RAW with Uma

RAW with UMA
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RAW with UMA is a podcast and living document of becoming unapologetically human. Hosted by leadership and reinvention strategist Uma Thana Balasingam, it features honest conversations with people redefining success, power, and self-trust in life’s messy middle. From Careerquakes™ to midlife transitions, this space explores the unspoken truths of identity, ambition, love, and meaning. This podcast doesn’t conclude, it holds space. Becoming yourself isn’t neat. It’s raw. And it’s real.

  1. 14H AGO

    Reinventing Myself at 46 (and Never Looking Back)

    What happens when reinvention unlocks parts of yourself you forgot existed? In this intimate episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the unexpected gifts that came from leaving corporate, the creative side I buried for decades, the writing that evolved into magazine columns and a book deal, and the coffee shop moment when I realized I never want to go back. I share how I rediscovered my joy of writing (from LinkedIn posts to Her World magazine to the front page of the national newspaper), the beauty pageant at 25 that planted the seed for democratizing knowledge, and why I built Lean In Singapore while still working my corporate job. Plus: the profound question my multiple-CEO mentor couldn't answer himself, how to pivot careers strategically when you feel misaligned, and why I have a death clock on my phone planning to live until 95. This is about uncovering who you actually are when you stop performing who you thought you should be. In this episode you'll find: [00:00] Rediscovering the joy of writing I buried for decades [02:00] The coffee shop moment: I don't want to go back to corporate [04:34] How a beauty pageant at 25 shaped my mission forever [05:48] The question my CEO mentor asked (but couldn't answer himself) [06:50] Why you should test your passion parallel to your corporate job [07:36] Feeling misaligned? How to pivot careers strategically [11:36] The African woman who wanted to cook: proof anyone can start [13:23] I have a death clock on my phone, here's why 📱 Follow RAW with Uma on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rawwithuma 📱 Follow Uma on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/uma__raw/ 💻 Connect with Uma on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana Listen on: 🎧 Apple Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raw-with-uma/ 🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/1R7vwGXeHLcJLsX8HjOX4e?si=f11a165e6efd445d Got a Careerquake story or question about reinvention, side projects, or rediscovering creativity? Drop it in the comments—it may show up in a future episode. If this resonated, please subscribe and share it with someone who's quietly wondering what else is possible. #Careerquake #Reinvention #CorporateToEntrepreneur #CareerTransition #CareerChange

    16 min

  2. FEB 6

    We Spent $100,000 on a Business No One Wanted

    What happens when you spend a year building the wrong business? In this raw episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on Year 1 of entrepreneurship, the part nobody posts about on LinkedIn. The pivots, the money lost, the arrogance that cost us everything, and the humbling moment when we realized our "perfect" business model wasn't working. I share the story of building The Elevate Group with my partner Jingjin, how we spent a whole year (and a lot of money) on a private network that nobody wanted, and the signs we ignored because we were too invested to walk away. Plus: the toothpaste story that exposed my entire relationship with money, the entrepreneurship myths I believed (and paid for), and why the most underrated skill isn't hustle, it's people. In this episode you'll find: [00:00] How the idea for The Elevate Group started [03:31] Meeting my business partner Jingjin and trusting my gut [04:54] The arrogance that cost us a year and thousands of dollars [06:15] The hardest part: walking away from something you invested in [09:35] What we pivoted to and how Year 2 is different [10:33] The entrepreneurship myth: "I'll only work 3 days a week" [11:49] The most underrated skill (Steven Bartlett agrees) [13:18] Corporate failure vs entrepreneurship failure [19:53] My relationship with money and the toothpaste moment [21:47] The Ikigai exercise and Chris Do's life-changing question 📱 Follow RAW with Uma on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rawwithuma 📱 Follow Uma on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/uma__raw/ 💻 Connect with Uma on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana Listen on: 🎧Apple Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raw-with-uma/ 🎧Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/1R7vwGXeHLcJLsX8HjOX4e?si=f11a165e6efd445d Got a Careerquake story or question about pivoting, failing, or starting over? Drop it in the comments—it may show up in a future episode. If this resonated, please subscribe and share it with someone who's building something messy and beautiful. #Careerquake #Entrepreneur #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #Pivot #CorporateToEntrepreneur #RawWithUma

