Inspiring You with Sylvia Yu

Sylvia Yu Friedman
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Join me on my podcast where I spotlight fascinating personalities—industry captains, pioneers, and fearless leaders—to inspire YOU. It’s a dynamic, honest and sometimes quirky, and compelling journey into the minds of the most interesting people around. Sylvia Yu Friedman's pioneering advocacy for exploited women highlights her commitment to empowerment, bridging cultures and narratives to uplift women. Through her leadership, this show aims to build a vibrant community of inspiration and personal growth, ensuring women are not only heard but celebrated in all their diversity.

Episodes

  1. 3D AGO

    The Art of Lasting Impact: Global Tastemaker Olga Iserlis on Elevating Elegance & Redefining Success

    Just launched: a new episode of ‘Inspiring You with Sylvia Yu’ featuring the global tastemaker Olga Iserlis, founder of Adagio Events! Her story is so moving, it brought me to tears. Olga is renowned for her artful storytelling, meticulous execution, and impeccable taste in curating elegant, high-profile experiences for the world's most influential families and premier global luxury brands. In this episode, we dive into: • Olga’s journey to becoming a fixture in Singapore’s and global magazines, and why fearlessness is the immigrant’s superpower • How to cultivate true elegance and taste from within (hint: it’s not about trends, it’s about intention and intuition) • The art, responsibility, and privilege of creating world-class events for brands like Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., Audemars Piguet, Longchamp, and bringing to Singapore the iconic Valentino Retrospective Exhibition, among other projects • Building authentic connections, overcoming setbacks, and holding your values when the stakes are high • Olga’s advice for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone wanting to make their mark with integrity Who will benefit: Meeting professionals, founders, creators, immigrants forging new paths, and anyone obsessed with the intersection of beauty, courage, and business. If you’re a builder, a creative, or anyone who’s ever wondered where elegance and grit intersect, this conversation is for you.

    27 min

  2. FEB 21

    Unstoppable at 90: Joy Fox’s Secrets to Living Fully and Aging Gracefully

    Thrilled to share my latest interview with 90-year-old Joy Fox, a true walking phenomenon. Joy is what researchers call a “superager”: someone in their 80s, 90s and beyond whose memory and cognitive function rival people decades younger. But Joy is so much more than a label. In our conversation, she talks candidly about: • Trailblazing in a Man’s World. Joy didn’t just break the glass ceiling; she shattered it. Her work in the male-dominated event planning industry paved the way for countless women to follow. • Solo Travel Revolution. Joy’s advocacy for solo women travellers is reshaping how women see the world. • The small daily routines – from walking and reading to staying socially connected –  that keep her mind and body strong • Why curiosity, humour and saying “yes” to new experiences have mattered more than strict diets or perfect habits • How she’s coped with loss, loneliness and major life transitions, including the mindset shifts that helped her keep going • Her views on independence at 90, and how to ask for help without losing your sense of self • What gives her purpose now, and why she still makes plans for the future Joy challenges so many of our assumptions about ageing. She’s sharp, funny, reflective and far more focused on living than on her age. If you’re interested in longevity, brain health, or simply how to live a fuller life at any age, you’ll want to hear Joy’s perspective. I’d love to hear your thoughts: What does “ageing well” mean to you and who is the “Joy” in your life who proves it’s possible?

    40 min

  3. FEB 9

    The Business Case for Doing Good: Inside the Economics of Mutuality with Dr. Jay Jakub

    Most companies are still obsessed with meeting the next quarter’s profits. Dr. Jay Jakub is the rare voice asking a bigger question: What if business was designed to serve people and the planet – and made more money because of it? Jay is the co-founder of the Economics of Mutuality Foundation and one of the few people I’ve met who can talk about profit, power, and purpose in the same sentence and back it up with hard data, not just feel-good slogans. I had the privilege of joining Jay and his colleague Kwang Kim at an intimate gathering of 30 people at EOM’s Seoul symposium last November and was inspired by their impactful work. In our conversation, we dig into: • Why the old model of shareholder-first capitalism is structurally broken • How Economics of Mutuality turns “doing good” into a competitive advantage • The hidden value in human, social, and natural capital that most P&Ls completely ignore • How leaders can redesign incentives, culture, and strategy so that shared value becomes the business model, not a marketing campaign If you’re a founder, operator, or investor who: • Is tired of fluffy ESG decks with zero teeth • Wants businesses that are both cash-flow strong and ethically serious • Believes that long-term alpha comes from serving more than just the stock price …then you’ll want to hear what Dr. Jakub has to say. This isn’t another “purpose” pep talk. It’s a different operating system for how we build, scale, and own companies. I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway in the comments.

    44 min
  4. Radical Dissatisfaction & Unshakable Purpose: How “Unicorn” Leader Mimi Chan Doubled a $2.5B Business

    JAN 27

    Radical Dissatisfaction & Unshakable Purpose: How “Unicorn” Leader Mimi Chan Doubled a $2.5B Business

    Join me in this episode of Inspiring You with Sylvia Yu as I sit down with Mimi Chan — a dynamic entrepreneurial marketer, Amazon Books events leader, and acclaimed multicultural marketing pioneer — for an insightful masterclass on leadership, purpose, and boldly advancing your career. Over more than 20 years at Fortune 500 companies like AT&T and Amazon, Mimi has: • Helped grow Amazon Books event sales from $2.5B to nearly $5B • Led breakthrough multicultural and Gen Z marketing initiatives • Co-founded Christians at Amazon and invested deeply in her community In this deeply honest and inspiring conversation, Mimi shares: • How she went from a promising individual contributor to a “unicorn” leader trusted to build billion‑dollar businesses • The mindset of “radical dissatisfaction” – why refusing to accept the status quo drives innovation and explosive growth • How to earn trust fast, build strategic relationships, and turn conflict into deeper alignment instead of division • A raw story of failure that cost her a role and how that pain became the foundation of her greatest leadership superpower • Why promotions are more about leadership and thought partnership than output, and how to reinvent yourself at every level • How her faith, inner grounding, and transcendent sense of purpose keep her calm, hopeful, and courageous; even when campaigns fail or millions are on the line • Her bold vision to build a global talent pipeline for Gen Z, connecting young leaders across East and West If you’re: • A high-performing professional hitting a ceiling • A new or aspiring manager trying to become areal leader • A Gen Z talent hungry for opportunity and guidance • Or simply someone who wants to lead with both excellence and heart …this episode will challenge you to reimagine what’s possible in your career and your influence. 🎧 Listen now to discover how Mimi Chan turns radical honesty, deep love for people, and rock‑solid purpose into extraordinary impact at work, in community, and across generations.

    32 min
  • 4 Episodes

About

Join me on my podcast where I spotlight fascinating personalities—industry captains, pioneers, and fearless leaders—to inspire YOU. It’s a dynamic, honest and sometimes quirky, and compelling journey into the minds of the most interesting people around. Sylvia Yu Friedman's pioneering advocacy for exploited women highlights her commitment to empowerment, bridging cultures and narratives to uplift women. Through her leadership, this show aims to build a vibrant community of inspiration and personal growth, ensuring women are not only heard but celebrated in all their diversity.

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