of success for overachievers 💭 How you get addicted to burnout 😶 Why expressing emotions feels “taboo” for many Asians 🌬 What your breath reveals about control and childhood trauma 🫁 How to tell if you have “the overachiever breath” 💖 Redefining success beyond perfectionism and performance ⏱️ Chapters 02:10 — Intro 03:00 — Leaving Singapore for London at 22 03:50 — Climbing the world’s top hedge funds 05:40 — What makes an overachiever? 06:10 — Redundancy to losing self-identity 08:00 — Filling the void through sports and achievement 10:30 — Asian expectations, grief, and therapy taboos 15:30 — Many high achievers are addicted to burnout 19:00 — Holidays and success are an escape? 22:00 — Signs your body is asking you to stop 23:00 — Why people cry during breathwork 27:00 — Breathwork vs. meditation 31:30  — How to know you have “the overachiever’s breath” 34:40 — Overachievers don’t trust themselves? 40:00 — Depression after leaving finance to help people breathe --- 👉🏼 Pei Chan is a certified Transformational Breath® and Rapid Transformational Therapist, and founder of Inmispace — helping people heal through breathwork and subconscious rewiring. 👉🏼 Follow Nicole Lee and the You Never Know Podcast, where we talk about life, career, finance, and health with visionary people who’ve taken the unconventional road and embraced the unknown. --- 🔗 Connect with Pei Chan 🌐 Website: https://www.inmi.space/ 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inmi.space/ 🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co 👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme 📲 Instagram / TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme

    48 min

  7. 10/28/2025

    #31 — Inside Najib’s Office: 1MDB, Anwar & Malaysia’s Future | Ei Sun OH: “It Became Rather Unbearable!” “Politics Isn’t Idealism — It’s Problem-Solving.”

    Former Political Secretary to then–Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Ei Sun OH, shares his honest reflections on what it was really like working inside Malaysia’s seat of power — and why he eventually chose to walk away. From the early days of 1MDB to the 2018 elections that ended Barisan Nasional’s 61-year rule, Ei Sun opens up about the realities of politics and leadership — and weighs in on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s challenges today, Malaysia’s evolving identity, and what ASEAN’s future might look like amid rising China–U.S. tensions. We dive into: 💬 What does a political secretary to a prime minister actually do? 🔥 What was the original intention behind 1MDB? ⚖️ Did the 2018 elections truly mark a new era of democracy for Malaysia? 🤝 Are Malaysia and Singapore more like siblings or rivals? 🌏 Can ASEAN really stay neutral between the U.S. and China? 🍜 And finally — who does food better: Malaysia or Singapore? This episode is a must-watch for anyone curious about politics, leadership, and Southeast Asia’s future. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 — Becoming Najib’s Political Secretary 05:30 — What a Political Secretary Actually Does 08:45 — Inside Najib’s Office & Cabinet Dynamics 10:30 — Working in a Racially Charged Environment 12:30 — The Art of Political Mediation 17:10 — Why Ei Sun Left Government 18:50 — The Original Vision of 1MDB 22:00 — What Malaysia Learned (and Hasn’t) from 1MDB 25:50 — The 2018 Election That Changed Everything 29:30 — Mahathir’s Return at 92 31:30 — Malaysia Under Anwar Ibrahim 33:30 — Reform vs Religion: The Country’s Biggest Tension 36:00 — What Outsiders Misunderstand About Malaysia 38:00 — Malaysia & Singapore: Siblings or Rivals? 44:20 — Can ASEAN Stay Neutral Between the U.S. and China? 55:30 — Advice for Southeast Asian Leaders 58:00 — If You Could Change One Law in Malaysia… 59:40 — Malaysia vs Singapore: Who Does Chicken Rice & Char Kway Teow Better? 👉🏼 Ei Sun OH is currently the Principal Adviser at the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia, a Senior Fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, and a Justice of the Peace in Sabah, Malaysia. —-------------- 🔗 Connect with Ei Sun OH 👤 LinkedIn: https://my.linkedin.com/in/ei-sun-oh-%E8%83%A1%E9%80%B8%E5%B1%B1-3966206  📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ei_sun_oh/?hl=en  📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ei.sun.oh/  🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co 👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme   📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme   📲 Instagram/Tiktok: @nicoleleethisisme

    1h 2m

  8. 10/10/2025

    #30 — Independent Asset Managers vs Banks: What's The Difference? | Urs Brutsch: “There's No Job Security In A Bank!” “I Work For the Client Now, Not The Bank.” “Investors Always Make The Same Mistakes!”

    Is there still job security in a bank? That's the question Urs Brutsch, Founder & CEO of HP Wealth Management, explores in this episode. After decades leading private banking in Asia across Credit Suisse, ABN AMRO, and Clariden Leu, Urs left the banking world in 2009 to build his own firm — now one of the largest Independent Asset Managers in Singapore. In this conversation, we unpack what exactly an Independent Asset Manager (IAM/EAM) is, how the model and relationship manager incentives differ from banks, and why honesty, transparency, and consistency are key to helping investors build and preserve their wealth. We discuss fees, retrocessions, business challenges, and the biggest mistakes investors make — along with what it takes for relationship managers to truly work for their clients, not for the bank. Plus, Urs shares his thoughts on Singapore’s rise as a global wealth hub vis-à-vis Hong Kong and Dubai, and the lessons football and leadership have taught him along the way. This episode is a must-watch for career professionals, or anyone wanting to understand the financial industry, and to explore alternative business models outside of big banks.  ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 — Intro 01:00 — No such thing as job security in a bank 04:30 — Is the financial industry honest? 07:40 — What are Independent Asset Managers vs Banks? 10:20 — Relationship manager incentives: loyalty to banks or clients? 13:00 — Inside the compensation model of an IAM & EAM 16:00 — Why more bankers don’t make the leap to independence 19:40 — Retrocessions, transparency & doing what’s right for clients 23:00 — IAM vs Multi-Family Office: what’s the difference? 25:30 — Urs’ biggest lessons on starting HP Wealth Management 29:30 — You eat what you hunt: mindset shifts that must happen 32:40 — Biggest mistakes investors make 36:00 — How to invest in today’s environment 38:40 — Future of wealth: Singapore, Hong Kong & Dubai 41:00 — Advice for young bankers & future relationship managers 43:20 — Football, teamwork & leadership in life —-------------- 🔗 Connect with Urs Brutsch 🌐 Website: https://hpwm.sg  👤 LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/ursbrutsch  🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co 👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme   📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme   📲 Instagram/Tiktok: @nicoleleethisisme

    45 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

You never know where one choice might take you. One story that could change your life. One conversation that shifts everything you thought you knew.I’m Nicole — host of You Never Know, a podcast with real conversations about life, career, finance, and health, featuring visionary people who’ve taken the unconventional road and embraced the unknowns.After 13 years at a top private bank and a transformational leap into fintech and entrepreneurship, I created You Never Know to inspire people to discover the different truths in life — and the infinite pathways that emerge when we look within.Thank you so much for being here. If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to like, comment, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need it today.With ❤️ from Singapore,Nicole

Information

  • Creator
    Nicole Lee
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 You Never Know with Nicole Lee
  • Show Website
    You Never Know with Nicole Lee