    25 min

  3. JAN 23

    10 Questions That Changed My Life After I Quit

    How do you find clarity when you’re exhausted from pretending everything is okay? In this intimate episode, I walk you through the 10 questions that helped me navigate one of the most confusing seasons of my life, a Careerquake™ that didn’t come with a dramatic exit or obvious failure, but discomfort, misalignment, and the feeling that something inside me was asking for more. Today, I’m sharing the questions I asked myself when I found myself sitting on the floor, overwhelmed, unsure of what the future should look like, and realizing I didn’t need the whole plan… I just needed the next right move. In this episode you’ll find: [00:00] The 10 questions to ask during a Careerquake [01:11] Question 1: What is the next right move for me? [02:20] Question 2: What have I trained myself to believe? [03:31] Question 3: What feels like play to me but looks like work to others? [04:24] Question 4: Who am I spending time with and why? [05:37] Question 5: What does a rich life mean to me, uniquely? [06:25] Question 6: What advice have I tried to make work that never felt right? [07:18] Question 7: What is the harder thing for me to do? [08:31] Question 8: What is unresolved that I need to face to move forward? [09:39] Question 9: When do I feel most in control and confident? [10:29] Question 10: When was the last time I lost track of time? [11:27] What comes after the questions: the unsexy beginning of reinvention [12:10] Closing reflections 📱 Follow RAW with Uma on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rawwithuma 📱 Follow Uma on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/uma__raw/ 💻 Connect with Uma on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raw-with-uma/ Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/1R7vwGXeHLcJLsX8HjOX4e?si=f11a165e6efd445d Got a Careerquake story or question? Drop it in the comments, it may show up in a future episode. If this resonated, please subscribe and share it with someone who’s quietly wondering, “Is this really what I want?” #Careerquake #CareerTransition #WomenInLeadership #CareerIdentity #Reinvention #CareerPivot #ExecutiveLife #CorporateToEntrepreneur #RawWithUma #IdentityAndWork

    13 min

  4. JAN 9

    I Got Everything I Wanted… Then I Fell Apart

    What happens when the ground beneath your career suddenly shifts?In this intimate episode, I share the story of the moment everything I thought I wanted stopped making sense. After building a two-decade career in tech, working toward the title I believed would define me, and finally reaching the peak I’d always imagined… the view wasn’t what I expected.I had the dream role.I had the team.I had the influence, the validation, the identity.And yet, something in me was quietly cracking.When my next “guaranteed” executive job fell through, when the interview for another big role left me completely uninspired, when I realized I could no longer pretend to be excited about a career path that once meant everything to me, the quake finally hit.This is my Careerquake™ story, the shift that forced me to sit in the rubble and ask myself the real questions: What now? Who am I without my title? And what do I actually want next?Inside this episode, I share the messy, honest middle:•⁠ ⁠Why grief is a natural, and necessary, part of career change•⁠ ⁠How losing a title can feel like losing a piece of yourself•⁠ ⁠Why we cling so tightly to being “needed” at work•⁠ ⁠How stillness helped me hear what my soul was trying to sayIf you’re questioning your path, feeling misaligned, or sensing a shift you can’t ignore, this episode will help you name what you’re experiencing and remind you that you’re not alone.In this episode:[00:00] Intro [01:22] What is a Careerquake?[05:41] Signs you might be going through one[07:36] Job titles, identity, and the pressure to perform[10:57] The first steps if you're feeling the tremors[14:09] Why Careerquakes are often a gift[15:11] Redefining what a “rich life” means[16:27] The 10 questions that helped me shift (coming next episode)[17:49] Closing reflections📱 Follow RAW with Uma on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rawwithuma📱 Follow Uma on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/uma__raw/💻 Connect with Uma on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana🎧 Listen on:Apple Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raw-with-uma/Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/1R7vwGXeHLcJLsX8HjOX4e?si=f11a165e6efd445dGot a Careerquake story or question? Drop it in the comments, it may show up in a future episode.If this resonated, please subscribe and share it with someone who’s quietly questioning “Is this really what I want?”#Careerquake #CareerTransition #WomenInLeadership #Career #Reinvention #CareerPivot #corporatelife #entrepreneur #RawWithUma

