Chief Change Officer

In this second half of his conversation, Gagan Sandhu pulls back the curtain on what it really means to design financial independence. It’s not about the FIRE movement or early retirement—it’s about knowing your trade-offs and making conscious, math-informed decisions that align with your values. From career reinvention every 10 years to balancing ambition with family time, Gagan offers Gen Xers a refreshingly grounded take on money, identity, and midlife work design.>>Financial Independence Is a Design Decision“I didn’t quit to escape. I quit because I could—on my own terms.”Gagan redefines financial independence not as a finish line, but a framework for how to live, work, and choose with freedom.>>It’s Not About the Number. It’s About the Math Behind Your Life“I built a five-year runway—not a fantasy.”He walks through how he calculated his freedom, X + Y + Z style: long-term retirement, short-term burn, and real-life expenses like college.>>FIRE vs Philosophy“Desires evolve. So does your definition of freedom.”In a head-to-head with Vince, Gagan goes deep on the psychology of wealth—and why independence without self-awareness is just another trap.>>Ageism or Skill Gap?“Don’t blame age. Upgrade your playbook.”Gagan reframes mid-career uncertainty not as an HR problem, but a personal pivot point—and makes a sharp case for reinvention every 10 years.>>Teaching the Tool, Not the Trick“You don’t need financial content. You need clarity.”He explains how Zillion helps busy families and immigrants manage wealth like pros—not through advice, but through intuitive, data-backed modeling._________________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Gagan Sandhu  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gagan Sandhu didn’t chase freedom. He calculated it. In this first of a two-part series, the Chicago Booth MBA, former tech exec, and founder of fintech startup Zillion shares how he redefined financial independence—moving beyond buzzwords and into practical action. From his immigrant roots to his pivot from mechanical engineering to Silicon Valley, Gagan shows how knowledge—not speed—builds real freedom. Whether you’re Gen X or Gen Z, this conversation reframes wealth not as a finish line, but as a tool for designing the life you actually want.>>From Engineering to Independence“I didn’t change careers at 22—I did it at 30, with a kid on the way.”Gagan shares how he shifted from mechanical engineering to tech—slowly, methodically, while balancing parenthood and late-night coding marathons.>>Knowledge Is Currency“Every leap I made came from learning, not luck.”He reflects on why knowledge—not connections, not titles—has been the key success driver in his nonlinear, global career.>>Financial Independence ≠ Retirement“I didn’t stop working. I stopped relying on someone else to fund my time.”Gagan breaks down the real math behind financial independence, and why it’s not about quitting your job—it’s about having options.>>FIRE Without the Hype“We turned it into a real-time calculator—so people can stop guessing and start acting.”Gagan explains how his company Zillion helps users understand their path to independence through clean logic, custom inputs, and grounded assumptions.>>Money, Math, and Meaning“Independence isn’t a destination—it’s a design challenge.”In a thoughtful back-and-forth with Vince, Gagan shares why financial planning must merge psychology, lifestyle design, and human behavior—not just numbers in a spreadsheet._________________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Gagan Sandhu  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do you do when the person you’ve been—mom, fixer, chauffeur, planner—is no longer needed in the same way? In Part 2, Jodi shares the emotional (and practical) shift from parenting full-time to rediscovering your own interests. She walks us through her signature DARE Method and dishes out real talk on marriage, identity, and why your kids aren’t your best friends (even if you really, really like them).This isn’t just an episode about empty nests. It’s about refilling your own life—on your own terms.Key Highlights of Our Interview:The Parenting Pivot “You’re always their mom—but not always their problem-solver.” How to shift from fixer to adviser.Best Friend? Nope. Mom Forever. “They have friends. What they need is a parent who actually knows when to walk away.”The Real Empty Nest Challenges“It’s not just missing them. It’s not knowing who you are without them.”The DARE MethodDecide. Awaken. Reimagine. Experience. A four-step strategy for rebooting midlife.Rediscovering You“Start with a brain dump. What did you used to like—before you were someone’s plus one?”Day Swaps, Not Date Nights“Plan a day around what lights them up. You’ll learn more than any heart-to-heart.”_______________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Jodi Silverman  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jodi Silverman didn’t set out to lead a movement—she just wanted to figure out what came next. In Part 1, she opens up about career shifts, midlife transitions, and how becoming an empty nester sent her on a completely different path. Spoiler: it involved leaving behind a successful print business, embracing a “dare,” and launching a community that now supports thousands of women through their own identity resets.Whether you’re a parent or not, this is a story about transition, reinvention, and giving yourself permission to be more than one thing.Key Highlights of Our Interview:From Sales Rep to Accidental Entrepreneur“I didn’t know the word ‘entrepreneur’ back then. I just knew I didn’t want a boss—or a babysitter.”The Quiet That Changed Everything“Suddenly, I had free time… and I didn’t want to sell print anymore.” What happens when the kids leave and purpose takes a nap.A Guilty No, and a New Yes“Admitting I was unfulfilled felt selfish—but it was the start of everything.”Finding the Word That Fit“I was already doing it. I just didn’t know it was called daring.”How Moms Who Dare Was BornFrom a Facebook group to a full-blown movement, one post at a time._______________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Jodi Silverman  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wayland Lum has built a leadership career that spans tech giants, global consulting, and top business schools—but his boldest move was walking away from all of it to build something from scratch. Now the founder of Copperbox, he coaches modern leaders through a philosophy that fuses deep psychology, personal courage, and timeless wisdom. In this episode, he shares the moment he chose purpose over prestige, the emotional realities behind true leadership, and why fear and courage are two sides of the same decision. For Gen Xers done with title-chasing and hungry for meaning, this is the episode to come back to—again and again.>>From Booth to Bold Moves“Would I keep relying on the building, the brand—or bet on myself?”Wayland shares the moment he realized he had to stop playing it safe and walk the walk. The leap from corporate prestige to personal practice was years in the making—and worth it.>>Coaching Is Not a Shortcut—It’s a Mirror“You push people to become who they could be—not who they think they are.”Wayland reflects on being coached early in his career, and how that shaped his fierce belief in holding leaders to their highest potential.>>Leadership Isn’t Status—It’s a Torch“Real leadership burns. If you’re not sacrificing, you’re not leading.”Through Copperbox, Wayland trains modern leaders using eight core principles—drawn from nature, history, and human psychology. His goal: transformation, not just transaction.>>Courage Only Comes After Fear“You don’t get to feel brave without first feeling scared.”He breaks down how the most meaningful leadership moments require discomfort—and how emotions like courage and fear, joy and grief, are always paired.>>Wisdom Over Hype“Leadership today is louder—but not always deeper.”Wayland’s work is about rewiring leaders to navigate not just business chaos, but emotional complexity. Because modern leadership demands more than charisma—it demands character._________________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Wayland Lum  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

César Couto Ferreira spent over a decade deep in the world of global media—shaping MTV across Europe and Africa, working with stars, and riding the wave from analog to digital. But when Amy Winehouse died, something broke. Not in the headlines, but inside him. He saw how the industry treated artists as content—not people—and decided he couldn’t be part of it anymore. That moment became his call to redesign his life. In this episode, César shares how he left global prestige behind to build systems of real impact—helping governments, mentoring young entrepreneurs, and bringing Web Summit to Portugal. For Gen Xers questioning the legacy of their work, this episode is a gut-check: you can walk away from the machine—and build something that lasts.>>The Rise and the Reckoning“I was living on the same street as Coldplay. But something felt deeply wrong.”Cesar traces his rise from DJ to MTV exec—and the moment he realized proximity to fame doesn’t mean pride in the system.>>When Amy Winehouse Died, Everything Shifted“We prepped obituaries like playlists. And then Amy died. I couldn’t unsee it.”Her death wasn’t just tragic—it was Cesar’s breaking point. It made him question everything about the machine he helped run.>>Leaving the Bright Lights to Build Real Change“I chose to stop. Not because I failed—but because I wanted to design something better.”Cesar reflects on the long walk away from global media—and into tech, civic transformation, and mentorship across Portugal and Brazil.>>Legacy Over Likes“Media taught me how to influence. Now I’m using that skill for society.”From helping bring Web Summit to Lisbon to working with governments and young founders, Cesar is now designing systems with human value.>>Advice from a Media Veteran to the Always-Online Generation“Read more books. Touch more people. Don’t believe the hype.”Cesar leaves a timeless reminder: attention is power—and what you do with it matters more than who sees it._________________________Connect with Us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Cesar Couto Ferreira  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ryota Tanozaki didn’t pivot because of burnout—he pivoted to avoid a trap. While managing a turnaround project in rural Japan, he saw the writing on the wall: stay too long, and his world would shrink. Instead, he chose to bet on himself. He went global, earned an MBA from Chicago Booth, built a career across Facebook and Tabist (backed by Softbank Japan), and led a hospitality startup through one of the toughest periods in travel history. But his secret wasn’t speed—it was clarity. In this episode, Ryota shares how to spot when your career path is narrowing, why perseverance matters more than perfection, and how real reinvention often starts with one question: what if I don’t want this to be it?