    18 min

  5. 12/24/2025

    The Day My Inbox Went Silent Changed Everything

    What happens when the path you thought you were on suddenly disappears? In this deeply personal episode, I share the moment that shattered my corporate identity - when my inbox went from hundreds of emails to zero overnight. After navigating a major acquisition as a VP with a large team, I thought I had it all figured out. The payout was secured. The next executive role was lined up. Everything was going according to plan. Until it wasn't. This is my Careerquake origin story - the tremors that shook me awake: •⁠ ⁠The shock of an empty inbox after 20+ years of being "needed" •⁠ ⁠The call that my "certain" next role had disappeared •⁠ ⁠The uninspiring conversation that made me realize I could no longer fake enthusiasm •⁠ ⁠The terrifying LinkedIn post announcing I was done with corporate tech I reveal the messy truth about leaving corporate life - including the monthly panic when bills arrive and the constant question: "Did I make the right decision?" If you're feeling the ground shift beneath your career, if you're successful but empty, or if you're wondering what happens after "making it" - this episode is for you. In this episode: [00:00] Welcome to RAW [02:09] The empty inbox moment [04:39] Filling the void with recurring calendar invites [05:39] When Plan A falls apart [07:37] The uninspiring call that changed everything [08:56] The terrifying LinkedIn announcement [11:38] Understanding the tremors of a Careerquake [13:33] The truth about entrepreneurship and money 📱Follow RAW with Uma on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rawwithuma 📱Follow Uma on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/uma__raw/ 💻Connect with Uma on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana Listen on: 🎧 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raw-with-uma/ 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1R7vwGXeHLcJLsX8HjOX4e?si=f11a165e6efd445d Got a Careerquake story or question? Drop it in the comments - it might become a future episode. If this resonated, please subscribe and share with one person who needs to hear that they're not alone in questioning everything. #Careerquake #CareerTransition #CorporateToEntrepreneur #WomenInTech #CareerPivot #ExecutiveLife #Entrepreneurship #RawWithUma #CareerIdentity #Reinvention

    15 min
  6. TRAILER | Season 2: Welcome To My Careerquake™

    SEASON 2 TRAILER

    TRAILER | Season 2: Welcome To My Careerquake™

    What happens after everything you’ve built starts to crumble? Welcome To My Careerquake™ In this new chapter, Uma steps into the unpolished truth of reinvention, not the highlight reel, but the space between endings and beginnings. The part no one prepares you for. Two years ago, Uma walked away from everything that once defined her, a high-powered corporate career, titles, and the certainty of who she was. What followed wasn’t a breakdown. It was a Careerquake: a moment when the ground shifts and you’re forced to ask, Who am I if not this? This season isn’t about neat answers. It’s about living inside the questions. Because growth doesn’t happen at the start or the finish. It happens here, in the messy middle. 📱Follow RAW with Uma on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rawwithuma 📱Follow Uma on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/uma__raw/ 💻Follow Uma on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana Listen on: 🎧Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raw-with-uma/ 🎧Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1R7vwGXeHLcJLsX8HjOX4e?si=f11a165e6efd445d 🎧YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RAWwithUMA/ #Leadership #CareerGrowth #WomenInLeadership #Reinvention #Careerquake #CorporateWorld #TheMessyMiddle #RawWithUma