>>The Moment He Almost Settled“I started thinking—what if my career ends in this rural city?”While leading a department store turnaround in a quiet town, Ryota realized he might be stuck in a shrinking path. That moment of clarity sparked his move to go global—and never look back.>>Escape the Trap, Rebuild the Map“Challenge more. Risk more. Grow more.”Ryota didn’t just dream of a bigger life—he designed it. Earning an MBA at Chicago Booth gave him global exposure and the networks to shift from domestic roles to international leadership.>>Reinvention Isn’t Always Loud“Sometimes the biggest moves start with a quiet discomfort.”Ryota shares how he shifted from consulting to corporate roles—not in panic, but through steady recalibration and awareness of his evolving goals.>>Leading Through Crisis Without Losing Yourself“Three months in, COVID hit. We had to rebuild everything.”As CEO of Tabist, Ryota didn’t just navigate crisis—he rewrote the company’s mission, strategy, and structure. All while staying grounded in purpose.>>Mission Over Compensation“When they visit those hotels, they see the mission in action.”Ryota explains how he keeps his team motivated without big paychecks—by giving them something bigger than money: a mission they believe in._________________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Ryota Tanozaki  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Part 2, Lora walks us through the why behind her return to music full-time. From co-founding Virtuoso Fiesta to launching her album Reveries on Ivories, she shares how composition became her storytelling tool—and how she sees music not just as art, but as a way to build peace, shift perspectives, and maybe even fix broken systems.This isn’t a story about following your passion. It’s a story about building the courage to lead with it.>>Reveries on Ivories (New Album) by Lora Chow<<Apple | Spotify | YouTube | AmazonKey Highlights of Our Interview:Why She Finally Left Finance“The market felt irrational. Music didn’t.” When external chaos pushes you inward.Starting a Movement (Not Just a Company)“We wanted to make classical music feel joyful—not stiff.” How Virtuoso Fiesta became a playground for artistic freedom.Composing for Change“Music connects people—across language, across class. That’s its superpower.” Why she writes music that talks back.AI, Creativity, and Human Touch“AI can help me transcribe. But it can’t feel what I feel.” How she uses tech without losing the soul.Belief Beats Strategy“You need pen, paper, and confidence.” The advice that stuck—and how she teaches herself to trust her intuition._______________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Lora Chow (YouTube Channel)  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You don’t expect a hedge fund manager to also be writing operas. But Lora Chow has always done things differently. In Part 1, she shares how a childhood love of music led her to Yale, how she pivoted from potential math major to economics and music, and how the Hong Kong hustle—and one very lucrative offer—put finance ahead of passion… at least for a while.This episode isn’t about quitting your job on a whim. It’s about trusting the detours that make the next chapter possible.Key Highlights of Our Interview:Music and Math at 17“My heart wanted music. But my mom majored in math—and Hong Kong wanted finance.” Why she chose Yale over Cambridge.Ivy League Dissonance“Everyone was applying to Morgan Stanley. I followed the crowd—and got the job.” When ambition meets expectation.Hedge Funds and Harmony“I loved music. But I also wanted a home with a grand piano.” Trading dreams for stability… and circling back.A Voice Silenced“I lost my voice for a year. That’s when I started composing.” How injury redirected her path.From Opera to OpportunityHow a summer program in Bulgaria unlocked a deeper calling—and a new kind of creativity._______________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Lora Chow (YouTube Channel)  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most change efforts fail because they forget one thing: people. In Part 2, Richard breaks down The Book of Change, his 39-step model for leading transformation without leaving common sense behind. We get into the difference between showing up with a framework vs. showing up ready to listen—and what AI might never understand about real leadership.Key Highlights of Our Interview:What Most Consultants Miss “They deliver a binder and disappear. That’s not help. That’s homework.” Why Richard built his own model.The 39-Step Framework“Every step fixes something I’ve seen go wrong.” It’s not bloated—it’s built from battle scars.Empathy as Strategy“You can’t shortcut human trust.” Why listening well matters more than leading fast.AI Won’t Solve Culture “You can’t automate belief. You can’t code buy-in.” Where technology hits its limit.Advice That Changed His Career“I don’t need your answer—I need you to hear me.” His wife’s one-liner that became a leadership principle._______________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Richard H. Carson  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.