    2 min

  7. 06/07/2025

    Why Losing Your Job Could Mean Your Next Pivot

    What do you do when your entire career crumbles—and you're left staring at the pieces? What does it mean to experience a Careerquake—and rebuild not just your work, but your identity?In this honest and soul-baring episode, Uma opens up about the Careerquake that changed everything: being made redundant after years at the top of her tech career, losing her title, and confronting the deep questions of self-worth, purpose, and money. From building Lean In Singapore to co-founding Elevate, Uma shares what it really takes to start over—and stay grounded while doing it.If you're navigating a Careerquake of your own—whether it's burnout, job loss, or simply a quiet voice asking “Is this all?”—this episode is your permission slip to pause, pivot, and rewrite the story.Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:What a Careerquake feels like—and why grief is part of growthThe identity crisis that happens when your job title disappearsHow to reconnect with purpose using one powerful reflection questionWhy “failing well” is the key to building a sustainable, purpose-led communityUma’s honest take on scarcity vs. abundance, money fears, and letting go of egoHow to design your life first, and then build your business around it[00:00] Uma’s Careerquake: Losing Her Job, Finding Herself[03:47] Where Her Mission Really Began (And Why She Didn’t Act on It at First)[07:21] Ambition, Identity, and “Too Much” in the Workplace[09:48] Reading Lean In and the Spark That Changed Everything[11:55] Starting the Lean In Singapore Chapter (With No Experience)[15:22] The Truth About “Failing Well” After a Careerquake[18:00] Building a Community That Actually Works[20:43] Measuring Real Impact (It’s Not About Numbers)[22:40] Who Are You Really Serving? Uma’s “Anita” Avatar[25:03] How She Managed It All While Working Full-Time[28:15] Learning to Let Go (And the 3-F Rule)[30:30] What Makes a Great Volunteer Team[33:09] Redundancy, Grief, and Embracing the Careerquake[36:58] The Truth About Co-Founders and Clashing Styles[40:32] When the Body Speaks First[42:10] Scarcity vs. Abundance[45:20] Identity, Ego, and Being Seen Without a Title[47:13] Uma’s Current Definition of a Rich Life[49:30] How to Design Your Time with Intention[51:15] Final Reflections: Stillness, Spirituality, and the Bigger Dream👉 Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rawwithuma👉 Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana/✨ Get more content like this — join my newsletter (it’s free!)https://elevateasia.org Follow Sharad Lal in his Newsletter:https://open.substack.com/pub/sharadlal#Careerquake #leadership #careertransition #asianwomen #womenintech #personalgrowth #purpose #rawconversations

    55 min

  8. 05/16/2025

    The Girl Boss Mindset: Is it Fake Empowerment??

    What if ambition no longer looked like climbing a ladder—but learning to breathe? How do you lead without performing? And is it possible to succeed without playing by outdated rules? In this powerful conversation, we unpack the emotional complexity behind the “girl boss” identity and why so many women—especially in Asia—are quietly rewriting the script on ambition, success, and leadership. From corporate burnout to finding your authentic voice, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and redefine what enough looks like on your terms. Whether you're navigating internal pressure, cultural expectations, or the fear of being “too much” or “not enough,” these insights will help you come home to yourself—and lead from there. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: Why the “girl boss” label no longer fits—and how to embrace ambition without burnoutThe invisible expectations Asian women carry in leadership spaces (and how to unlearn them)What true confidence looks like when it’s rooted in self-trust, not performanceA permission slip to stop striving and start choosing what aligns [00:00] Dismantling the “Girl Boss” Identity [03:12] Burnout Behind the Mask of Success [06:01] How Do We Focus On The Being Rather Than The Doing? [07:36] What Is My Definition Of a Rich Life? [09:01] Know Your Worth [11:13] How Often Your Should Update Big Life Questions [14:33] Do You Feel Comfortable Saying: “I Don’t Know”? [15:39] Understanding Your Gifts [18:55] Biggest Challenge In Being The Girl Boss [22:19] Introducing Olivia [27:07] Standing Out As A Girl Boss [30:02] Feminine Energy [36:40] Final Reflections 👉 Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rawwithuma 👉 Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana/ 📌 Have a question about being a girl boss? Come ask me live! And get your FREE 10 Career Scripts Cheatsheet (What To Say When). Sign up here ⬇️ Session 1 https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/session-12-power-move-clinics-22nd-may-9am-sgt-tickets-1354490229739?aff=oddtdtcreator Session 2 https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/session-22-power-move-clinics-22nd-may-830pm-sgt-tickets-1354576708399?aff=oddtdtcreator

    41 min
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About

RAW with UMA is a podcast and living document of becoming unapologetically human. Hosted by leadership and reinvention strategist Uma Thana Balasingam, it features honest conversations with people redefining success, power, and self-trust in life’s messy middle. From Careerquakes™ to midlife transitions, this space explores the unspoken truths of identity, ambition, love, and meaning. This podcast doesn’t conclude, it holds space. Becoming yourself isn’t neat. It’s raw. And it’s real.

Information

  • Creator
    RAW with UMA
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © RAW with UMA
  • Show Website
    RAW with Uma